Born: 1963 (Seville, Spain)
Biography:
María Jesús Pagés Madrigal, better known as María Pagés, was born on July 28, 1963, in Seville, Spain. She is an internationally renowned modern Spanish dancer and choreographer, considered to be one of the paramount representatives of flamenco vanguard. With her personal aesthetic concept of flamenco, she has revolutionized the understanding of this art form as an evolution, contemporary, and alive, firmly establishing herself as a leading innovator of modern flamenco.
Pagés began her professional dancing career with the Antonio Gades Company. Throughout her career, she has not only performed but also choreographed for several films, including Carmen, El Amor Brujo, and Flamenco by Carlos Saura. Her contributions to these movies brought flamenco to a wider audience and solidified her reputation as a multifaceted artist.
In 1990, María Pagés founded her own dance company, which is now based in Madrid, Spain. Her dance company has been extremely successful, touring internationally and captivating audiences around the world. Notable performances include appearances in the United States at the prestigious Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Pagés and her company have seamlessly blended the national flamenco style with outside influences, creating a unique and captivating artistic expression.
María Pagés’s immense talent and contributions to the art of flamenco have gained her recognition and numerous awards throughout her career. In 1996, she received the National Choreography Award as well as the Giraldillos Awards at the Giennale of Arte Flamenco (four times). In 2002, she was honored with the prestigious National Dance Award, followed by the Leonid Massine Award in Italy in 2004. Additional accolades include the Flamenco Awards, VI Edition in 2005, the Premios Flamenco Hoy, VI in the same year, and the Cultura Viva Award in 2006. Pagés’s significant contributions to the arts were further acknowledged in 2011 when she received the International Award Terenci Moix and the Medal of Andalucía.
In 2014, María Pagés was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts by the Spanish State through the Ministry of Culture. This recognition further solidified her status as one of the most influential figures in the world of flamenco. More recently, in 2022, Pagés was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award in the category of Arts, cementing her place among the most esteemed artists of our time.
María Pagés’s artistic repertoire is characterized by a wide range of performances that showcase her creativity and innovation. Some of her notable works include Sol y sombra (1990), De la luna al viento (1994), Riverdance (1995-1996) in which her company performed to Irish-style music composed by Bill Whelan, and Flamenco Republic (2001). She has also created works such as Ilusiones FM (2002), Canciones, antes de una guerra (2004), Sevilla (2006), Autorretrato (2008), Flamenco y Poesía (2008), Dunas (2009), and Mirada (2010).
María Pagés’s contributions to the world of dance and her dedication to preserving and evolving the art of flamenco are unmatched. Through her innovative choreography and mesmerizing performances, she has left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Spain and has inspired countless artists worldwide. Her work continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of flamenco.
Awards:
– National Choreography Award (1996)
– Giraldillos Awards, Giennale of Arte Flamenco (four times)
– National Dance Award (2002)
– Leonid Massine Award, Italy (2004)
– Flamenco Awards, VI Edition (2005)
– Premios Flamenco Hoy, VI (2005)
– Cultura Viva Award (2006)
– Premio Cultura, Community of Madrid (2007)
– International Award Terenci Moix (2011)
– Medal of Andalucía (2011)
– Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (Spain) (2014)
– Princess of Asturias Award in the category Arts (2022)