UW News

February 21, 2008

La Compania Nacional de Danza returns to Meany Hall

La Compania Nacional de Danza (CND) will perform at Meany Hall Feb. 28 and 29 and March 1 as part of the UW World Series.


CND is arguably one of the top five dance companies performing in the world today, and the company’s artistic director, Nacho Duato, has been hailed for creating choreography that synthesizes classical and modern dance techniques. For the World Series, the company will perform three works choreographed by Duato — Gnawa, Castrati, and White Darkness.


The Compania Nacional de Danza was founded in 1979 under the name of Ballet Nacional de Espana Clasico, and its first artistic director was Victor Ullate. The appointment of renowned dancer and choreographer Nacho Duato as artistic director in June 1990 meant a change in the company’s direction. It has been Duato’s mission to transform Compania Nacional de Danza into a ballet with a personality of its own which, without neglecting the classical precepts, adopts a more contemporary style.


When the company last performed for the World Series in 2002, they played to near sell-out houses. Tickets for this concert are $45 ($42 for subscribers and $20 for students) and may be purchased by phone at 206-543-4880, online at http://www.uwworldseries.org or in person at the UW Arts Ticket Office.


Ticket holders are invited to come early to learn more about La Compania Nacional de Danza at a free pre-show lecture. The lecture begins at 7:15 p.m. in the Meany Hall west lobby and lasts about 30 minutes.