IDFNOLA 2026: A Global Festival, Powered by Tulane Connections
The 2026 International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA) proved to be the most globally connected edition yet, and Tulane School of Liberal Arts was at the center of it. Through a new institutional partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, SLA students, alumni, and faculty shared stages, classrooms, and film screenings with artists from across the world, turning the festival into a living extension of the university’s performing arts program.
This year’s festival drew more than 650 audience members and featured 20 artists from across the globe, 11 masterclass teachers, and 300 masterclass participants. Alongside the film program, the festival generated countless connections between artists, students, and the New Orleans community.
“AT DAWN” / Villa Albertine Commission
The festival opened with AT DAWN, a major commission by French choreographer Aina Alegre, presented in partnership with Villa Albertine and the Albertine Foundation through their FUSED program. The piece employed three SLA alumnae — Chloe Roberts (SLA ’23), Sydney Long (SLA ’26), and Kennedy Walker (SLA ’22) — alongside a cast of local dancers and musicians. The work also connects to ongoing scholarship at Tulane: Dr. Rachel Carrico, who performed in the piece, is completing a major research project on Second Lines, set for release soon.
Photo: Gabi Grenier, Cultural and Artistic Program Officer for Villa Albertine; Aina Alegre, Choreographer and Director of CCN Grenoble; Leslie Scott, Festival Director and Tulane School of Liberal Arts Associate Dean of Performing Arts; Rodolphe Sambou, Consul General of France in New Orleans; Thibault Bladek, Director of Villa Albertine in New Orleans; and Raelle Myrick-Hodges, Executive Director of the Contemporary Arts Center.
Regional University Partnerships
For the first time, IDFNOLA partnered with three regional universities — Northwestern State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Southern Mississippi — bringing 120 students from across the region together with Tulane students for a weekend of masterclasses and performances.
Dance on Film
IDFNOLA’s film program drew more than 100 submissions from over 30 countries this year, with 10 selected films screening at the Contemporary Arts Center. The lineup included an installation work by local artist Cristina Molina and featured SLA alumna Mackenzie Bell (SLA ’23) among the selected filmmakers.
AT DAWN
AT DAWN
Evelyn Tejeda, Gallery activation
Evelyn Tejeda, Gallery activation
Evelyn Tejeda, “Imposible Explicar”
Rachel Slater, MFA 2027 Dance Candidate - “Before the After”
Colectivo Glovo (Spain) - Performer Esther Latorre
Diana Salles - “Delusional”
