Antonio Gades

Antonio Esteve Ródenas or Antonio Gades (14 November 1936 – 20 July 2004) was a Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer. He helped to popularize the art form on the international stage. He was born in Elda, Alicante, and was the father of actress María Esteve and singer Celia Flores-- with his ex-partner Marisol, herself a popular actress and singer.

Career

Flamenco

Gades's most notable works included dance adaptations of Prosper Mérimée's Carmen and Federico García Lorca's Blood Wedding (Bodas de Sangre), as well as a feature-length adaptation of Manuel de Falla's 23-minute ballet El amor brujo.

In the 1990s, he toured the world with his show Fuenteovejuna, based on Lope de Vega's play of the same name.

Film

Gades collaborated with the Spanish director Carlos Saura in the filming of the adaptations of Carmen and Blood Wedding, which also featured Cristina Hoyos.

He was married to the Spanish actress and singer Marisol for 4 years; they had three daughters.

He died in Madrid from cancer.

Awards

About six weeks before his death, Gades received the "Order of José Martí", one of the highest honors of Cuba, from Fidel Castro, in Havana, Cuba.

In 2004 his ashes were interred at the Mausoleum of the Frank País Second Eastern Front, a memorial cemetery in Santiago de Cuba.

Filmography

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