Aida Gómez
Who is Aida Gómez?
Aida Gómez Aguado was born in Madrid in 1967. She began studying Spanish dance at the age of seven and classical dance at eleven, completing her studies at the Madrid Conservatory with honors at just twelve, training under masters such as Juana Taft, maestro Ontín, Pilar de Oro, Aurora Pons, Merche Esmeralda, La Tati and Manolete, among others.
Career
In 1981 she joined the Ballet Nacional de España as a soloist, where she danced pieces such as “Sonatas del Padre Soler” and “Puerta de Tierra”, and in 1985 she was named principal dancer, a role in which she performed titles such as “Los Tarantos”, “Soleá” and “El Sombrero de Tres Picos”. In 1988 she premiered her solo “Zarabanda” at the Liceu in Barcelona, and in 1990 she took part in the tribute for the centenary of Antonia Mercé “La Argentina” and performed at the Kirov Theatre during a tour of the Soviet Union. In 1996 she joined Joaquín Cortés’s company as a guest artist, touring with them to London’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Radio City and the Universal Studios in Los Angeles. In 1997 she performed at the reopening of the Teatro Real in Madrid and founded her own company, with which she premiered “Solos en Compañía”. Between 1998 and 2001 she was artistic director of the Ballet Nacional de España, the youngest person ever to hold that position in the institution’s history.
Style
Specializing in Spanish dance with a flamenco foundation, her work is characterized by pieces of strong dramatic content that combine contemporary and classical music. She created her own choreographies such as “Mensaje”, with music by Vicente Amigo, and “Silencio Rasgado”, with music by Jorge Pardo, and produced a celebrated version of “Carmen”, with music by José Antonio Rodríguez and direction by Emilio Sagi, which toured internationally through China, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London’s Sadler’s Wells.
Legacy
In 1998 she won the Max Award for best dancer, in 2000 she received the Silver Medal from the Instituto de Cultura del Teatro de Bellas Artes de México, and in 2004 the Premio Nacional de Danza, honors that crown a career spanning stages across Europe, Asia and America.