Antonio Gades

Antonio Gades (November 14, 1936 - July 20, 2004) was a Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer (born Antonio Esteve Ródenas in Elda, Land of Valencia). 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 has 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 Martí", 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 Havana.

He also stood out as political activist in Alicante proclaiming the self-determination of the Valencian nation during the Spanish Transition between the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Filmography

*"Los Tarantos" 1963
*"El amor brujo (film 1967)" 1967
*"Bodas de sangre" 1981
*"Carmen" 1983
*"El amor brujo" 1986

External links

* [http://www.cubasocialista.cu/texto/news/gades040721.htm Cuban Government's webpage on Gades]
* [http://www.esflamenco.com/bio/en10498.html Antonio Gades biography and films or products in which he has taken part]