Compañía Nacional de Danza

As part of the programming of the ballet La Sylphide that will be performed at the Teatro de la Zarzuela from December 12 to 22, the CND organizes together with the dance critic Roger Salas a conference entitled About the Sylphide on Monday December 9 at 19:30h in the Ambigú of the Teatro de la Zarzuela.

The Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) has been the first institution to join this CND project, which consists of the development of a series of choreographic creation workshops in which, for a week, different groups of dancers from the CND share their own creations with the university community through group dynamics and movement explorations. Two weeks later, dancers and university students begin to select materials to create their own dance piece that will be offered at the UC3M Auditorium. After the sample of the scenic work, the choreographic workshop concludes with a discussion in which the students participating in the project, the dancers and the university public talk and ask questions about the creative process, their concerns, what they experienced and felt and their way of understand dance after the experience. The first workshop began on Thursday, October 31 with the dancers Isaac Montllor and Nora Peinador accompanied by Ana Catalina Román and the second with the couple of CND dancers Cristina Casa and Ion Agirretxe started on Thursday, November 7. The CND at the University was born within the social project Somos CND, which has among its objectives to bring dance closer to different groups in society through training activities and artistic creation and research projects of an interdisciplinary nature. Any interested university can propose its collaborative project to the CND contacting with aida.perez@inaem.cultura.gob.es Video of the first workshop at the UC3M

Our dancers are participating in the Balance in Flow program that its creator, the dancer and therapist Ivana Saldaña, has brought to our headquarters to contribute to the overall preparation of the company's dancers on a physical, mental and emotional level. using coaching and mindfulness tools. The Program was born in 2009 when Ivana integrated her own experience as a dancer and her own challenges as a student and professional with the knowledge acquired as a health therapist. Since then, Balance in Flow has been expanding. Ivana Saldaña, a pioneer in teaching personal and artistic growth, has been sharing her program for more than a decade with dancers from important companies in the United States, England and Spain. She is a shiatsu therapist, licensed in San Francisco and London and an NLP Master Practitioner.

Congratulations to all those who have passed the selection process for temporary coverage, linked to the duration of the artistic season, of 26 places for dancers (9 soloists and 17 for the corps de ballet) announced on August 28.

The activity at our headquarters and mainly the work of the dancers has been underway for a few weeks with daily rehearsals and classes with new repeat teachers and guest teachers. In order to avoid injuries and condition the body for the demanding professional activity they carry out, the dancers are attending a course taught by Luis Gadea, professor of dance, specialist in exercise physiology and risk prevention technician at INAEM.

José Carlos Blanco is a guest teacher at the headquarters of the Compañía Nacional de Danza. The dancer and repetitive assistant from Madrid has been reunited these days with what was his company for nine seasons. We talked to him to tell us about his projects and the work he will do in the three weeks he will be at our headquarters as guest teacher.

The new artistic director of the Compañía Nacional de Danza, Muriel Romero, has presented to the media the objectives and main lines of action of her artistic project for the next five years, until 2029, when the CND will celebrate its 50th anniversary. She was accompanied by the members of her entire team: Mayda Islas, deputy director; Ana Catalina Román, assistant artistic director; Violeta Gastón, master repetiteur; Amanda del Monte, production director; Pachi Cabanillas, technical director, and Arturo Barral, manager.

On August 29, the Undersecretariat of Culture of the Ministry of Culture published the resolution calling for the selective process for temporary coverage, linked to the duration of the artistic season, of 26 positions for dancers (9 soloists and 17 for corps de ballet). The aim is to meet the needs established in the Master Plan of the National Dance Company, according to which it is necessary to have a multimodal and interdisciplinary cast that is capable of executing the different dance styles present in the CND repertoire.

The Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música (INAEM) has announced this Tuesday the appointment of Muriel Romero as the new director of the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND), a position she will take up as of September 1, 2024 for a period of five years.

Last week we welcomed a very special group to our headquarters. The fifth and sixth grade students of the Ponce León School attended the CND headquarters on the occasion of their participation in the workshop “Silencio se baila”, an activity developed by our educational department, CND Educa, in collaboration with the Montemadrid Foundation and the Ponce León School of Madrid.

Last week the 4th ESO students of the Calasancio School of Madrid had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the Compañía Nacional de Danza.

The Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música (INAEM) announces the selection process for the directorship of the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND), whose deadline for submitting applications begins this Friday, May 31 and ends next Thursday, June 20.

In recent days at the CND headquarters we have hosted the students participating in the Emerging Talent program, belonging to Valencia en Danza and the School of Dance Roser Muñoz.

This week we have resumed our Mentoring Project. As an educational initiative of our CND Educa, promoted by our director Joaquín De Luz, this project consists of mentoring conection done by our CND dancers towards a last year professional education student.

In the last few weeks, we have continued to prepare for our next date at the International Festival of Music and Dance of Granada on June 15 with La Sylphide. On this occasion, this past Monday we attended the colloquium conference organized at the Espacio Iberia in Madrid.

Last Monday, the 4th EPCD students of the Escuela Profesional de Danza de Castilla y León in Valladolid traveled to Madrid to visit the CND.

These weeks we received at our headquarters the dancer Joan Sempere, outstanding student of the international summer dance course Valencia Endanza.

During the weeks prior to our recent premiere at Teatros del Canal, dozens of rehearsals took place at the CND headquarters, where we received important dance figures who made possible the staging of the works in the program (Heatscape, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Cantata).

During the weeks prior to our recent premiere at Teatros del Canal, dozens of rehearsals took place at the CND headquarters, where we received three important dance figures who helped us with the assembly of the pieces in the program (Heatscape, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Cantata).

During these weeks we have resumed our workshop Bailando con el dragón, a project carried out by CND Educa with Crossborder Project in some schools and institutes of Madrid.

During the weeks prior to our recent premiere at Teatros del Canal, dozens of rehearsals took place at the CND headquarters, where we received three important dance figures who helped us with the assembly of the pieces in the program (Heatscape, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Cantata).

Last April 18th we lived an unforgettable night with a great premiere for the CND in Teatros del Canal! A very special night, for different reasons. And everyone knew it and nobody wanted to miss it.

International Dance Day has been celebrated on April 29 since it was established by UNESCO in 1982, at the initiative of the International Dance Committee. This date commemorates the birth (in 1727) of Jean-Georges Noverre, dancer and teacher considered the creator of modern ballet.

Our mother dancers unite in this CND video to honor all women in celebration of 8M 2024.

The National Dance Company will perform on June 15 at the Teatro del Generalife in Granada, a magical space between the palaces and gardens of its most precious heritage, the Alhambra.

From April 18 to 21, the Compañía Nacional de Danza will present a new mixed program composed of three top-level pieces, including two premieres that will be added to the CND repertoire.

Our international tour began with a great success in Detroit, thanks to the performance of our piece Carmen, by Johan Inger. Once finished, we continued our route to New Orleans, Louisiana, where CND was honored with several important awards.

We have already started with the workshops of our project CND Estudio Abierto! A unique experience offered by the National Dance Company composed by a cycle of workshops with our dancers, repeaters and teachers aimed at professionals and non-professionals of dance.

On April 9, 2015, thanks to the direction of José Carlos Martínez, the CND presented Carmen, in the version of Johan Inger. It was such a great success that the Company has continued to represent it in theaters around the world, leaving an indelible memory of it.

As every year, from the CND we give you our calendar so you can enjoy every day of the beauty of dance. It contains images of the highlights of the last seasons. It is now available for download!

This season, the Teatro de la Zarzuela has launched a great initiative to attract young audiences interested in culture.

On December 8, after the end of the performance of Bournonville's "La Sylphide" in which the main characters were played by Giada Rossi (Sylphide) and Yanier Gómez Noda (James), the director of the CND, Joaquín De Luz publicly announced that our beloved Giada had been promoted to the category of Lead Principal Dancer, the highest that can be achieved within the CND.

Last December 7 we premiered La Sylphide at the Teatro de la Zarzuela with sold out tickets for all days.

On September 30, the dancer Elisabetta Formento was congratulated for her nomination in the fifth edition of the Premio Nazionale Sfera d'Oro per la Danza 2023, coordinated by Alfio Agostini and awarded by Gabriella Furlan Malvezzi.

The Mandarin Oriental Ritz of Madrid supports the National Dance Company in its Christmas campaign in the representation of its work The Sylphide, by August Bournonville, one of the most emblematic romantic ballets in the history of classical dance.

On November 7, the CND premiered a mixed program with great success at the Naves del Español, in Matadero, Madrid.

The National Dance Company has joined the Be a Tree Now! movement, a mobilizing and open action in which dance is used so that people see and represent themselves as a tree. The climate emergency is the biggest problem we face as a species. We must act to make visible the need to urgently apply climate justice. Today, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, International Day against Climate Change, the presentation of this initiative by Eugenio Ampudia took place in the Botanical Garden of the Complutense University.

On Saturday, October 21, the CND and Crossborder Project will hold the “Dancing with the Dragon” workshop in the Pacific Room of the Real Teatro del Retiro within the framework of the “Aprendanza23” project.

In order to promote choreographic creation and experimentation by young artists, the National Dance Company (CND) opens a new call for “Creation Residencies”, aimed at emerging choreographers and/or companies who, if selected, will be able to use the rehearsal rooms, as well as part of the CND infrastructure. The selection of choreographic projects will be carried out based on criteria of innovation and artistic excellence. The CND will contact those selected starting November 2, 2023.

Our soloist dancer, Mario Galindo, has been awarded at the 51st Positano Leonide Massine Awards gala held on Saturday night, September 2nd in Positano. Mario has won one of the awards for 'dancer of the year on the international scene'. We couldn't be prouder or more excited with this well deserved recognition to this young and talented artist, congratulations dear Mario!

As on other occasions, the Compañía Nacional de Danza, in its commitment to cultural accessibility, will provide two accessible performances in the upcoming performances at the Teatro Fernán Gómez in June and at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in July.

Our new calendar 2023 is already here! If you want it, you can download it in this link.

The Compañía Nacional de Danza presented yesterday, Wednesday September 14th, in the ambigú of the Teatro de la Zarzuela, its new Season 22/23. Joaquín De Luz, accompanied by Joan Francesc Marco, general director of INAEM, announced yesterday his wide proposal of tours and premieres for this season: - 19 stages - 64 performances - 11 premieres - 3 world premieres

Let dance transform you! The Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) presents its programming for the 22/23 season: – 10 cities (5 abroad) – 54 shows – 11 premieres (3 absolute premieres)

The Compañía Nacional de Danza, within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, has acquired new equipment for the 2022-2023 season in order to undertake the modernisation of its audiovisual equipment, with the acquisition of specific equipment for broadcasting and streaming communication.

Acuerdo por el que se aprueba una declaración institucional en solidaridad con los ciudadanos y ciudadanas de Ucrania. La invasión de Ucrania por parte de Rusia está generando la llegada a la Unión Europea de cientos de miles de refugiados. Asimismo, el inicio de la guerra impide el regreso a Ucrania de muchos ucranianos que se encuentran en situación de estancia en nuestro país (actualmente en torno a 114.000).Nuestro país no puede quedar indiferente ante la dramática situación de la población ucraniana que está huyendo de su país o que no puede regresar a él por causa de la guerra. Es el momento de mostrar nuestra solidaridad con el pueblo ucraniano. Nuestra Política Exterior, orientada a la protección de los refugiados, nos exige tomar medidas excepcionales ante esta realidad.En este contexto, a propuesta del Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación, el Consejo de Ministros aprueba una Declaración Institucional en solidaridad con los ciudadanos y ciudadanas de Ucrania, cuyo texto se inserta a continuación: “DECLARACIÓN INSTITUCIONAL DEL CONSEJO DE MINISTROS EN SOLIDARIDAD CON LOS CIUDADANOS Y CIUDADANAS DE UCRANIA A la vista del actual conflicto bélico existente en Ucrania, y de los cientos de miles de personas ucranianas que están abandonando el país, el Gobierno español declara su compromiso decidido e inquebrantable de apoyar al pueblo ucraniano y se compromete a velar por su bienestar y atender sus necesidades, tanto respecto de aquellos ciudadanos y ciudadanas de Ucrania que se encuentren en nuestro país, como de aquellos que puedan llegar al mismo en días venideros.En concreto, el Gobierno español se compromete a alinearse con la decisión que adopte el Consejo de la Unión Europea en lo relativo a la posible concesión de protección temporal en caso de afluencia masiva de personas desplazadas y a medidas de fomento de un esfuerzo equitativo entre los Estados miembros para acoger a dichas personas y asumir las consecuencias de su acogida.Con respecto a los ciudadanos ucranianos que viven en España, se adoptarán las medidas necesarias para garantizar que puedan permanecer y trabajar en nuestro país, acceder a la atención sanitaria y educativa, así como a las ayudas sociales que correspondan”. ELÉVESE AL CONSEJO DE MINISTROSMadrid, de de 2022EL MINISTRO DE ASUNTOS EXTERIORES, UNIÓN EUROPEAY COOPERACIÓNJosé Manuel Albares Bueno Ver Declaración en pdf

Benjamin defines himself as "an elegant and determined dancer who transforms on stage." French by birth, he studied ballet at the École Nationale de Danse de l’Opéra de Paris (Nanterre), at the Conservatoire National Boulogne Billancourt and at the English National Ballet School (London). He has been part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza since 2014.

He studied at the Paris Opera Ballet school and completed his training at the Paris Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance. He won the bronze medal at the Valentina Kozlova international competition in New York. In September 2015 he joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza.

Laura Pérez Hierro describes herself as "a strong, intelligent and effective dancer". As a child, she learned that goals are reached with dedication, effort and discipline. Responsible and consistent in her work and in her quest to continue learning, Laura has been part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza since 2017, during which time she has evolved and grown both as a dancer and as a person.

Giada Rossi defines her relationship with dance as "a necessity". Italian by birth, Giada trained at some of the most prestigious schools in Europe, such as the Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance or London’s Royal Ballet Upper School. She has been part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza for seven years and, since 2019, has also been a soloist dancer. At the CND she has danced Love Fear Loss by Ricardo Amarante, Arriaga by Joaquín De Luz, Pino Alosa and Mar Aguiló and Apollo by George Balanchine, The Sylphide by A. Bournonville among others.

Tamara Juárez is synonymous with sweetness. The calm that she exudes when speaking is reflected in her movements as a dancer. Born in Guadalajara, Tamara describes herself as a "classical" dancer that leaves the door open to other styles. Aware of the transience of life, she takes advantage of each day to work, train and enjoy small pleasures such as walking in the countryside with her dogs.

Ayuka Nitta is a dancer of Japanese origin who began her career at the age of ten. She has worked at the National Silesian Theatre (Czech Republic) and at the Greek National Opera Ballet, where she participated in Nacho Duato's Herrumbre. Ayuka is also one of the latest additions to the Compañía Nacional de Danza. She joined the CND last year under the artistic direction of Joaquín De Luz.  A lover of Spanish food, her daily life is marked by her intense work and her progressive adaptation to Spanish customs and routine.

Felipe Domingos is one of the latest additions to the CND. Also one of their youngest dancers. Born and raised in São Paulo (Brazil), movement and dance are in his blood. Despite her youth, she has danced across three continents and dozens of countries. Now he is adapting to ours in an environment that he describes as "incredible."

Felipe Domingos is one of the latest additions to the CND. He is also one of its youngest dancers. Born and raised in São Paulo (Brazil), he has movement and dance in his blood. Despite his youth, he has danced across three continents and dozens of countries. Now he is adapting to ours in an environment that he describes as "incredible".

The activity in the Compñaía Nacional de Danza has not stopped even with the arrival of the end of the year.

Seville-born Álvaro Madrigal is a versatile dancer. He cannot be pigeonholed as a classical dancer or as a contemporary dancer but rather is able to enjoy the full repertoire of the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND). Álvaro respects classical dance so much that he could easily be considered a classical dancer. But the same could be said regarding contemporary dance also. He himself prefers to be defined as an emotional dancer; somebody who needs to feel something when dancing.

Álvaro Madrigal, Sevillian by birth, is a versatile dancer. He is not pigeonholed as a classical dancer or a contemporary dancer, which allows him to enjoy the entire repertoire of the National Dance Company. Álvaro respects classical dance a lot to define himself as a classical dancer and the same with respect to contemporary dance. He defines himself as an emotional dancer, someone who needs to feel something when he is dancing.

Daniella Oropesa, a ballet dancer of Cuban origin, began her training at the Escuela Elemental de Ballet Alejo Carpentier. She continued with her training at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet in Havana and, in 2020, she joined Laura Alonso’s company. She has danced in different countries such as Australia and New Zeland, within the Ballet Revolución programme, as well as an invited guest dancer with Les Ballets de France in Paris. In 2017, she joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza, where she has performed in pieces such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Concierto DSCH, Triple Bach and Arriaga, among others.

Daniella Oropesa, a dancer of Cuban origin, begins training at the Alejo Carpentier Elementary Ballet School. She continued her training at the National Ballet School in Havana, and in 2010 she joined Laura Alonso's company. She has danced in countries such as Australia and New Zealand within the Ballet Revolución program and as a guest at Les Ballets de France in Paris. In 2017 he joined the National Dance Company, where he has performed pieces such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, DSCH Concert, Triple Bach and Arriaga, among others.

Juan José Carazo began his studies at the Mariemma Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance. In 2011 she participated in the School of American Ballet's summer program and a year later she began working at the American Ballet Theater II. In 2015 he joined the National Dance Company under the artistic direction of José Carlos Martínez. Persistent, constant, hard-working, different and, above all, positive dancer.

Juan José Carazo began his studies at the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma. In 2011 he participated in the summer program of the School of American Ballet and a year later he began working at the American Ballet Theater II. In 2015 he joined the National Dance Company under the artistic direction of José Carlos Martínez.

Daan Vervoort is a dancer of Belgian origin who, after dancing in different countries, ended up in Spain in 2006 to join the junior version of the CND, the CND2, under the direction of Nacho Duato. He later joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza and, in 2013, was promoted to soloist category. In 2016, he danced in Johan Inger’s Carmen, with Emilia Gisladottir, in Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and for which Inger, the choreographer, won the prestigious Benois de la Danse award. Daan has also danced Nacho Duato’s Kol Nidre y Gnawa, William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman, Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16 and Mats Ek’s Casi-Casa, among other choreographies.

Sara was born in Almeria. She started her training at the Almeria Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza. In 2006, she graduated from the Mariemma Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza in Madrid and subsequently continued her training in different techniques. In January 2007, she joined the CND2 (an adjunct of the CND, directed then by Nacho Duato) under the artistic direction of Tony Fabre. In September 2010, she moved over to form part of the CND dance team.

Shlomi is a creative dancer born in Israel whose career in dance began unexpectedly. After his education in L&L Goodman Bat-Door, Kamea Dance Company and Israel Ballet he took the risk to travel to Zurich and dance in the Junior Zurich Ballet of Switzerland without knowing the language. In 2018 he joined the CND, where he has danced various pieces such as Pulcinella, Carmen, Giselle, Remansos, In Paradisum and Arriaga where he performs an extraordinary solo.

Isaac Montllor, born in Alcoy (Valencia region), is a Principal Dancer and veteran artist at the CND. Following his training, which took place in Alcoy and Valencia, he joined CND2—a reserve squad of young dancers—directed by Nacho Duato and Tony Fabre. A year later, he joined the CND where his intense career took him on tours around the world. He has worked with such renowned choreographers as Jirí Kilyán, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Johan Inger, Alexander Ekman and Itzik Galili, among others. He joins us to talk about his career, his goals and, above all, his passion for dance.

Mario was born in Madrid. He started his dancing journey in a school of his neighbourhood, and in 2014 he made the jump to proffessional dancing training. After graduating in 2019 he continued studying at San Francico Ballet School. Since 2021 he's part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza.

Shani is an Israeli-born dancer. In 2006, she started her training in the Thelma-Yellin High School of the Arts. In 2010, she joined the Israel Ballet and, four years later, went on to join the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND), under the artistic direction of José Carlos Martínez. In September 2019, she rose to soloist category under the artistic direction of Joaquín De Luz.

I would define myself as a versatile dancer. In other words, I am not a dancer who offers a very defined trait in this or that particular aspect but, rather, I offer balance and adaptability.

Sara Khatiboun is a dancer from Madrid, where she began her studies at the Mariemma Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance. In 2011 he joined the School of American Ballet and in 2014 as a guest student at Palucca Hoschule in Dresden. In 2016 he joined the National Dance Company.

Mi nombre es Anthony Pina y me uní a la CND en septiembre de 2012. Como bailarín, me describiría a mí mismo como agudo y enérgico. Me encanta trabajar rápido y probar el límite de la rapidez con la que puedo moverme mientras sigo trabajando con una técnica limpia. Una de las cosas que más me gusta de la danza es que es una experiencia de aprendizaje interminable. Hay tantas formas de abordar la danza y la técnica, ¡y quiero aprenderlas todas!

Celia Dávila, a Basque dancer from the city of Vitoria, first had contact with dance at barely the age of four. The passion she feels for this discipline, and most especially for ballet, led her to winning scholarships in Cannes, Monaco and Boston. In 2016, she joined the Carmina Ocaña and Pablo Savoye dance school. There, she danced the part of Olga in Picasso, by the renowned Antonio Ruiz and, after taking part in Don Quijote Suite, by José Carlos Martínez, she later joined the CND under the direction of Joaquín De Luz.

Natalia Muñoz, a soloist at the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND), began her dance studies at the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza, where she learned classical technique at Berlin Deutsche Opera at the hands of great masters such as the director herself, Virginia Valero. In 2002, she joined the Berlin Deutsche Opera under Sylviane Bayard. There, she spent eleven years dancing different classical and contemporary pieces, all forging her talents as a versatile dance. Since she joined the CND in 2012, under the direction of José Carlos Martínez, her cheerful spirit and the capacity for work she demonstrates daily have been contagious.

Marcos was born in Madrid, where he graduated at the Mariemma Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza. In 2011, he accepted a scholarship to attend the Boston Ballet School’s summer programme, where he studied under Mikko Nissinen. In 2014, his dancing career continued with the caraBdanza dance company, where he danced a neoclassical and contemporary repertoire. Subsequently, at the request of José Carlos Martínez, he was invited to collaborate with the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) in its production of Don Quijote and, while there, he also took part in the ballet Raymonda Divertimento.

YaeGee Park, a Korean soloist dancer started dancing ballet when she was a kid among other art disciplines. She attended Korean National Ballet Academy and SunHwa Art School. Although she is more focused on the classical style, she has being recognized by Forsythe itself for her take in In the Middle Somewhat Elevated. In 2012 she joined the CND; she has danced the role of Kitri, main female character in Don Quixote Suite by José Carlos Martínez, where she also shared the stage with the actual director of the Company Joaquín De Luz.  

José Alberto Becerra is a dancer of Cuban origin, who got into ballet after joining the Escuela Vocacional de Arte de Eva Olga Alonso and, later, the Escuela Nacional de Ballet. He has danced in the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and in the English National Ballet, not only as a corps de ballet dancer but also as soloist and principal dancer. He has also danced in the Fundación para la danza Compañía Víctor Ullate, where he worked for six years until its closure. He has worked with choreographers such as James Kelly, Alicia Alonso, Aurora Bosch and Jiří Kylián, among others. In the 2020 season, he joined the CND under the direction of Joaquín De Luz.  

Ana Calderón, one of our soloists, started out in the world of dance at a very young age, learning jumps and pirouettes at the Mariemma Conservatorio Profesional de Danza in Madrid. Throughout her career, she has passed through different European and American companies, such as Switzerland’s Zurich Ballet or the Houston Ballet, where she acquired great expressivity in her dance. Her path brought her to Spain, where she joined the dance company of Ángel Corella, with whom she would later work with again at the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2019, her dancing speed and versatility brought her to join the Compañía Nacional de Danza under the artistic direction of Joaquín De Luz.

Cuban dancer Yanier Gómez started his studies at the Alejo Carpentier Escuela Elemental de Ballet. He entered international contests in Havana, achieving Gold and Grand Prix for best partner at 17. In 2008, he joined the dance team at Ballet Nacional Cuba under the artistic direction of Alicia Alonso. He entered various Havana International Festivals, as well taking part in galas with stars from the American Ballet Theatre. In September 2016, he joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza as soloist.

Cultivate, replant, clean... Is our last chance. Stop the catastrophe, prevent, protect, repair. It is time. It is your moment.

This week we launched theMentoring Project, in which two main dancers from the Company have shared their day-to-day life and their professional experience with two students from the RCPD Mariemma (Mariemma Royal Proffesional Dance School) who are in their final years of training. We wanted to interview them so they could tell us how the experience was like. Lucas López, a 5th grade professional dance student, has had the opportunity to learn from Alessandro Riga, the leading figure of the Company. Julia Ibáñez, a classical ballet student in the 6th grade of professional dance training, has had the opportunity to learn with Cristina Casa, principal dancer of the Company.

Johan Inger visits our headquarters to begin the rehearsals for Carmen. An original creation for the Compañía Nacional de Danza (Spain) that premiered in 2015 and which is back to the stages in Úbeda and Seville. We made the most of his visit to get to know more about the creation of this ballet, the challenges he faced when remaking a classic, and how both the costume and set design complete a piece that was a turning point in the interpretation of a constantly changing myth.

Pauline Perraut, one of our corps de ballet dancers at the CND, began her studies in a private school where she trained under some of the best teachers from the Paris Opéra. Her love of travelling led her to train at different courses in cities throughout Europe. At 18, she joined the Ballet de l'Opéra de Bordeaux and, later, she started touring the most renowned theatres of Italy. She has been a part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza since 2016 where, in each piece, she reveals her versatility and her inherently natural dancing style.

María Muñoz was born in the village of Cabezo de Torres, in Murcia province. Her love for the arts and for dance began at a very tender age. She began her training at Murcia’s Professional Conservatory and later joined the Victor Ullate dance school, where she trained for five years. She has danced such iconic pieces as Don Quijote, Swan Lake and a number of choreographies by Forsythe, such as Artifact and In The Middle. After spending time in England and Germany she joined the CND in 2014 as part of the corps de ballet.

In Paradisum, Antonio Ruz’s latest creation for the Compañía Nacional de Danza (Spain) is inspired by the Spanish painter El Greco’s colour palette for the costume design, lighting design and also on the dancer’s movements and figures. The composition’s verticality and height, along with the dark and ocre colour tones with strokes of red, white, blue and green are reflected in the choreography. Moreover, the piece also recalls other painters, mainly being from the Renaissance and Baroque period. We can appreciate Caravaggio’s characteristic chiaroscuro technique; the dynamic lines of the body’s posture, often resembling the descent of the cross in Raffaelo’s and Caracciolo’s works; the perspective Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Dalí, or even Bouguereau’s Nymphs and Satyr mythological creatures’ fluid movements. Next, a series of examples of paintings beside In Paradisum’s photographies by Alba Muriel.  

Barcelona-born Elisabet Biosca is a CND soloist dancer with an impressive track record performing key roles, such as Carmen, Lady Capuleto or Bathilde. She has danced numerous choreographic works, including pieces by Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Jirí Kylián, William Forsythe and Alexander Ekman. She has also performed leading parts in short films combining dance and interpretation; most of them under the direction of María Salgado Gispert. She is currently studying for a higher degree in Choreography and Interpretation. She directed the piecesSN Serial Number (2014) with Antonio de Rosa, Home (2016) with Agnès López and Solitud (2017).

Alessandro Riga, lead principal dancer at the Compañía Nacional de Danza, has shared his passion for music with us since 2013. He has worked in different European companies, suchas as Germany’s Semperoper or the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, in Italia, his homeland. His talent has thrust him onto some of the most prestigious theatre stages of Italy, where he has danced a wide repertoire, from the most widely known classical pieces to the most relevant contemporary choreographers. In 2013, he joined the CND as principal dancer and later rose to lead principal. Since then, we have witnessed his versatility and capacity to thrill us on stage.

The triple programme composed by In Paradisum, by Antonio Ruz (recently premiered at Teatros del Canal, Madrid), along with Remansos and White Darkness by Nacho Duato, celebrates the International Dance Day 2021. Below, this year's message, written by the German ballet dancer Friedemann VOGEL.  

Irene is a dancer from Almuñécar and who, at just the age of two, started out in the world of dance at Almuñecar’s Aromar dance academy. At the age of eight she joined the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Reina Sofía, in Granada, with Alejandro Donaire as her teacher. In 2010, she moved to Madrid to continue her studies at the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma, where she graduated in 2013. Two years later she joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza, under the artistic direction of José Carlos Martínez.

Among our passionate roster of dancers, Cristina Casa has shared her thrilling style with the CND since 2015, when she first danced the role of Quinteria in . Don Quixotefor the Company. Her journey begins at the schools of María Larios and Africa Guzmán, later to move on to work in schools and companies abroad, such as the English National Ballet or the Royal Ballet of Flanders. Her track record, marked by her constancy, brings her the opportunity to join the CND, where, in 2017, she rises to the category of principal dancer. Ion Agirretxe, is a fighter; persevering and hard-working; characteristics that make him a great dancer. He starts out dancing the traditional dances of his homeland, the Basque Country, but later leaves to work in the Europa Dance company, in France. His career is forged at different companies at home and abroad, until joining the CND in 2016. His simplicity and capacity for work raise him to the category of solo dancer two years later. Together, this couple have imbued many a great stage with their complicity. Together, they have worked with and learned from the best choreographers. And together they have carried out projects jointly, guided by their love of dance and towards each other. Both humbly defend the need to pursue their dreams, a belief they transmit on a daily basis at the Compañía Nacional de Danza.

Clara Maroto is a young dancer from Tarragona who at just 12 years old opted for dance moving to Madrid. She continued his training at the Professional Dance Conservatory Mariemma and in 2013 she joined the CND. Only two years later she got the role of Mercedes in Don Quijote Suite. After many other important roles, in 2020, she debuted with the role of Myrtha in Giselle, under the direction of Joaquín De Luz. And on March 11th, 2021, coinciding with his birthday and with the publication of this interview, she will perform again as the Wilis Queen at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo.

Erez Ilan, a shy but passionate ballet dancer, has been a part of the Compañía Nacional de Danza’a (CND) dance team since 2008; an opportunity extended to him by Nacho Duato, then CND director. Starting at a very young age, Ilan trained at The School of Ice Skating and Ballet and at The Thelma-Yellin High School of Arts, both in his native Israel. At 18, he took the leap and crossed the Mediterranean to explore Europe and to work at the CND. His dedication and talent paid off, earning him a place as soloist in 2017, a role he holds to this day, marking both a personal triumph for himself and the CND directorship’s validation of his work.

Antonio Ruz, choreographer and former dancer from the Compañía Nacional de Danza, returns to the CND to create his piece, In Paradisum.

Tulle, fabris, lace and embrouderies invaded our headquarters. Each day, Joaquín De Luz's vision of a Spanish Giselle comes more to life.

Teatro de la Zarzuela 9th - 22nd December

The Compañía Nacional de Danza joins for another year the celebration of the World Ballet Day With livestreams of classes and rehearsals during Thrusday, 29th of October, 2020.

We launch a new season and we did not want to miss the chance to promote it on our social networks. We're back on Pinterest with the last performances. Don't miss a thing.

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With the work of composer, and basque genius, Juan Crisostomo Arriaga as a starting point, we present Arriaga. A choreographic piece that features three voices, where our artistic director, Joaquín De Luz, was joined by Pino Alosa (associate artistic director) and company's dancer, Mar Aguiló, to create 30 minutes of magic.

Due to the importance of the medium -The New York Times- and the importance of the issue -coming back to the stage- we don't want to miss our chance of sharing with you today's article that feature us in one of the most influencial and emblematic papers in the world.

The Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) premiered in Madrid a very special program, dedicated to the sanitary personnel, to open the  2020 edition of Veranos de la Villa this past 29th of July. The festival, organized by Madrid's City Hall, wanted to arise the value of the city as a cultural stage and meeting point for creator from all around the world. The CND, without a doubt, is one of those meeting spaces.

Ballets offered to be wachted online during four days, belong to CND's historical repertoire.

Compañía Nacional de Danza, directed by por Joaquín De Luz presents Dance Capsules, described here after, with the purpose of approaching dance to society and making more than ever CND a meeting point for choreographers, dancers, musicians, ballet masters, playwrights, costume designers and plastic artists among others.

The lead principal dancer, Alessandro Riga, lets us rediscover him from a more personal perspective.

The INAEM has summoned all artistic units to unite the in an online event for the European Music Day that, like every year, is celebrated on the 21st of June. The CND will join this initiative with "Loss", extract from Love Fear Loss, by Ricardo Amarante, with music by Charles Dumont; and with Afterlove, by Mar Aguiló, original music by Aire - Daniel Sánchez Rodríguez.