Medea: the emotion of a story told through dance

Between October 16^th and 19^th, the Ballet Nacional de España will be at the Teatro Real to give four performances with which it seeks to pay tribute to one of the most important figures in the history of dance in Spain, José Granero (1936–2006). The company will dedicate to him a carefully curated program made up of four of his most emblematic choreographies and two new creations that take up his legacy and interpret it through a 21st-century lens.

José Granero, a Spanish dancer and choreographer of Argentine origin, whom everyone refers to as Maestro, is the great reference point for the new choreographic composition of Spanish dance, which he endowed with a narrative capacity and theatricality that have kept his creations alive to this day and have served as a guide and path for new creators.

He began his studies at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, before travelling to New York to complete his training at the schools of New York City Ballet, Martha Graham and Hanya Holm. Upon his arrival in Spain, he worked as a dancer in the companies of Mariemma, Pilar López and Luisillo, where he became passionate about Spanish dance. His first choreographic works for José Greco and Antonio Gades would later follow, as well as the founding of the Ballet Español de Madrid and his unforgettable creations for the Ballet Nacional de España.

Rubén Olmo, director of the Ballet Nacional de España, in his commitment to recovering the company’s choreographic repertoire, has selected four works by José Granero for this tribute, which will be performed for the first time at the Teatro Real: Leyenda (Crónica de un amor no consumado), Cuentos del Guadalquivir (Pas de deux), Bolero and the iconic Medea, the absolute protagonist of the second part of the program. Medea returns to the stage in Plaza de Oriente after its appearance there in 2003 to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Ballet Nacional de España, on that occasion with the participation of the brilliant Manolo Sanlúcar. The performances of Medea will feature two great dancers in the leading role: Eva Yerbabuena, guest artist on October 16^th, 17^th and 18^th, and Maribel Gallardo, whose performance on October 19^th will mark her farewell to the stage.

Rubén Olmo explained why he is convinced that Medea: In Memory of Maestro José Granero will win over audiences at the Teatro Real: “Medea is going to be a success, because it already is. It is a very well-designed work. On this occasion, we have an award-winning figure such as Eva Yerbabuena taking on the role of Medea. She is a bailaora with pure training, as Manuela Vargas was. Seeing someone with that physical nature interpret the role of Medea again is important. We will also have Maribel Gallardo. She was the last person to perform Medea while the Maestro was still alive. I am sure it will be a great farewell for her.”

Medea is one of the finest theatrical flamenco ballets. Its dramaturgy, written by Miguel Narros based on Seneca’s tragedy, the music of Manolo Sanlúcar and the choreography of José Granero come together in a heartrending, seamless production: a story of love, betrayal and revenge whose artistic value remains undiminished to this day. Awarded the New York Critics’ Prize in 1988, it is possibly the most performed and reinterpreted choreographic work in the history of Spanish dance.

For his part, Javier Palacios, choreographic supervisor of the program, believes that the venue chosen for this tribute is the best possible one: “The Teatro Real is one of the most important stages in Spain, and it is the place this show deserves.” For him, “the most important thing about Granero’s choreographies is that they make the audience’s heart vibrate. And that is what we will achieve with this tribute.”

The program is completed by two new creations that look to Granero’s legacy in order to reinterpret it and, through the language of the 21st century, keep it alive and affirm its relevance today. These are two world premieres: Segunda piel, by Miguel Ángel Corbacho, and Arriero, by Eduardo Martínez.

The performances will feature the participation of the Teatro Real Orchestra, conducted by Manuel Coves, performing works by Isaac Albéniz, Maurice Ravel, Domenico Scarlatti, Moreno Torroba, Nin Culmell, Martínez Palacios, Manolo Sanlúcar and José Luis Greco.

Program:

MEDEA

Ballet Nacional de España

Teatro Real

Thursday, October 16^th, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 17^th, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 18^th, 2025, 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 19^th, 2025, 6:00 p.m.