De Cabeza

2007-10-13

An evocative contemporary dance production by Teresa Nieto en Compañía, delves into the courage and vulnerability of diving into the unknown. Premiered in 2008 at Madrid's Teatro Albéniz, it features original music by Héctor González Sánchez (hachedelara) that elevates its dynamic choreography. Recognized with the Max Award for Best Choreography, this work seamlessly blends contemporary aesthetics with emotional resonance.

Contemporary/Flamenco Dance Show

Client: TERESA NIETO EN COMPAÑÍA

Original compositions, arrangements, music production, sound design by Héctor González Sánchez (hachedelara)

Premiere

Pre-Premiere: 10/13/2007, Auditorio Tomás y Valiente, Fuenlabrada, Madrid.
Premiere: 01/24/2008, Teatro Albéniz, Madrid.

In De Cabeza, Teresa Nieto invites us to reflect on the fear of change and the courage to dive into the unknown. This performance, a fusion of flamenco and contemporary dance, was first presented as a pre-premiere in October 2007 at the Auditorio Tomás y Valiente. Its official premiere took place on January 24, 2008, at the Teatro Albéniz in Madrid, marking a milestone in that year’s performing arts.

Throughout its four inaugural performances, De Cabeza explored the emotional and creative risk represented by the trampoline centerpiece dominating the stage design.

“A DISTINCTIVE PERSONALITY TINTED WITH POETIC APPROACH, CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE NOT WITHOUT EXPERIMENTAL MILITANCY, SUBTLETY, INTIMACY, AND METAPHOR.”
– El duende de Madrid

Synopsis

Teresa Nieto (Tangier, 1953), winner of the 2002 Madrid Community Dance Award, the 2004 National Dance Award, and the 2007 Max Award for Best Female Dance Performance, introduces her latest show with these words:

“I stand at the edge of the trampoline, peer down, assess the height, and get ready. I can dive HEAD FIRST, conquer the fear… or be unable to do it, despite sensing how many good moments await me below. I can try over and over and end up postponing it every time, or ask someone to wait below with open arms, or need a little push to overcome the courage I lack. I can, simply, sit and observe, from the height, from another perspective, what life offers me: new encounters, misunderstandings, loves, heartbreaks, complicities… new challenges that (as usual) will leave me HEAD FIRST.”

This project, directed and performed by Nieto—a teacher, choreographer, and dancer—creates a dialogue between flamenco and contemporary dance.

On stage, the dancers (Daniel Doña, Manuel Liñán, Olga Pericet, Teresa Nieto, Jesús Carmanés, and Vanesa Medina), with diverse techniques and backgrounds, skillfully blend various disciplines with energy and humor.

A carefully curated aesthetic, featuring a trampoline, blue water-like reflections, and sailor-inspired costumes, adds a unique charm to a choreography filled with music, romantic duets, flirtations, and bathrobes. De Cabeza is a poignant ode to life, alternating between intense and playful passages, yet always perfectly synchronized.

Tour

After its Madrid debut, De Cabeza toured multiple national and international stages as part of various dance festivals. Notable performances include:

San Lorenzo de El Escorial – Real Coliseo Carlos III and Auditorium Sala B.
International Madrid en Danza Festival.

The production garnered unanimous praise from both critics and audiences, solidifying Teresa Nieto en Compañía as a benchmark in the fusion of flamenco and contemporary dance.

Awards

De Cabeza received multiple accolades, including:

Max Award for Best Choreography (2009).
Max Award for Best Female Dancer, for Teresa Nieto (2009)
Six additional nominations at the Max Performing Arts Awards, including Best Dance Show.

These recognitions are a testament to the cultural and artistic impact of the production.