{"id":8782,"date":"2018-03-05T18:58:33","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T02:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8782"},"modified":"2018-03-05T12:00:55","modified_gmt":"2018-03-05T20:00:55","slug":"compania-nacional-de-danza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8782","title":{"rendered":"Compa\u00f1\u00eda Nacional de Danza"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Compa\u00f1\u00eda

Compa\u00f1\u00eda Nacional de Danza, photo by Jes\u00fas Vallinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

The illustrious Compa\u00f1\u00eda Nacional de Danza (CND)<\/a>,\u00a0Spain\u2019s national dance company, returns to Santa Barbara with a work that is a statement of its compelling artistic direction. Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures<\/a> for two nights\u2014March 6-7, both at\u00a08 p.m. at The Granada Theatre<\/a>\u00a0(1214 State St.)\u2014Johan Inger\u2019s\u00a0Carmen<\/i><\/a>\u00a0is a visionary retelling of mythic and universal elements of passion and violence. <\/span><\/p>\n

This contemporary presentation of Carmen, <\/em>a classic opera first performed in 1875,\u00a0<\/em>had its debut in 2015 and won the coveted Benois de la Danse prize<\/a> for choreography in 2016.\u00a0<\/span>It tells the tale through the eyes of a child, with its heroine a courageous and modern woman, the mountains of Ronda reimagined as poor suburbs, the military now senior executives and the bullfighter recast as a movie star. <\/span><\/p>\n

This Santa Barbara premiere marks one of only three cities in the U.S. presenting this magnificent story ballet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Compa\u00f1\u00eda

Compa\u00f1\u00eda Nacional de Danza, photo by Jes\u00fas Vallinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

When Inger was asked to create a new version of Carmen<\/i>, himself being Swedish and Carmen<\/i> a piece with a strong Spanish nature, he faced a challenge. But it was also a great opportunity. He strips tale to its most fundamental themes, introducing the perspective of a child to reveal the universal appeal of the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a certain mystery within this character,\u201d explains Inger. \u201cIt could be any kid; it could be Don Jos\u00e9 when he was a boy, and it could be a young Michaela or Carmen and Jos\u00e9\u2019s unborn child. It could even be ourselves, with our very first goodness wounded due to a violent experience that, though brief, has had a negative impact in our lives and our ability to interact with others forever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n