The première is programmed for January 12th 2004 in Santander

Flamenco-world.com

Last season Ballet Nacional de España (BNE) opted for María Pagés and Manolete to create 'Ilusiones FM' and 'Entreverao' for them. This year the Spanish national ballet company has chosen Joaquín Grilo to refresh their flamenco repertoire. The bailaor from Jerez is preparing a twenty minute piece based around three different rhythms, and set to music by José Antonio Rodríguez. The BNE plans to première this production on January 12th 2004 in Santander on Spain's north coast.

Joaquín Grilo (Photo: Anahí Cármody)

One of Joaquín Grilo's dreams has come true: choreographing a production for Ballet Nacional de España (BNE). The bailaor from Jerez explains that the company "asked him for a full second act," a request he had to accept but with some modifications due to lack of time. "I couldn't handle that much because I'm also committed to staging a production of my own" - a production which is scheduled to open at the 2004 Festival de Jerez. Grilo's obligation to the BNE is "to do around twenty minutes, a block which is truly flamenco, revolving around three different rhythms, and three different situations which tell a tale that has yet to be defined - there's just so much to tell."

For now, Joaquín Grilo has completed the first reconnaissance mission with the BNE members. "I was with them in Madrid in June, just back from touring in Cleveland and Albuquerque, giving them a course and getting to know the dancers a little, to see who might be right. They all have a really good technique, but that isn't enough for what I have in mind."

Music by José Antonio Rodríguez

The bailaor's choreography - which has traveled the globe alongside Paco de Lucía - will be built around music by guitarist José Antonio Rodríguez from Cordoba, whose experience with music for dance companies has included pieces for Mario Maya and Compañía Andaluza de Danza. The production is scheduled to be opened on January 12th 2004 in Santander, on Spain's Cantabrian coastline.

With this assignment, the ballet company directed by Elvira Andrés reaffirms its twin objectives: to trumpet contemporary Spanish dance, and to draw on the creativity of a range of writers and artists, both from the old and the new school. And Joaquín Grilo is most definitely one of the new school, a bailaor for whom personal challenges are the only way to mature as an artist.