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| Spanish National Dance Company | |
|---|---|
| Name | Spanish National Dance Company |
| Native name | Compañía Nacional de Danza |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Víctor Ullate |
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Venue | Centro Nacional de las Artes Reina Sofía (historic: Teatro María Guerrero) |
| Artistic director | Joaquín de Luz |
| Genre | Contemporary ballet, classical ballet, neoclassical, modern dance, flamenco collaborations |
Spanish National Dance Company
The Spanish National Dance Company is Spain’s premier state-funded dance ensemble, founded in 1979 to present repertory spanning contemporary ballet, neoclassical works, modern dance and collaborations with flamenco artists. Based in Madrid, the Company has worked with internationally renowned choreographers, toured across Europe, the Americas and Asia, and represented Spain at festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Salzburg Festival and Lincoln Center Festival. Its history intersects with figures from the Spanish performing arts world including founders, directors, and guest artists from institutions like the Teatro Real, Teatro de la Zarzuela, and conservatories such as the Royal Conservatory of Madrid.
The ensemble was established during the late years of the Spanish transition to democracy with links to cultural policy initiatives by the Ministry of Culture (Spain) and premieres at venues including the Teatro María Guerrero and temporary residencies at the Teatro Real. Early leadership involved choreographers and ballet masters associated with companies like Ballet Nacional de Cuba émigrés and Spanish studios led by Víctor Ullate and later successors drawn from the European ballet circuit including alumni of American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and Royal Ballet. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Company expanded its repertoire through commissions, co-productions with the Comédie-Française and exchanges with the Dutch National Ballet and the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Institutional reforms in the 2000s reflected broader cultural strategies tied to the European Capital of Culture program and collaborations with the Instituto Cervantes.
Artistic directors have shaped programming that blends choreographers from the Spanish avant-garde and international figures: productions have included works by Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Jiří Kylián, and Maurice Béjart alongside pieces by José Limón-influenced artists, commissions from Ángel Rojas, and collaborations with flamenco masters like Antonio Gades and Vicente Amigo. Repertoire features neoclassical pieces reminiscent of choreographers from the Mikhailovsky Ballet lineage, contemporary works premiered at the Teatro Real and site-specific pieces for festivals such as Festival de Otoño and Sâo Paulo Biennial events. The Company balances classical revivals, new commissions supported by foundations like the Fundación Mapfre and cultural institutions including the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.
Administratively the Company operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sport (Spain) and receives funding from state budgets, regional governments including the Community of Madrid, and private patrons such as the Fundación BBVA and corporate sponsors active in Spanish cultural patronage. Management structures mirror national performing companies like the Orquesta Nacional de España and the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, with artistic administration, production, and touring departments collaborating with trade unions and the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores. Financial oversight aligns with Spanish cultural law and European Union cultural funding mechanisms including programs associated with the Creative Europe initiative.
Principal dancers and guest artists have included performers trained at the Victor Ullate Ballet, alumni of the English National Ballet, and soloists formerly with the Ballet Nacional de España. Notable choreographers who created signature works for the Company include Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, and Crystal Pite, as well as Spanish choreographers such as Víctor Ullate, Antonio Ruz, and Rocío Molina. Collaborations have brought in conductors, set designers and composers tied to institutions like the Teatro Real, Orquesta Filarmónica de Madrid and contemporary music hubs including the Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical.
The Company has toured extensively, performing at venues and festivals including Lincoln Center Festival, Theatre du Châtelet, Tate Modern crossover events, Teatro Colón, Sydney Opera House, Bunkamura in Tokyo, and national stages across Spain such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu and Palau de la Música Catalana. International tours frequently involve cultural diplomacy coordinated with embassies and the Instituto Cervantes, presenting productions at contemporary dance festivals like the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and biennials in Venice, São Paulo, and Istanbul Biennial programs. The Company’s performances engage in co-productions with European houses such as the Bergen National Opera and touring networks like the European Festivals Association.
Educational programs connect with institutions including the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, municipal dance schools, and initiatives by the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música. Outreach includes school matinees, community workshops in partnership with municipal cultural services, residencies at conservatories, and scholarship schemes supported by foundations like Fundación Telefónica. The Company fosters links with international academies such as the Juilliard School, Codarts Rotterdam, and summer programs tied to Prix de Lausanne alumni networks.
The Company and its associated choreographers and dancers have received honors including nominations and awards linked to the Premio Nacional de Danza, prizes at the UNESCO International Dance Council events, and recognitions at festivals like Premio de la Crítica de Madrid and international choreography awards presented in Paris, Milan, and New York. Institutional accolades reflect collaborations with cultural bodies such as the Ministry of Culture and Sport (Spain) and patronage acknowledgments from major Spanish foundations.
Category:Dance companies Category:Culture in Madrid Category:Performing groups established in 1979