Antonio Gades
Encyclopedia
Antonio Gades was a Spanish
flamenco
dancer and choreographer (born Antonio Esteve Ródenas in Elda
, Alicante
, Spain
). He helped to popularise the art form on the international stage. His most notable works included dance adaptations of Prosper Merimée
's Carmen
and Federico García Lorca
's Blood Wedding
(Bodas de Sangre), as well as a feature-length adaptation of Manuel de Falla
's 23-minute ballet El Amor Brujo
. In the 1990s, he toured the world with his show Fuenteovejuna, based on Lope de Vega
's play of the same name. He collaborated closely with the Spanish director Carlos Saura
in the filming of these adaptations, and also with Cristina Hoyos
, one of the most prolific contemporary female flamenco dancers.
Gades also co-founded and became the artistic director
of the Spanish National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de España) in 1978. He died in Madrid
after a long battle with cancer
. About six weeks before his death, he had been decorated with the "Order of José Marti
", one of the highest honors of Cuba, by the Cuban leader Fidel Castro
, in Havana
, Cuba
. In 2004 his ashes were interred at the Mausoleum of the Frank País Second Eastern Front, a memorial cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
He was prominent as a political activist in Alicante
, where he proclaimed self-determination
for the Catalan nation during the Spanish Transition between the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Peoples of Spain, a marxist-leninist organization.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
dancer and choreographer (born Antonio Esteve Ródenas in Elda
Elda
Elda is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. , it has a total population of 55,618 inhabitants, ranking as the 7th most populous city in the province. Elda joins together with the town of Petrer to form a conurbation with over 85,000 inhabitants...
, Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). He helped to popularise the art form on the international stage. His most notable works included dance adaptations of Prosper Merimée
Prosper Mérimée
Prosper Mérimée was a French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and short story writer. He is perhaps best known for his novella Carmen, which became the basis of Bizet's opera Carmen.-Life:...
's Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
and Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
's Blood Wedding
Bodas de sangre
Blood Wedding is a tragedy by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. It was written in 1932 and first performed in Madrid in March 1933 and later that year in Buenos Aires...
(Bodas de Sangre), as well as a feature-length adaptation of Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
's 23-minute ballet El Amor Brujo
El amor brujo
El amor brujo is a piece of music originally composed by Manuel de Falla for a chamber group, then re-scored as a symphonic suite, and eventually as a ballet...
. In the 1990s, he toured the world with his show Fuenteovejuna, based on Lope de Vega
Lope de Vega
Félix Arturo Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright and poet. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Century Baroque literature...
's play of the same name. He collaborated closely with the Spanish director Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura Atarés is a Spanish film director and photographer.-Early life:Born into a family of artists , he developed his artistic sense in childhood as a photography enthusiast.He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies...
in the filming of these adaptations, and also with Cristina Hoyos
Cristina Hoyos
Cristina Hoyos Panadero is a Spanish flamenco dancer, choreographer and actress, born in Seville. After several successes throughout the world with several companies and movies, she created her own dancing company and premiered with it in Rex Theatre of Paris in 1988...
, one of the most prolific contemporary female flamenco dancers.
Gades also co-founded and became the artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the Spanish National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de España) in 1978. He died in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
after a long battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. About six weeks before his death, he had been decorated with the "Order of José Marti
Order of José Marti
The Order of José Marti is a state honor in Cuba.It has been given to:* Salvadore Allende* Nicolae Ceausescu* Owen Arthur* Gustav Husak* Mengistu Haile Mariam* Robert Mugabe* Erich Honecker* Felipe González* Julius Nyerere...
", one of the highest honors of Cuba, by the Cuban leader Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. In 2004 his ashes were interred at the Mausoleum of the Frank País Second Eastern Front, a memorial cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.
He was prominent as a political activist in Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, where he proclaimed self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for the Catalan nation during the Spanish Transition between the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Peoples of Spain, a marxist-leninist organization.
Filmography
- Los TarantosLos TarantosLos Tarantos is a 1963 Spanish musical drama film directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta. It was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film category....
1963 - With the East WindWith the East WindWith the East Wind is a 1966 Spanish drama film directed by Mario Camus. It was entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Antonio Gades - Sebastián* Vicente Escudero - Montoya* María José Alfonso - Lupe* Manuel Arbó - El Pesqui...
1966 - El amor brujoEl amor brujo (1967 film)Bewitched Love is a 1967 Spanish drama film directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta and based on the eponymous ballet by Manuel de Falla. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.-Cast:* Antonio Gades as Antonio...
1967 - The Last MeetingThe Last MeetingThe Last Meeting is a 1967 Spanish drama film directed by Antonio Eceiza. It was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Antonio Gades - Antonio Esteve* Daniel Martín - Juan* Calderas - tango singer* Francisco Carames...
1967 - Bodas de sangreBlood Wedding (1981 film)Blood Wedding is a 1981 Spanish musical film written and directed by Carlos Saura. It was directed and choreographed in the flamenco style...
1981 - CarmenCarmen (1983 film)Carmen is a 1983 film adaptation of the novel Carmen by Prosper Mérimée, using music from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. It was directed and choreographed in the flamenco style by Carlos Saura...
1983 - El amor brujoEl Amor brujo (1986 film)El amor brujo or Carlos Saura Dance Trilogy, Part 3: El Amor Brujo is a 1986 Spanish musical film written and directed by Carlos Saura. It was directed and choreographed in the flamenco style. It is the third part of the Saura's flamenco trilogy he made in the 80's, after Bodas de sangre in 1981...
1986