One of the leading figures of contemporary Spanish dance
Inexhaustible explorer of movements, traditions and avant-gardes
…A true revelation, we are facing the future…
THE COUNTRY
One of the leading figures in contemporary Spanish dance, Daniel Doña (Granada, 1977) has established himself as an inexhaustible explorer of movements, traditions, and avant-garde movements. His works unfold as limitless territories in which renewed Spanish dance, flamenco, and contemporary dance dialogue with each other and with other artistic disciplines. In 2004, he created his first piece, "Estación seca" (Dry Station), followed by "Haze with Me What You Want" (2008), his first work for unconventional venues. Between 2005 and 2011, he directed the collective Chanta la Mui, along with Olga Pericet and Marco Flores, one of "the most interesting artistic ventures in Spanish flamenco dance," according to the newspaper La Razón. At the head of his company DDCDanza since 2013, he has created shows such as A pie (2013), A pie de calle (2014), Black Box (2014) No Pausa (2015), Nada Personal (2016), Hábitat (2016), Cuerpo a cuerpo (2017), Psique (2018), Campo Cerrado (2020), Retrospectiva 2.0 (2020), Entre hilos y huesos (2021), El Verbo (2023) and Doma (2024)
The criticism
Critics have described him as "one of the most innovative choreographers of our dance" (ABC), highlighting his career as "honest, straightforward, innovative, and open, yet perfectly grounded in extensive technical preparation and knowledge of classical and flamenco." (EL DIARIO DE NAVARRA).
The awards
In 2016, he received the El Ojo Crítico de Danza Award for his "continuous evolution of styles, for breaking new ground, developing his own signature voice, and drawing on Spanish dance to project himself into contemporary dance." He also won the MAX Award for Best Choreography in 2009, the HEBE Honorary Award in 2016, the MAX Award for Best Male Dance Performer in 2019, the LORCA Award for Best Choreography in 2022, and the LORCA Award for Best Flamenco Dance Performance in 2023.
The scenarios
Daniel Doña has brought his syncretic, unprejudiced and free dance to the most important stages in the world, among which stand out the Paris Opera, Sadler's Wells in London, the Sydney Opera House, the New York City Center, the Teatro Mella in Havana, the Teatro Clásico in Mérida, the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the Jerez Festival, the Madrid Autumn Festival, the Madrid en Danza International Festival, the Tanzaus Festival, the Bogotá Ibero-American Festival and the Seville Biennial, among others.
professional career
At the age of 8, he enrolled at the Maite Galán Dance School and began dancing professionally at 14. He holds a degree from the Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Madrid (Madrid Conservatory of Dance), has been a member of the Spanish National Ballet, and a soloist in some of the country's most important companies, such as Antonio Márquez, Rafaela Carrasco, and Teresa Nieto en Compañía. Between 2002 and 2012, he was regularly featured as a dancer and choreographer, sharing projects with Olga Pericet, Manuel Liñán, and Marco Flores. He has been a guest teacher at the Spanish National Ballet, a guest choreographer at the Cuban National Ballet, and with the companies of Miguel Ángel Berna, Ibérica de Danza, Marcos Flores, and Proyecto Lanza. He also creates numerous choreographic commissions for national and international public institutions, as well as private dance companies.
Pedagogy and commitment to new creators
In 2014, together with Teresa Nieto, he founded the Tetuán District Choreographic Competition in Madrid, an exhibition platform that he directed solo until 2022. He joined the Spanish Academy of Performing Arts in 2015 and, from 2017 to 2020, he was a regular contributor to the A COMPÁS program on Spanish National Radio, with his own section, "Aula de Flamenco." Committed to emerging artists and new generations of dancers and choreographers, he teaches workshops and seminars at various national and international institutions. In 2022, he joined the Andalusian Academy of Performing Arts as a founding member. In 2023, he was appointed choreographer and artistic director of Parque España - Shima Spain Mura (Japan).
