Muriel Romero’s ambitious artistic and management project heralds a transformative period for the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND), Spain’s esteemed National Dance Company. Drawing upon her extensive background as a performer, creator, manager, and educator, Romero envisions a company that bridges diverse dance worlds. Her vision aims to connect the grandeur of classical dance institutions with the dynamism of independent productions, performance art, and the vibrant realm of living arts. This innovative approach seeks to merge academic rigor with artistic experimentation, and institutional frameworks with the practical realities of the contemporary dance sector, positioning Dance España at the forefront of innovation.
Romero’s core strategy centers on establishing a unique identity for the CND through a distinctive repertoire. This repertoire will not only expand upon iconic classical dance forms but will also actively engage with other artistic disciplines, including musical and literary creation. By fostering these interdisciplinary collaborations, Romero aims to celebrate Spain’s rich cultural heritage while simultaneously cultivating a unique and evolving artistic personality for this vital Spanish creative hub.
Over the next five years, Romero is committed to developing a company characterized by excellence across a spectrum of styles and artistic languages. Her plan includes enriching the CND’s repertoire with previously unrepresented works from both established and emerging choreographers. A key emphasis will be placed on prioritizing Spanish creators or those based in Spain, alongside artistic languages that have historically been underrepresented within the CND. Furthermore, the company will annually revive a significant 20th-century repertoire piece that has not yet been performed in Spain, ensuring these selections align with the company’s current artistic composition. A central objective of Romero’s vision is to actively promote collaborative creation between contemporary choreographers and composers, as well as with artists from diverse disciplines, both nationally and internationally, fostering a truly global dance españa perspective.
The project extends beyond repertoire and performance to encompass a broad network of collaborations with other dance companies, cultural institutions, and performance venues. This network is designed to facilitate a robust touring system, enabling the CND to showcase its artistic quality and versatility throughout Spain. Crucially, this touring strategy will prioritize addressing contemporary challenges, such as enhancing access to culture in rural areas, ensuring that dance españa reaches all corners of the nation. Moreover, the CND will actively engage in international touring, projecting Spanish dance artistry onto the global stage.
Reflecting a commitment to feminist, inclusive, and diverse values within dance españa, Romero’s project seeks to strengthen dialogue and engagement among the CND’s members. To this end, she will introduce new opportunities for company dancers through the annual CND Creators program. This initiative will specifically support dancers with choreographic aspirations. Furthermore, recognizing the importance of career transitions, Romero proposes the creation of dedicated committees to thoughtfully evaluate this critical phase in dancers’ professional lives, ensuring the well-being and continued contribution of dance españa‘s artists.
The CND will maintain and build upon existing successful programs, such as the CND Residencies, which support emerging choreographers and creators, and accessibility initiatives designed to broaden audience engagement. These accessibility efforts will continue to focus on diversifying audiences and ensuring the inclusion of groups with limited access to artistic practices, making dance españa accessible to all. In the realm of education, Romero plans to strengthen collaborations with higher dance conservatories and promote a range of transversal activities. These will include workshops, masterclasses, conferences, and pedagogical performances, further solidifying the CND’s role as a national leader in dance españa education and outreach.
