Dancer/Choreographer Antonio Najarro Shares His Passion
At the age of 33, Antonio Najarro lives and breathes passion. As Spain’s leading dancer, choreographer and artistic director, Najarro is setting the gold standard in flamenco and tango dancing, the likes of which the world has never experienced before.
The Antonio Najarro Dance Company is showing the entire world what modern Spanish social dancing is all about. Different from the old classic Spanish dancing, Najarro gives all his dances fiery passion, the stuff of which dreams are made.
Accomplished and world famous, it was Najarro’s choreography that won the Olympic gold medal for figure skating pair Anissina and Peizerat in 2002.
But Najarro’s career began many years ago at the age of eight with the Royal Conservatory of Dance in Madrid, Spain, where at the age of 12, Najarro had choreographed his first work.
In 1997 Najarro joined the Spanish National Ballet where he rose to the level of “first dancer” (principal dancer in the U.S.) by the year 2000.
The rest is all about hard work, love and passion. Antonio Najarro creates and dances from his heart. Najarro’s genius as both a dancer and a choreographer are evident in the passion and beauty of his work.
Electrifying in their beauty, Najarro and his dancers embody the young and the bold, as well as the best of the old and the newest of the modern Spanish dance world.
Recently I caught up with Najarro right before his company’s opening of his latest show, “Jazzing Flamenco.”
Q. When did you develop your love of dance?
A. My father is from the south of Spain, where every year there is a huge street festival that lasts for several days. It is a big celebration with lots of partying, and everyone dresses in costumes. Every year my family went. There was much flamenco dancing in the streets, for many days. I remember it from the time I was four. Dancing, dancing, dancing—always lots of fun, laughter and dancing. I loved it. Flamenco dancing also led me to study classical ballet and modern [dance].
Q. Did your parents support your dancing?
A. Absolutely. I have always put my heart and soul into dancing and choreographing. My parents could see this. When I was 15 I had the opportunity to tour in other countries. My parents were very supportive, but like all parents, they worried. They missed me. And of course they laid down the rules in order for me to have this opportunity. My family still comes to all of my performances. My mother is a wonderful seamstress and sews many of my company’s costumes.
Q. What rules did your parents make?
A. I must continue with my [academic] studies and pass my exams or I would not be allowed to dance. In Spain, there are no tutors that travel with children. You bring your books while you are on tour and you study. When you return, you are given exams. You must pass them. It is called “distance study.”
Q. How did you feel about these rules that your parents made?
A. I am so grateful to my parents. This is very important for my future and for my business work. Yes, I am a dancer. Yes, I am a choreographer and artistic director with my own dance company. I could not be this without knowing many languages and having the academic education needed for the business of dance.
Q. Which style of dance is your favorite?
A. I love the social aspects as well as the creativity and passion of flamenco and tango. There is tremendous power and energy in the actual dance and between the dancers. The audience feels this.
I also identify with Spanish classical dance. The techniques I use are hard. In my show we dance and play castanets. I mix a lot of dance styles. There are not many people in Spain who can do all this.
Q. What do you look for in your dancers?
A. At the age of 27, I created my company with 28 people. The most important attribute for my dancers is technique. My dancers must be very good but also beautiful and handsome. My costumes are very glamorous so the dancers also need to be very glamorous. Yet, my dancers are also unique. I do not want robots. They come to me with many different styles but they all have soul. They all are committed and work very hard.
Q. Do you create with specific things that you want your audiences to feel?
A. I want to entertain. No thinking. I like to do shows with high quality in everything, from the dancers and choreography to the music and costumes. I want only the best for my audiences. Not too much thinking for them. I want them to see the quality in my shows. I put my heart into my shows. If we create a good energy between us (dancers and musicians) the public will feel it.
Q. Do your audiences understand your work?
A. In the six years that I have had my dance company I have noticed that if you do your work with good quality, good music, good dance and are honest with the people, they all will understand. We travel to many different countries with many different religions and what I know is that dance crosses all cultures. This is very important to me, which is why I choreographed for the Olympics. The Olympics is worldwide.
Q. How important is your music to your dance?
A. There are many different styles of music in Spain but much is very old. I created my company to show what is new. All my shows are a fusion of music. Tango and flamenco show big energy and power with passion. The right music is very important to create a beautiful energy between the dancers and the musicians. My newest show, “Jazzing Flamenco,” was the most challenging to choreograph because jazz music tends to be so improvisational. It will surprise the public to see what we have accomplished. There are [inventive] steps in the dance and music while still respecting what our teachers gave to us.
Q. Was it difficult to find the right composer?
A. There is a beautiful theatrical aspect to my dances. I needed a composer who would understand this and be able to create a musical fusion. Fernando Gozcue is this composer. Fernando has done the music for all my shows, “Tango Flamenco,” “Flamenco Oriental,” and of course my newest “Jazzing Flamenco.” He has a group of seven tango musicians who perform his pieces. “Jazzing Flamenco” is very special. We have a female singer who can sing in all styles. She is amazing. For the public this will be very surprising.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A. I am living my dream now. Having my own dance company, dancing in my company and choreographing for my company is living my dream. I put my life in my shows and this makes me very happy. I want it to continue.
Check out Antonio Najarro’s website: www.antonionajarro.com Also see and hear some of Antonio’s great works at: www.youtube.com Click on search: Antonio Najarro