I met Iratxe in 2016 when I invited her and her partner Igor to host a movement workshop for the cast of The House of Dancing Water in Macau. I had watched a few of their videos online and could see what incredible dancers they were. The workshop was based around a methodology they were developing at the time called Metamorphosis, and which has gone on to become the basis of their company Metamorphosis Dance. When we had discussed the workshop I explained that not all of the performers were dancers, and Iratxe described how the workshop was for everyone, and encouraged me to participate.

I could not walk for 2 days after the workshop. I have always considered myself reasonably fit (not acrobat or dancer fit - but normal fit), but this workshop forced me so far out of my comfort zone I didn’t think I would ever find it again. Iratxe and Igor work with an intensity that is unforgiving...you commit to the movement or you leave.

Their work has taken them all over the world, and they have received invitations to collaborate with many artists outside the dance world. Each project becomes an intense investigation and the resulting performances are always captivating.

Iratxe and I have been trying to find time to talk for the past two months, but despite covid her schedule has been packed with new projects and most recently she was honored with the National Dance Prize in Spain so she has been booked for appearances like a Queen. We managed to find an hour during an intensive creation.

As time was tight, we didn’t get to cover everything, but this is a great introduction to Iratxe, and the way she approaches work.