The Valencian artist takes up three of the choreographies he created during the 20 years he directed the National Dance Company

 

This weekend, the Auditorio de Tenerife offers two performances by the Nacho Duato Company. The Valencian director's new ensemble will offer a programme with three works - Jardí tancat, Duende and Na floresta - on Saturday (15th) and Sunday (16th) at 7:30 p.m. in the Symphony Hall. The tickets are on sale for a single price of €15 and €5 for audiences under 30.

Over ten years since Nacho Duato left as director of the National Dance Company, he has been returning to the Spanish stage through his new company. This novelty results from training young international dancers at the Nacho Duato Trainee Program in Madrid alongside the director himself.

The Compañía Nacho Duato is reviving some of the most important choreographies by the artist, which garnered so many successes over the 20 years during which the choreographer led the National Dance Company and which at present can only be watched in a scattered fashion through different international companies.  

Jardí tancat is the debut work of Nacho Duato and one of the most significant works in his extensive oeuvre. The piece is inspired by centuries-old texts in Catalan, which the singer María del Mar Bonet has set to singing and music. The songs refer to the labour of the land and sea, where the singing voice proclaims both the toughness of their work and their troubles with love. The cast of three couples gives the choreographer enough options to express moods, whether through all of the dancers, in couples or individually. The ballet takes on an atavistic character as if it were the rain and wind that determined the movement.

Duato fell in love with the music of Debussy a long time ago, especially how the composer transforms the sound of nature into music. Duato visualises forms, not people, relationships or events, when he listens to his music. Therefore, he considers Duende an almost sculptural work: a body, a movement in harmony with the melody. In a fun way, the ballet also delves into the ways of expressing the different meanings of the word it takes its title from having duende, which could be considered to mean having personal charm or magic in the art of flamenco; and duendes (goblins), as mythological beings, would have a pretty different character.

Na floresta is a musical triptych that recreates the beauty of the Amazon rainforest, directly taking from the folklore the very essence of its splendour. Passionate energy runs through this work, created through sequences packed with content and fluidity. It does not transmit a specific message but serves as a pretext to create movement based on the music. However, Na floresta conveys a feeling of an intimate relationship with nature.

The tickets are available on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the auditorium's box office or by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. There are discounts for students, unemployed and large families.