Compañía Nacional de Danza

Compañía Nacional de Danza
Name	Compañía Nacional de Danza
Founded	1979
Founder	Víctor Ullate
Location	Madrid, Spain
Venue	Teatro Nacional María Guerrero
Genre	Contemporary ballet, Classical ballet
Artistic director	Joaquín de Luz

Compañía Nacional de Danza is the principal national ballet company of Spain, based in Madrid and resident at the Teatro Nacional María Guerrero. It has evolved from a classical ballet ensemble into a leading contemporary ballet company, maintaining connections with international choreographers, institutions, and touring circuits. The company has played a central role in Spanish performing arts, collaborating with theaters, festivals, and cultural ministries across Europe and the Americas.

History

The company was established during the late 20th century amid cultural reforms linked to the transition after the death of Francisco Franco and the advent of the Spanish transition to democracy, receiving support from the Ministry of Culture (Spain), the Teatro Real, and the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música. Its founding choreographer, Víctor Ullate, transitioned the ensemble from a classical orientation to include modern works alongside French and Russian repertory such as pieces from the lineages of Marius Petipa, Serge Lifar, and George Balanchine. Under successive directors including Nacho Duato and José Carlos Martínez, the company deepened ties with contemporary choreographers from companies like Ballets de Monte-Carlo, English National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Paris Opera Ballet. Institutional milestones intersected with national cultural initiatives linked to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the Instituto Cervantes, and international festivals such as the Festival de Granada and Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico de Mérida.

Artistic Direction and Repertoire

Artistic leadership has included figures trained in multiple traditions: Víctor Ullate (classical-Spanish lineage), Nacho Duato (contemporary Spanish choreography with links to Mikhail Baryshnikov's era), José Carlos Martínez (martial and classical synthesis), and Joaquín de Luz (neoclassical and Balanchine-influenced repertoire). The repertory mixes works by choreographers such as Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Alvin Ailey, George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Crystal Pite, Angelin Preljocaj, Ohad Naharin, Alberto Lorca, and Mariano Otero. The company's seasons have included canonical ballets, contemporary premieres, and commissions staged with scenic designers from the networks of the Teatro Real, the Gran Teatro del Liceo, and the Royal Opera House. Collaborations with composers and conductors such as Ennio Morricone, Ludovico Einaudi, Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Daniel Barenboim have informed multidisciplinary productions presented at venues including the Teatro Real, the Auditorio Nacional de Música, and the Teatro Albéniz.

Dancers and Training

Company members often train at institutions like the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Madrid, and international schools tied to Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, and the School of American Ballet. Principal dancers have included alumni from Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Paris Opera Ballet School, and the Royal Ballet School. The company maintains in-house pedagogy influenced by methods from César Ollier, Enrique García Asensio, and contemporary practice linked to Gaga-informed workshops and residencies with choreographers from Tanztheater Wuppertal and Het Nationale Ballet. Programs for apprentices and corps de ballet integrate touring demands similar to those of American Ballet Theatre and Staatsballett Berlin, while outreach initiatives coordinate with the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música and municipal cultural programs in Madrid and the Comunidad de Madrid.

Collaborations and Tours

The company has toured extensively, appearing at festivals and houses such as the Lincoln Center, Palais Garnier, Teatro Colón, Sydney Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, Kunsthalle Zürich events, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It has co-produced works with companies including Batsheva Dance Company, Dutch National Ballet, Compagnie Jean-Claude Gallotta, and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. International residencies and exchanges have involved partnerships with the British Council, the European Union cultural programs, and the Asia-Europe Foundation, while tours often align with diplomatic and cultural missions undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain). The company's touring repertoire has been presented at dance festivals such as the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Sadler's Wells Theatre seasons, and venues programmed by the Saison Culturelle networks.

Venue and Facilities

The company's principal stage and administrative home is the Teatro Nacional María Guerrero in Madrid, sharing the city's performing arts ecosystem with the Teatro Real, the Teatro de la Zarzuela, and the Auditorio Nacional de Música. Rehearsal and studio facilities align with standards found at the Royal Opera House and Staatsoper Unter den Linden, equipped for multimedia productions and collaborations with visual artists from institutions such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. The company participates in municipal and national cultural infrastructure planning alongside the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and receives funding frameworks comparable to those of the Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes in neighboring countries.

Awards and Recognition

The company and its members have received national and international honors, including distinctions related to the Premio Nacional de Danza, nominations for Laurence Olivier Awards, and recognition at festivals like the Benois de la Danse and the Premios MAX. Choreographers associated with the company have earned awards from institutions such as the Spanish Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences, the European Cultural Foundation, and juries at the Varna International Ballet Competition. The ensemble's recordings and filmed productions have been archived by broadcasters including Televisión Española and featured in retrospectives at the Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastián.

Category: Ballet companies Category: Dance in Spain