Compañía Nacional de Danza

Your last name is really unique, is it from your family or a stage name?

It’s from my family. My father is from Hamedan, a city in northern Iran.

You began your studies at the Mariemma Conservatory in Madrid, and in 2011, you traveled to New York to continue training at the School of American Ballet. What made you make that decision? You were barely sixteen years old!

I saw it as an opportunity to learn that I couldn’t pass up and I was lucky that my parents supported me at all times in the decision.

Later, in 2014, you are accepted as a guest student at Palucca Hoschule in Dresden. What did you like most about your stay?

Ugh, it’s difficult to choose one, but I would say that what excited me the most was dancing at the Semperoper a program composed of Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16 and Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony. Also, my brothers came from Spain to see the performance and, well, it was the first time they saw me dance. It was quite exciting.

Do you stick with Dresden or New York?

I loved both experiences but New York has a unique magic.

In 2016 you joined the CND after some tough auditions. What are those tests like? Did you know the rest of the applicants? Is the tension of the competition very noticeable?

The truth is, yes, they were quite hard, because the physical effort must be added to the mental effort. It seems not, but nerves are very tiring (laughs).

I remember that I entered the company headquarters at 8:30 a.m. and finished my last test around 6:00 p.m. It was an intense day.

I knew quite a few of the participants because I had met them at the Conservatory, Institute or in summer courses. It was a kind of reunion (laughs).

And as for the tension and competition, I’m lucky to usually be in my world and not pay too much attention to what’s going on around me, so that atmosphere didn’t influence me too much and, thank goodness, because with my nerves I already had enough.

You have also traveled to Seoul with the CND. What was the oriental experience like? How did the public receive you?

It was great, one of the best tours I’ve ever done. It is a totally different country but I felt super supported by everyone. The people are very polite and very attentive to any of our needs. And the public was dedicated: they waited for us at the exit to take photos with us and everything. Come on, I felt totally famous!

What is it like to have a profession that is purely physical? How do you approach that relationship with your body?

For me it is a wonder (laughs), although it is true that you always have to be aware of your body since it is your work tool and there is only one body. For example, now that summer is coming, and we have a good vacation, I cannot allow myself to go more than fifteen days without dancing or doing some type of physical exercise because I would lose almost all of my muscles. But hey, making a bar facing the sea also has its charm.

When you arrived at the CND, the artistic direction was under the name of Nacho Duato. How was it working with him?

Marvelous. He is a leader who has the dancers completely dedicated to the artistic process, to be under his tutelage. And that shows at work. When the dancers believe in their director, they don’t fail and the work works no matter what.

Today the artistic direction corresponds to Joaquín De Luz. What new artistic opportunities have you found in this last period? Have you found any new challenges?

He continues to bring new experiences to my career, new creative processes, like that of Antonio Ruz, which continue to nourish me and make me continue to grow on an artistic level. And on the other hand, he also offers me other types of challenges and opportunities and I appreciate it.

Dancing alone, as a couple or together, what do you like more?

If I had to choose, I would choose dancing as a couple. Before going on stage I usually feel quite nervous, and knowing that I have someone there by my side gives me security. Furthermore, the complicity that is created between the two makes me enjoy the piece much more.

What is a piece that you would not like to dance again or that you have taken a liking to?

Mmm…, I don’t think there is any piece that I hate so to speak. I think that in the end they have all given me something special.

Y por último, para celebrar tu cumpleaños, ¿si pudieras elegir un dulce o una comida especial cuál sería?

Sin lugar a dudas elegiría la tarta de galleta de mi tía Ana.

Do you find similarities in the kitchen and on stage?

Yes a lot. A lot because there is a lot of artistic pressure, a lot of elaboration pressure, critical pressure. Before, I had group dinners and they were like choreography, because at every minute you had to know what you had to be doing. What had to be in what place and in what… That was impressive. And also, it is very artistic too, so yes, cooking and dance have many similarities.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Cinema and theater are a necessity in my life, I love going to both alone. And besides, I like to be with my friends, drink beer, sunbathe and see the sea.

SARA KHATIBOUN – CORPS DE BALLET CND

Interviewed by: Natalia del Buey