Ballet Nacional de España celebrates 45 years of dance at its Anniversary Gala

20 diciembre 2023

Since its founding in 1978, the Spanish National Ballet has passed through different directors, headquarters and casts, all of which have shaped, molded and redefined the institution over its 45 years of existence, without ever losing sight of the purpose for which it was created: to preserve, disseminate and transmit Spain’s rich choreographic heritage, embracing its stylistic plurality and traditions.

Wishing to reflect the journey of the Ballet Nacional de España, production began in early 2023 on the documentary film Todo el pasado por delante, a project promoted by INAEM and the first film devoted entirely to the BNE since its creation. The aim has been to highlight the entire process and team behind each production, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s day-to-day work, as well as a historical perspective on its evolution. This documentary, directed by Emilio Belmonte and Luis Delgado, includes a range of interviews with key figures in the history of the Ballet Nacional de España, as well as genuine gems taken from its audiovisual archives. On December 21^st and 22^nd, a preview of images from the documentary Todo el pasado por delante will be presented at the Ballet Nacional de España’s 45^th Anniversary Gala, to be held at Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela.

Of course, a celebration of the Ballet Nacional de España would not be complete without dance. The gala will feature choreographies from all the styles that make up Spanish dance: escuela bolera, stylized dance, folklore and flamenco, creating both a stylistic and historical panorama. They will be accompanied by live music from the Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid (ORCAM), conducted by Manuel Busto, who has also composed the original soundtrack for the documentary film.

The program has been designed so that the choreographies embrace the documentary, allowing live dance and dance on screen to intertwine. The first choreography is Danza y tronío by Mariemma (1984), a work in which escuela bolera and classical Spanish dance join hands with flamenco. It will continue with Vito de gracia, a choreography by Rosario and Antonio premiered in 1944 in the film Hollywood Canteen and revived in 2021 by the Ballet Nacional de España to mark the centenary of the birth of Antonio “el Bailarín”, director of the institution from 1980 to 1983. El vito showcases the dance style that characterized the partnership of Rosario and Antonio, “Los chavalillos sevillanos”. After these performances, the first part of the documentary Todo el pasado por delante will be screened. This section of the gala will conclude with Antonio Ruiz Soler’s Zapateado, set to music by Pablo Sarasate, a choreography premiered in 1946 that quickly became one of Ruiz Soler’s most celebrated works. Zapateado is a piece of great technical difficulty, with tap influences in stylized flamenco. Following Antonio’s maxim, “to dance it is to caress the floor; you have to speak with the floor, not kick it.”

Martinete, a choreography by Miguel Ángel Corbacho premiered in 2021, will open the second part of the evening. It is a flamenco piece inspired by the style and character of Ruiz Soler. Next, on December 21^th, the world premiere of Farruka, choreographed by Rubén Olmo, director of the Ballet Nacional de España, will take place. After these choreographies, the second part of the documentary will be screened. Pedro Azorín’s Jota Aragón will close the evening. This 1975 choreography will be premiered for the first time by the Ballet Nacional de España on December 21^st, celebrating the recent declaration of the jota as a representative expression of intangible cultural heritage.

It is a gala in which Rubén Olmo, director of the Ballet Nacional de España, wishes “to show not only the essence of Spanish dance, but also the collaboration of choreographers, dancers, costume designers, lighting designers, stage technicians, institutions, foundations, conservatories and many others who, then, now and in the future, build the history of the Ballet Nacional de España.”

Ballet Nacional de España 45^th Anniversary Gala

Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid

December 21^st and 22^nd, 2023, 8:00 p.m.

First part

Danza y tronío

Baile en la casita de arriba

El jaleo de las tres picadas

Vito de gracia

Todo el pasado por delante
Preview of images, first part

Zapateado

Second part

Martinete

Farruka
World premiere

Todo el pasado por delante
Preview of images, second part

Aragón (Jota)