Antonio Gades facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Gades
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Statue of Antonio Gades, by the sculptor José Villa Soberón. The statue stands in front of the Palacio de Lombillo, on the Plaza de la Catedral in Havana Vieja
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| Born |
Antonio Esteve Ródenas
November 14, 1936 |
| Died | July 20, 2004 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Dancer and choreographer |
| Spouse(s) |
Marujita Díaz (m. 1964–1965)
Pilar San Clemente (m. 1968–1971)
Pepa Flores (m. 1973–1986)
Daniela Frey (m. 1988–1993)
Eugenia Eiriz (m. 2003–2004)
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| Children | 5, including María Esteve |
| Awards |
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Antonio Esteve Ródenas, better known as Antonio Gades, was a famous Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer. He was born on November 14, 1936, in Elda, Alicante, and passed away on July 20, 2004, in Madrid. Antonio Gades helped make flamenco, a traditional Spanish dance style, popular all over the world. He was the father of actress María Esteve and singer Celia Flores.
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Antonio Gades's Career
Antonio Gades had a very important career in dance and film. He was known for his strong performances and for sharing Spanish dance with people everywhere.
Famous Flamenco Dance Works
Gades created many well-known dance shows. Some of his most famous works were dance versions of classic stories.
- He adapted Carmen, a story by Prosper Mérimée, into a dance.
- He also created a dance version of Blood Wedding (called Bodas de Sangre in Spanish) by Federico García Lorca.
- Another big work was a full-length dance film based on Manuel de Falla's ballet El amor brujo.
In the 1990s, Antonio Gades traveled the world with his show called Fuenteovejuna. This show was based on a play by Lope de Vega with the same name.
Film Collaborations
Antonio Gades also worked on movies. He teamed up with the Spanish director Carlos Saura to film the dance adaptations of Carmen and Blood Wedding. The talented dancer Cristina Hoyos also appeared in these films.
Spanish National Ballet
In 1978, Antonio Gades helped start the Spanish National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de España). He became its artistic director, which means he was in charge of the creative side of the ballet company.
Personal Life and Legacy
Antonio Gades was interested in more than just dance. He also cared about politics and had strong beliefs about how society should work. He was a member of a political group and believed in certain ideas about how countries should be run. In 1987, he was part of the jury at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival, helping to judge movies.
He was married to the Spanish actress and singer Marisol for four years, and they had three daughters together.
Antonio Gades passed away in Madrid from cancer.
Awards and Honors
About six weeks before he died, Antonio Gades received a very special award. He was given the "Order of José Martí" by Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba. This is one of the highest honors a person can receive in Cuba.
In 2004, his ashes were placed in a memorial cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. This cemetery is called the Mausoleum of the Frank País Second Eastern Front.
Filmography
Antonio Gades appeared in several films throughout his career:
- Los Tarantos (1963)
- The Pleasure Seekers (1964)
- With the East Wind (1966)
- El amor brujo (1967)
- The Last Meeting (1967)
- Bodas de sangre (1981)
- Carmen (1983)
- El amor brujo (1986)
- Fuenteovejuna (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Gades para niños
