Compañía Nacional de Danza

You come from one of the most artistic cities in Spain: Seville, was it its elf that inspired you to start dancing?

It is true that Seville is a city that can inspire you in many ways, but I consider that it is your body when listening to music that inspires you to dance, regardless of where you grew up.

The artistic profession is very present in your family. Did it influence you when you decided to dedicate yourself to the art of dance?

It influenced me when it came to being free, to choose what to do with my life. I always had the support of my parents to dedicate myself to anything that made me happy.

Dance is such a physically difficult profession that it prevents you from being able to dedicate yourself to it all your life. What do you think you will dedicate yourself to when you don’t have the physical capacity that you have now? Have you thought about studying another career?

Well, it’s a question that scares dancers in general, but it doesn’t keep me up at night much.

It is true that to dance in a company like the CND there is a physiological age limit. We are not obliged to leave the company at a certain age, but there comes a time when your body no longer performs as well as when you were young and it is more difficult to reach the level of excellence that certain choreographies require and then you have no choice but to leave your position. dancer in the company.

However, dance is for everyone and for all ages, so if you want to continue dancing once you reach a certain age, you can create or join projects focused on other types of dance that do not require the agility and strength of a young person. twenty-five. This does not make this dance any less interesting, on the contrary, it is a dance full of experience, knowledge and maturity, but the truth is that there is no place for this type of dance in the Company, which is why I consider that the dancer’s retirement should be advance at a consistent age, as other European countries do and not at sixty-five, as happens in Spain. Maybe I’ll open a fried fish bar on the beach when I’m older, who knows! I receive with open arms everything that life gives me.

At the beginning of your career you worked in Ángel Corella’s company like some of your colleagues from the CND. Did you meet them? What learning did you take away from there?

Yeah! And it made me very excited. I met Toby William Mallit, Cristina Casa, Ana Calderón, Ion Agirretxe and Roberto and Iván Sánchez. The first thing I learned was that I had a lot to learn. It was a company full of talents and they inspired and motivated me a lot.

Your career has been marked by different ballet companies. What style of dance do you think defines you? Do you think that having worked in these companies has influenced your choice?

Fortunately I have worked in several companies with very different repertoires and that has given me the ability to adapt and tools to build myself as a dancer. In life you have to try everything to know what you really like, valid advice not only for dance.

Besides classical ballet, are there other styles that characterize you? Being from Seville, flamenco?

Well, I was never really good at flamenco. I was very shy and had little blood, and that is the worst recipe for that discipline, although I have to say that now there are few things I enjoy more than dancing a sevillana at the Real de la Feria with my friends from the conservatory.

Not long ago you were able to enjoy a class with Joaquín De Luz at the CND and with guitar accompaniment. What did it feel like as a Sevillian to dance to the chords of a flamenco guitar?

I really enjoyed it and it was very appreciated but, in my opinion, I prefer the piano. Both instruments are polyphonic and have great musical richness, although when it comes to playing several notes at the same time, the piano is more flexible than the guitar and its range of nuances is wider, which is appreciated to accompany certain exercises. Even so, I think it was very interesting as ear work in class.

You have also danced with different choreographers of enormous prestige. Which one have you identified with the most?

I have really enjoyed working with Antonio Ruz. I have felt very comfortable with their language and that gave me the ability to relax, enjoy and transport myself on stage to a very special place while I danced.

In 2012 you joined the National Dance Company under the direction of José Carlos Martínez. You have danced lead roles and soloists. What role did you like to perform the most?

I have a piece saved in a very beautiful place in my heart. Gods and Dogs, by Jiří Kylián. I can’t tell you that I danced it perfectly but I can assure you that the sensations that ran through my body made all the sacrifices I made since I started dancing worth it.

It was an intense and very beautiful process and I was lucky to have the dancer Irene Ureña as a partner, with whom I feel a very special connection on stage. Feeling her next to me gave me peace and security.

In the Company you share many hours with colleagues from other cultures, including your own, Andalusian. What does that diversity give you? What do you contribute?

I love the cultural diversity that the Company has, especially gastronomically speaking! I love when YaeGee Park takes me out for Korean barbecue or Anthony Pina makes me American-style pancakes. As a bargaining chip I have my beloved April Fair and I take them to drink rebujitos and eat ham.

You have been lucky enough to be able to work on your passion in your country. Do you think that dance occupies an important place in Spanish culture? Do you think it is well valued?

I think it is easy to answer this question just by seeing the number of dancers with immense talent who have to leave the country to be able to dance with dignity. The situation of dance in Spain is precarious. With the talent that exists in the country, if dance were valued here and occupied the place it deserves in culture, Spain would be a world power of dance.

Finally, will you celebrate your birthday dancing? Would you like to spend it in your country?

Of course dancing, yes, but anywhere as long as it’s with the people I love.

Interview: Natalia del Buey