Arts preview: Spanish National Dance Company encompass many styles

SPANISH NATIONAL BALLET

Antonio Najarro offers simple reasons why audiences should come and see the Spanish National Ballet at their three-performance run in Hong Kong. "We are the most important Spanish dance company in the world and our style is unique," says the choreographer and dancer, who joined the company in 1997 and became director in 2011. "Our dance is full of passion, sensations and inspiration."

The programme consists of three of the most important pieces in the company's repertoire, and covers a variety of styles that are "much more than flamenco", says Najarro.

"In order to interpret these, the dancers must be fluent in many different styles of Spanish dance: flamenco, escuela bolera, danza clásica Española and folklore," he says.

Choreographed by Juan Quintero - best known for his role as Creonte in the company's Medea - the short flamenco piece Farruca (1984) exudes passion and strength with its "very pure choreography", says Najarro.

The work is performed by three of the leading male dancers, with live music accompaniment. The entire company then perform the group dance Boléro, which was choreographed by the late Spanish dance master José Granero (1936-2006) to the haunting orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel. Premiered in 1987 in Bordeaux as an homage to the French composer, this interpretation highlights the superior technique of the group.

The programme reaches its climax with the Granero-choreographed Medea (1984), a masterful take on Seneca's version of the ancient Greek myth. The piece is regarded as the most representative ballet of the company.

"The three choreographies have many different feelings and dance vocabularies," Najarro says of the Hong Kong programme. "The feelings will be transmitted to the audience by the fieriness and the originality of our Spanish dance style."

edmund.lee@scmp.com

Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium, 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, October 3-4, 7.30pm; HK$160-HK$400 Urbtix. Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium, 9 Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road, Yuen Long, October 6, 5pm; HK$160-HK$300 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2268 7323