FLASH #39 – THE SPANISH CONNECTION

During childhood, artistic influences were a constant: her father worked in film, her mother Teresa Nieto is an established contemporary choreographer, and Altea, together with her sister, learnt dance from an early age. She trained at the well-known Víctor Ullate School of Dance and at 16 joined his company as a stagiaire. The emotions, rhythm and music, as well as the artistic traditions of Spain, were in her blood from the start.

Fast forward to 2026 and it is clear to see how these influences lie at the core of Altea’s own choreographic work (SUMMER, CLAROSCURO, YU and HORIZON, to name a few): the intensity of musical feeling, the generous use of space, the expressive use of hands and arms and, above all, the deep, fiery emotion which overflows the footlights.

European ballet and dance is a melting pot of cultures, with Spain at the fore on many fronts. The extraordinary creativity of lauded Spanish scenic and lighting designer Gloria Montesinos is an unmissable element in our productions, while Spanish-trained dancers constantly audition for the JBA programme, with two talented young men chosen to join us this season.

On an international level, José Carlos Martínez, former star dancer of the Paris Opera and former director of the Compañía Nacional de Danza (Spanish National Dance Company), is now leading the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet. Altea’s work first came to Martínez’s attention in Spain when two of his dancers, Cristina Casa and Ion Aguirretxe, were rehearsing CONTIGO, a pas de deux created by Altea at the earliest stage of her choreographic career. Martínez admired it and gave her the opportunity to set a larger work, ABSOLUTIO, for the company’s 2018 ‘A la carta’ programme. It received enthusiastic acclaim.

But now came the biggest accolade of all: with the newly established Paris Opera Ballet Junior Company in mind, Martínez invited Altea to restage her powerful work YU for them! The work premieres in early 2027 at the Opéra Garnier as part of the programme ‘Éclats de Danse’.