Perth Moves 2026 is set to transform Perth into a vibrant hub of movement and connection this February, as STRUT Dance presents an exhilarating lineup of cutting-edge dance activations in partnership with Perth Festival. Running from February 21 to 28 at Forrest Place, the program invites everyone, from seasoned dancers to curious onlookers, to rediscover the city’s relationship to movement through free, open-air experiences that blend artistic athleticism, communal energy, and bold international collaboration.
Kicking off the festivities is The Perth Moves Battle on February 21, a one-night-only, anything-goes dance showdown open to all styles, including breaking, ballet, krump, contemporary, or self-invented moves. With a live DJ, dynamic MC, and international judges, this epic battle promises high-energy competition and pure celebration.
The program then builds momentum with two world-premiere highlights. Concrete Echoes, debuting February 24–27, is a powerful new commission from award-winning Aotearoa/New Zealand duo Ta’alili (Aloali’i and Tori Manley-Tapu). This dynamic work unites dancers from across the Indo-Pacific to explore intersections of stone and dance in a fresh, regionally inspired collaboration that celebrates artistic athleticism and shared cultural currents.
Complementing this is CERCLES, presented February 26–28, where acclaimed French choreographer Boris Charmatz transmits his participatory circle dances to a cast of professional dancers from Europe and Australia, joined by local amateurs in a six-day choreographic emergence. Soundtracked by Hamburg-based techno brass band Meute reinterpreting electronic classics, the work explores the circle as a multifaceted space – a cocoon of intimacy, a raging crowd, or an agile wall of bodies – building collective energy day by day in a communal movement experience that radiates outward, carrying away both participants and spectators in an exhilarating spectacle.
Perth Moves 2026 also includes eight nights of deep-dive workshops for professional practitioners, fostering skill-sharing and inspiration among West Australian dancers and makers. Most events are free to spectate, with opportunities to register for battle participation or express interest in CERCLES workshops, making this accessible celebration of dance truly for the community.
Presented with support from Creative Australia, the WA Government, and generous foundations, Perth Moves reaffirms STRUT Dance’s role as Western Australia’s National Choreographic Centre, galvanizing local and global connections through movement. As part of the broader Perth Festival (February 6–March 1), it promises to nourish the city’s creative pulse.
For details, registration, and more, visit strutdance.org.au/pm2026 or perthfestival.com.au.
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