Spanish National Ballet opens FITB at Teatro Mayor

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Coinciding with the opening of the 16th edition of the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá (FITB) today, the Julio Mario Santo Domingo Theatre will present the works Zaguán and Alento by the Spanish National Ballet.

Zaguán and Alento are ballets that celebrate Spanish folklore, and were created and directed by multi-award winning dancer and choreographer, Antonio Najarro.

Najarro was trained by the most prestigious dance masters in ballet, including Spanish classic, folklore, flamenco, escuela bolera and contemporary dance. He has previously performed with several distinguished companies such as the Ballet Antología, the Compañía Antonio Márquez and the Compañía de Aída Gómez, among others.

Since becoming the director of the dance company in 2011, Najarro has staged four productions in which original creations merged with traditional repertoires. His ambitious directing style has made the Spanish National Ballet synonymous with superiority, and turned Spanish dance into an iconic artistic expression of the country.

Zaguán is a flamenco ballet, and is performed by several young talented dancers currently making a name for themselves, such as Mercedes Ruiz, La Lupi and Marco Flores. By contrast, Alento is a strong reflection of Najarro’s creativity and personal perception of classical Spanish dance. The choreography blends itself with the rhythmic and sensitive score of the great composer and guitarist Fernando Egozcue.

Blanca del Rey, one of the great dames of flamenco, also takes to the stage with her emblematic choreography Soleá del Mantón (Solitude of the Shawl), promising to deliver a unique and personal performance.

The Spanish National Ballet is the greatest supporter of Spanish dance, and is considered one of the main cultural ambassadors of Spain to the world. Founded in 1978, with Antonio Gades as the director, the dance company has since held a position of honor in the world of European dances. Famous for its stunning performances, it embraces tradition and showcases all types of typical Spanish dances. Over the past 40 years the company has received numerous recognitions.

In 1988, it won the Critics Award for Best Foreign Show at the Metropolitan of New York. In 2008, 2010 and 2012, 2014, it was awarded the Teatro de Rojas Prize (Toledo) for Best Dance Show. In 2010, the International Festival of Cante de las Minas awarded the company with the Extraordinary Prize for Performing Arts in favor of its superb contribution to preserving flamenco music and dance. Finally, in 2014, the Ballet received the FEAPS Award for its collaboration in social inclusion.

Performances are 8:00 pm on Friday, 16 March, and at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Saturday, 17 March, and 5:00 pm on Sunday, 18 March.

Tickets range from $55,000 to $130,000, and are available at the Teatro Mayor box office.

Teatro Mayor Calle Ave.170 No. 67-51.

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