The Teatro Principal of Alicante hosted the Gala-homage to the dancer José Espadero on 16 January, from 8 p.m. on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The event focused on performances of choreographies by Espadero himself with the collaboration of the Professional Dance Conservatory that bears his name and the Higher Dance Conservatory of Alicante, made up of dancers who were former members of his company, with Cristina Alberola as artistic director of the gala.
In addition, part of the documentary directed by Vicente Seva and Manuel Sánchez entitled “José Espadero, danza y arte” (José Espadero, dance and art) was also screened at the Gala.
On Wednesday 11 January, the programme of events was presented. The press conference was attended by the Councillor for Culture, Antonio Manresa, the dancer José Espadero, the Councillor for Employment and Promotion, Mari Carmen de España and the Deputy Director of the Teatro Principal, María Dolores Padilla.
Manresa praised the figure of Espadero, recalling that “we must highlight two aspects, on the one hand, the precociousness of someone who was already dancing at the age of four and his love for the profession that has seen him progress from his beginnings until his retirement”. The head of Culture has stressed that “it is surprising that not only the people of dance have wanted to participate, but that the whole of Alicante society has offered to do so”.
– Documentary: The documentary, directed by Vicente Seva and Manuel Sánchez, shows a glimpse into the life of José Espadero, including his beginnings as a dancer, his teaching, his dance companies, his main choreographic works, his tributes and awards received by renowned personalities.
– Biography: José Espadero, whose real name is José Sánchez García, was born in Alicante on 15 January 1943, in Bazán Street. From a very young age his love of dance and music made him stand out among other children, and at the age of three he was put on stage at the Teatro Orfeón de Alicante and since then he has continued to perform every weekend at the theatre. When he was only five years old he performed in the bullring of Alicante with the bullfighting band “Los Claveles” directed by Maestro Antonio Flores and since then he has performed all over Spain and abroad. At the age of fourteen he became a professional and left with his partner, hired by Juanito Valderrama and Antonio Machín. Since then she has been performing in different shows of the time and at the same time she is able to study Spanish Dance. In 1981, she obtained the Chair of Classical Spanish Dance at the Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Alicante, which she still holds until 2003.
– Dance Companies: He formed the “Ballet José Espadero” in 1965 and in 1974 he formed the “Ballet Estudio José Espadero”, performing all over Spain and abroad, presenting his choreographies, because since the beginning of his Ballet he always dances with his own choreographies. In 1980 he was appointed Artistic Delegate of the Management Commission of the Bonfires of San Juan, a position he held until 1984, mounting and directing the shows for the election of the Bellea del Foc. In 1981 he introduced the ceremony of the Proclamation of the Bellea del Foc and her Maids of Honour into the fiesta to pay tribute to the highest representation of the Fiesta with greater emotion. From 1986 to 1994, he was the director of the Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Alicante. In 1990, he was awarded the National and International Special Prize of the Euroamerican Dance Foundation and the Spanish Federation of Dance Professionals for the best pedagogical work in Spanish Dance.
