Joaquín Cortés facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joaquín Cortés
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| Born |
Joaquín Pedraja Reyes
1969 (age 55–56) |
| Occupation | Flamenco dancer, Ballet and Contemporaneo dancer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Partner(s) | Mónica Moreno |
| Parent(s) | Basilia Reyes Flores |
Joaquín Pedraja Reyes (born in 1969), known to the world as Joaquín Cortés, is a famous Spanish dancer. He is celebrated for his incredible skill in both traditional flamenco and classical ballet. He is also known for creating his own unique style by mixing different types of dance.
Contents
The Journey of a Dancer
Early Life and Training
Joaquín Cortés was born into a Gitano (Spanish Romani) family in Córdoba, Spain. Even as a young boy, he loved to dance. In 1981, his family moved to Madrid, which was a big step for his future career. In the capital city, he began to study dance seriously and took formal lessons to perfect his skills.
Joining the Spanish National Ballet
By 1984, Cortés's talent was so clear that he was accepted into Spain's national ballet company, a very respected group of dancers. As a member, he traveled the world and performed on some of the most famous stages. These included the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and the Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
While with the Spanish National Ballet, he became a principal solo dancer. He was famous for his amazing energy and athletic ability on stage.
Creating a New Style of Dance
Cortés wanted more creative freedom, so he started his own dance company in 1992. It was called the Joaquín Cortés Flamenco Ballet. This allowed him to experiment and break away from pure ballet. He created his own exciting mix of flamenco, ballet, and modern dance.
His first international tour with his company was called 'Cibayí'. This show introduced his new, powerful style to the world.
Becoming a Global Star
The year 1995 was huge for Cortés. He appeared in two movies, 'La flor de mi secreto' and 'Flamenco'. He also launched his most successful show, 'Pasión Gitana' (Gypsy Passion). This show made him famous not just as a dancer, but also as a talented choreographer (someone who creates dance routines) and artistic director.
During the 1990s, he became well-known in pop culture and was friends with celebrities like model Naomi Campbell and designer Giorgio Armani.
Later Career and Other Projects
After the year 2000, Cortés began to focus more on creating and directing shows. He still performs, but not as often. He has also acted in movies like 'Gitano' (2000) and 'Vaniglia e cioccolato' (2004).
In 2007, he was a guest dancer on the popular American TV show Dancing with the Stars. He continues to create new shows and share his passion for dance with audiences everywhere.
Interestingly, Cortés was the visual inspiration for the character Vamp in the popular Metal Gear video game series.
Famous Dance Shows
- Cibayí
- Pasión Gitana
- Soul
- Live
- De Amor y Odio
- Mi Soledad
- Unleashed (2009)
- Esencia (2017)
Film and TV Appearances
- La flor de mi secreto (1995) — as Antonio
- Flamenco (1995) — as himself
- Gitano (2000) — as Andres Heredia
- Vaniglia e Cioccolato (2004) — as Carlos
- Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta (2021) - as Erizo/Winner
See also
In Spanish: Joaquín Cortés para niños
- List of dancers
