Thursday, March 5, 1998
Spain brings National Ballet to L.A. for anniversary show
DANCE: New artistic director offers company creativity,
enthusiasm
By Aimee Phan
Daily Bruin Staff
A career in ballet starts early. Most dancers begin training at
four or five years old and then go professional in their early
teens.
But for 31-year-old Spanish dancer Aida Gomez, her early rise in
the ballet world climaxed when she was named artistic director of
the National Ballet of Spain two months ago, making her one of the
youngest artistic directors of a ballet company in the world.
Beginning tonight, Gomez and the rest of her company will be
performing their 20th Anniversary show at L.A.’s Universal
Amphitheatre for four nights as a part of their 1998 six-city U.S.
tour. The program will include both old and new ballet works that
show the variety of the company’s repertoire, something Gomez was
very enthusiastic to bring together. Gomez has had a long history
with the National Ballet of Spain, from joining the elite company
at 14 and continuing as a soloist and prima ballerina. She recalls
her lifelong relationship with dance, which began at a very early
age, and admits to how instinctive it was for her to perform on the
stage doing what she loved best.
"I was your basic little girl who loved music and dance and
dreamed of being a ballerina," Gomez says in her native Spanish
tongue, translated by her interpreter. "As a child, I never assumed
that I would do anything else. At 13 I began to perform in front of
audiences and I felt completely natural. It was second nature to
me."
Gomez’s natural talent for Spanish and classical dance led to a
successful run with the National Ballet of Spain. She was promoted
to prima ballerina in 1985 and performed almost every major role in
the company repertoire.
Gomez left the company briefly in 1997 to dance with the Joaquin
Cortes Company but soon returned to the National Ballet to be
appointed artistic director. Now Gomez is taking on new challenges
and responsibilities that have opened her eyes to the more
administrative side of professional dance.
"Obviously, I’m on the other side of things now," Gomez says. "I
have much more responsibility, but I enjoy it immensely because I’m
still very creatively involved. I bear on one hand the weight of
mounting the show and how it’s going to look and I’m also involved
in the creative process on the inside. As a result, I have to work
very closely with the performers and dancers."
Gomez certainly has her work cut out for her since the National
Ballet has long been considered one of the leading ballet companies
in Spain. She explains that what makes the National Ballet such a
successful dance troupe is the training and care the company gives
to the young dancers.
"We nurture our artists from a very young age," Gomez says.
"We’re known for taking young people and then maintaining them
within the company for however long it takes for that person to
become ready to be a soloist or just join the company for
performing."
One of the most difficult tasks for Gomez to accomplish as
artistic director is continuing the National Ballet’s prestigious
reputation while bringing the dance company into the future with
newer works and styles.
"It’s very challenging," Gomez says. "From the new pressure that
I’m facing in maintaining the traditional repertoire to putting a
new element that I want to do, the main objective is to always
maintain the high quality that the company is renowned for."
Gomez’s hard work will be put to the test with this weekend’s
performances. The young artistic director has a certain affection
for this show because it combines both classical numbers and brand
new works in celebration of the company’s 20th anniversary.
"The show is particularly special because we’re featuring a
lineup of all the past directors that we’ve had and members of the
company who have become successful in their own right," Gomez says.
"The fact that they’ll all be on one stage in one evening is
spectacular."
The two new works, "Zapateado" and "La Vida Breve," reveal the
variety and eclectic nature of the company and Gomez herself. She
explains in detail the differences and unique features of both
programs.
"Where ‘Zapateado’ is a piece that features one soloist onstage
and doing very technical work, ‘La Vida Breve’ features the entire
company on stage and it’s a very classical and traditional piece,"
Gomez says. "It also features a lot of Spanish folklore with long
costumes. So you’ve got the contrasting of one stark intense
performance and then this wonderful gala of a stage boiling over
with beautiful visuals."
While she has enjoyed her responsibilities as the artistic
director very much and hopes to continue leading the company to
explore new dance choreography and styles, Gomez hasn’t forgotten
her true calling as a performer.
"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that came along and I
couldn’t refuse it," Gomez says. "But I am still contracted to
dance and I’m looking forward to integrating back into the
performance once I get the company underway and set the new
repertoire for the coming year. I’m enjoying it very much."
As for aspiring dancers out there who one day hope to attain the
success Gomez has achieved, she strongly believes that having a
career in dance is determined by the ballerina’s own spirit.
"It’s a very interesting cocktail," Gomez says about what it
takes to make it in dance. "You have to be intelligent, have
strength and passion, and above all else, you have to love love
love what you’re doing."
DANCE: The National Ballet of Spain will perform at the
Universal Amphitheatre March 5 through 8. Tickets are $33 to $58.
Call (213) 252-TIXS or (714) 740-2000.