Mission

The CND's mission

To promote and divulge the art of dance and dance repertoire to a broad audience. This means consolidating a stable company, open to all dance styles, choreographic languages and different movement arts in general, embracing both Spanish and international creations. All this aims to draw in new audiences and to boost the company’s reach and scope at home and abroad. And it will be carried out within a framework of complete artistic and creative freedom.

All this is guided by the principles of quality service for citizens and professional excellence, involving interest-group participation and a drive to educate, while ensuring efficient use of resources. The approach is underlined by the onward preservation, dissemination and performance of this invaluable and intangible heritage that is dance.

10 keys to its vision

Joaquín De Luz

01. A NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY (COMPAÑÍA NACIONAL DE DANZA – CND) WITH ITS OWN IDENTITY, WITH A CLEAR SPACE ON SOCIETY’S STAGE, RECOGNISED INTERNATIONALLY AND CHARACTERISED BOTH FOR EXCELLENCE AND AN ABILITY TO NURTURE AND REVEAL TALENT.
The work carried out in previous chapters continues, with the CND consolidating its own identity and aspiring to further artistic excellence. That involves marrying tried and tested classic techniques with interpretation and versatility.

02. A NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WITH REPERTOIRES that are varied and widely recognised at home and abroad, incorporating not only classical, neoclassical and contemporary dance but also the most avant-garde expressions of the movement arts. The repertoires will be made up of emblematic historic pieces as well as creations commissioned by the CND to choreographers from home and abroad. All will bear the CND’s own distinctive language and stamp.

03. EMPHASIS ON THE VISIBILITY OF WOMEN CHOREOGRAPHERS by including their works in the Company’s repertoire, by fostering commissions to renowned Spanish and foreign female choreographers and by creating a programme of women choreographers as part of the CND’s tours.

04. CONTINUED TRAINING to improve each dancer’s skills as part of their ongoing learning process. That includes visits from teachers from home and abroad and covering a range of disciplines and styles. The working atmosphere is friendly, demanding and empathetic, enhancing career compatibility with TRAINING and PROFESSIONAL RETRAINING.

05. THE CND AND EDUCATION. The CND supports conservatories and professional dance schools and is committed to the ongoing development of an educational programme and parallel activities.

06. COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND ARTISTIC VENTURE THROUGH ATTRACTNG AND INTEGRATING ARTISTS FROM A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES, such as composers, designers, visual artists or creators working with new technologies.

07. INCREASED NUMBER OF CND PERFORMANCES WITH LIVE ORCHESTRAS when working with theatres and auditoriums which have in-house orchestras.

08. A PUSH FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURS in order to reach corners of Spain not yet visited by the CND as well as prestigious international expos and festivals.

09. SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SYSTEMATIC FORWARD PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING. This involves a commitment to programming both tour repertoire and dates with as much forward notice as possible. This approach optimises resources and the possibilities of sponsorships and will be accompanied by constant contact, as well as cultural collaborations, with relevant institutions at home and abroad.

10. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF CND SPONSORSHIPS AND PATRONAGE within the legal Spanish framework.

Brief history of the company

CND's history

The Compañía Nacional de Danza was founded in 1979 under the name Ballet Clásico Nacional and headed by Víctor Ullate as its first director. In February 1983, María de Ávila took on the directorship of both the Ballet Nacional Español and the Ballet Clásico Español, placing special emphasis on opening the doors to choreographers such as George Balanchine and Antony Tudor. Furthermore, María de Ávila commissioned choreographies to the American dancer and choreographer Ray Barra, at the time resident in Spain. She later offered him the post as full-time director, which he accepted and held until December 1990.

In December 1987, the outstanding Russian dancer Maya Plisétskaya took her post as artistic ballet director. In June 1990, Nacho Duato was installed as artistic director of what was now called the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND); a position he held for twenty years, up to July 2010. His incorporation brought about an innovative change to the company’s history and make up, with the inclusion of new, original choreographies within its repertoire, together with long-standing tried and tested works. In August 2010, Hervé Palito succeeded Duato as artistic director for one year. In September 2011, José Carlos Martínez took the helm as director of the Compañía Nacional de Danza, holding the post for eight years.

On 28 March 2019, INAEM—the culture ministry’s performing arts’ institute—announced Joaquín De Luz as new Artistic Director as of September 2019.