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| National Dance Company of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Dance Company of Spain |
| Native name | Compañía Nacional de Danza |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Predecessor | Ballet Nacional de España Clásico |
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Venue | Teatro María Guerrero |
| Artistic director | (see Repertoire and Artistic Direction) |
National Dance Company of Spain is the principal contemporary ballet company funded by the Ministry of Culture and resident at the Teatro María Guerrero in Madrid. Founded during the late years of the Spanish transition to democracy and linked to institutions such as the Ballet Nacional de España Clásico and the Spanish National Ballet, the company has evolved through multiple artistic directors, collaborations with international houses, and tours across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Its work bridges choreographers from the 20th century and 21st century and engages with festivals like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Festival d'Avignon, and Zürich Ballet Festival.
The ensemble traces origins to initiatives led in the 1970s by figures connected to the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música and Centro Dramático Nacional, with formal establishment occurring under cultural policy shaped by the Constitución Española de 1978 and the Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte (España). Early directors referenced the heritage of companies such as the Ballets Russes and institutions like the Royal Opera House and the Paris Opera Ballet, while responding to contemporaneous movements championed by choreographers associated with Martha Graham, José Limón, and Maurice Béjart. Subsequent leaderships intersected with personalities from the Congreso de los Diputados cultural committees and collaborated with theaters including the Teatro Real and the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Tours were organized alongside diplomatic cultural initiatives with embassies such as the Embassy of Spain in the United States and festivals like Salzburg Festival.
The repertoire blends works from canonical creators and living artists: pieces by George Balanchine, Pina Bausch, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, and Maurice Béjart have been staged alongside commissions by contemporary choreographers such as Nacho Duato, Joaquín de Luz, Angelin Preljocaj, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Alessandro Sciarroni, and Alberto Velasco. Artistic directors have included internationally known names who connected the company to institutions like the Staatsballett Berlin, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet. Collaborations with composers from the lineage of Igor Stravinsky, Ludwig van Beethoven, Ennio Morricone, Philip Glass, and Ólafur Arnalds have been complemented by scenographers from the Picasso and Miró traditions and lighting designers who worked at venues such as Lincoln Center and Palau de la Música Catalana.
The company roster and guest artists have included dancers trained at the Royal Ballet School, Juilliard School, Escuela Superior de Danza de Madrid, Institut del Teatre, and alumni of companies such as the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and Mariinsky Ballet. Prominent figures associated with the company’s seasons encompass choreographers and performers linked to Nacho Duato, Cesc Gelabert, Sol Picó, Antonio Ruz, Cristina Hoyos, Sara Baras, Jordi Cortés, Rafael Aguilar, María Pagés, and La Fura dels Baus collaborators. Guest artists drawn from the Paris Opera Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Teatro alla Scala, and Kirov Ballet have reinforced its international profile, as have partnerships with dramaturges connected to the Royal Shakespeare Company and conductors from the Orquesta Nacional de España.
Productions have ranged from intimate studio premieres at the Centro Cultural Conde Duque to large-scale stagings at venues like the Teatro Real, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and festivals including Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada, Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico de Almagro, and Biennale di Venezia. Touring circuits have included performances at the Lincoln Center Festival, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Teatro Colón, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Marrakech International Film Festival cultural programs, and national circuits spanning Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, and Zaragoza. Co-productions with companies such as the Comédie-Française, Résidence de Nice, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), and the Kennedy Center have expanded outreach and multimedia collaborations with institutions like the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Museo del Prado.
Educational initiatives have partnered with conservatories including the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, regional dance schools like the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Madrid, and university programs at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad de Barcelona. Community outreach has involved cultural centers such as the Casa de América, municipal programs in Las Palmas, residencies at the Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical, and collaborations with non-profits like Fundación 'la Caixa' and Fundación Montemadrid. Workshops and masterclasses feature visiting artists from institutions such as the Royal Academy of Dance, George Washington University performance programs, and exchange projects with the Cuban Instituto Superior de Arte and Beijing Dance Academy.
The company and its productions have been recognized by national bodies including the Premios Max, Premio Nacional de Danza (Spain), and honors from regional governments such as the Junta de Andalucía and Generalitat de Catalunya. International commendations have come from cultural festivals such as the Benois de la Danse, Prix de Lausanne mentions through affiliated alumni, and selections for programs at the Festival d'Avignon and Edinburgh International Festival. Institutional partnerships with the European Capital of Culture initiatives and endorsements from arts councils like the Instituto Cervantes attest to its standing.
Category:Dance companies in Spain Category:Performing groups established in 1979