Nacho Duato to leave Compañía Nacional de Danza

Reports from Spain say that Nacho Duato has declined a one-year extension to his contract and will leave the company later this year - I believe in July.

He has been in the post since 1990, but apparently his policies have been increasingly at odds with the National Institute for the Scenic Arts and Music, who want to see the company's repertory extended to include classical ballet.

Compania Nacional de Danza will be at the University of Washington's Meany Hall to close the 2009-10 UW World Series of Dance from April 22-24, 2010. Michael Upchurch previews the program in the Seattle Times.

Seattle Times

Compania Nacional de Danza will appear in Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday, April 27, 2010. Elizabeth Schwyzer interviews artistic director Nacho Duato to preview the program in the Santa Barbara Independent.

SB Independent

In the Seattle Times, Lynn Jacobson reviews the company's performance at the University of Washington's Meany Hall in Seattle on Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Seattle Times

Compania Nacional de Danza will perform at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California, Thursday through Saturday, May 6-8, 2010. Paul Hodgins interviews Nacho Duato in the Orange County Register.

OC Register

Sarah Kaufman reviews Compania Nacional de Danza's performance at the Kennedy Center on Friday, May 14, 2010 in the Washington Post.

Washington Post

Compania Nacional de Danza's second company (CND2) will be performing in St. Sauveur, Quebec, August 3-4, 2010. Following these performances, the company is scheduled to disband. Victor Swoboda interviews Nacho Duato for the Montreal Gazette.

Montreal Gazette

Several news items in the Russian press indicate that Nacho Duato will be directing the Mikhailovsky Ballet in St. Petersburg beginning in January 2011.

AFP

Voice of Russia

RIA Novosti

In the Wall Street Journal, Kati Krause examines the possibilities for change at Compania Nacional de Danza in the wake of Nacho Duato's departure on July 31, 2010.

Wall Street Journal

While Corella and Arrajo make a lot of sense - three national companies: classical Spanish, ballet and contemporary - the Culture Ministry guy makes little sense; a classical company can start to introduce contemporary work, but a contemporary company can't start performing ballet to anything like a good standard. Thus CND will have to be totally re-staffed. What a short-sighted mess!

It's really a shame what is happening in Spain. Our responsible for Culture do not know anything about dance

I totally agree with you Stuart a classical company can start to introduce contemporary work, but a contemporary company can't start performing ballet to anything like a good standard. This is what all of us are saying in Spain and what Ángel Corella has, of course always claimed.

As for what Willian Arroyo is saying. Is this man really living in Spain? I know he is and he is suposed to know a lot about dance but I can't believe what I'm reading. Does he really think that support will be given to Corella Ballet Castilla y León because of Corella's name and prestige? Why now? when he has got so few for the time being. Will the law change so that people will get tax decreases because of giving funds to arts as it happens for instance in the USA? No, for sure. What will encourage donors in these times of crisis if they haven’t done it so far?

“Powerful brackets”? Spanish royal family? ….. He is dreaming....

Ángel is right. The very best option would have been to keep the CND as it was and give more funds to Corella Ballet Castilla y León that has already demonstrated its quality and ability to dance a wide repertoire.

Let's wait and see. I truly hope the CBCL is able to keep on growing in this so strange country Spain is.