Maribel Gallardo

She started her dance training when she was 6 years old and continued her studies with master Jareño to then improve with mistress Victoria Eugenia. She got her Dance Diploma aged 14 with distinction and furthered her studies with Magdalena, Ciro, Juana Taft, Pedro Azorín, Juanjo Linares, Aurora Pons, Ana Baselga, Aurora Bosh, Granero, Fernando Bujones and Rosella Higthtower, among others. Master in Performing Arts from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid (2008).

In 1975, she took part in the creation of the Ballet Folclórico Nacional under the directorship of Pilar López. Later, she was soloist in the companies Los Goyescos, the Ballet Antología de Alberto Lorca, the Ballet Siluetas, directed by José Antonio and Luisa Aranda and in the companies of Maria Rosa, Rafael de Córdova, and Luisillo.

She joined the Ballet Nacional de España in 1981, under the directorship of Antonio, and was promoted to first artist in 1985, under the directorship of Maria de Ávila. Throughout her career she has danced lead roles in repertoire choreographies and has premiered shows that were exclusively created for her, including Chacona and Goyescas, both by Victoria Eugenia. At Madrid’s Teatro Real she premiered the title role in Celestina by Ramón Oller, directed by Adolfo Marsillach. She also premiered the emblematic Medea. She danced Bodas de Sangre with Antonio Gades, on the occasion of the BNE’s 10^th anniversary. Repetiteur mistress of the Ballet Nacional de España training centre under the directorship of José Antonio.

She was guest artist in Adrián Galia Company in his show En Clave Flamenca; was invited by Miguel Narros to take part in the Tribute to Margarita Xirgu at the Teatro Español in Madrid, and at the Festival de Cante y Baile de las Minas in La Unión. In 2002, at the Festival de Jerez and under the directorship of Granero, she danced in the show A mi manera. In 2003, she performed El Sur with its composer, Dorantes, at Tokyo’s Opera and the role of ‘Medea’ at the 15^th Anniversary of the BNE. That year, she also received the APDE Award for her career along with Antonio Gades, Manolete, Matilde Coral, and Rafael Amargo.

In 2005, she performed the lead role in Lisístrata with Israel Galván and Currillo, music by Dorantes and script by Miguel Narros. In 2006, she gave courses for ACADE teachers; participated in the International Dance Day Gala in Madrid and was guest artist at the Bienal de Sevilla in Homenaje a Maestro Granero, directed by José Antonio. The professional dance conservatoire in Cadiz was named after Maribel Gallardo in 2007. She chaired the Jury of the IX Certamen Coreográfico de Danza Española y Flamenco in Madrid (2000) and was a member of the Andalucía’s Artistic Commission of Flamenco Ballet (2011-2019). Cultura Viva National Dance Award (2011).

Choreography with Currillo and Antonio Canales of the show Los Flamencos bailan Ópera, first performed at Tokyo Opera Theatre (2013). At the BNE, she currently performs the role of ‘Medea’ as a special appearance. In 2017 she was awarded the AISGE Prize “Actúa” in the Dance speciality. She gave courses both nationally and internationally in Spanish Dance at the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Luis del Río de Córdoba and Conservatorio Profesional de Danza in Novelda (2018) and Palma de Mallorca’s Conservatorio Profesional de Danza (2019).

She has been the BNE Repetiteur Mistress since 2002.