Antonio Najarro: Spanish dancer, choreographer and teacher
Spanish dancer and choreographer from Madrid, artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de España) from 2011 to 2019, founder of the Antonio Najarro Company and recipient of the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (2023). His artistic goal is to give Spanish dance the visibility it deserves. At Campus Masterclasses he created the online Spanish Dance Program and teaches the castanets course.
- Spanish Dance: Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer.
- Educator: He promotes the inclusion of Spanish Dance in sectors such as fashion and business.
- Teacher: Creator of the Campus Masterclasses Spanish Dance Program.
(Madrid, 1975) Dancer and choreographer, trained by the most prestigious dance masters across all styles: classical ballet, escuela bolera, classical Spanish, folklore, flamenco, and contemporary dance. Graduated with Honors in Spanish Dance at the Mariemma Royal Professional Dance Conservatory in Madrid.
“For me, the great figures who have shaped art in general and, specifically, Spanish dance, are artists who took risks”
Online courses with Antonio Najarro
Learn Spanish dance with the former director of the Spanish National Ballet, from home and at your own pace.
Spanish Dance
3-in-1 Program
Created by Antonio Najarro. Stylised Spanish Dance, Castanets and Escuela Bolera in one online program, at your own pace and with a certificate.
Castanets
With Antonio Najarro
Technique, speed and coordination from scratch, with video lessons and practical exercises taught by Antonio Najarro himself.
Awards and honours
Gold Medal
Of Merit in the
Fine Arts, 2023.
Unidos por la Danza
Víctor Ullate
Foundation Award, 2019.
Legend of Dance
Dancing Star
Events Award, 2018.
Max Award
Best Male Dance
Performer, 2010.
Early career
Antonio Najarro began his professional career at the age of 15 with some of the most renowned Spanish dance companies: Ballet Antología, Ballet del Teatro Lírico de La Zarzuela, Compañía Antonio Márquez, José Antonio y los Ballets Españoles and Compañía de Aída Gómez, where he performed as principal dancer in works by Mariemma, José Granero, Alberto Lorca, José Antonio and Antonio Gades, among others.
“The Spanish dancer is unique in the world, because Spanish dance has an enormous diversity of styles”
In 1996 he was guest soloist in La Gitana, choreographed by José Antonio Ruiz and Paul Chalmer, with the Ballet dell’Arena di Verona under the direction of Carla Fracci. His creative calling soon led him to choreography: he took part in the Madrid Spanish Dance and Flamenco Choreography Competition with Suspiro del Moro (1995), Movimientos Reversos (1996) and Nereidas (1999), which won first prize for best choreography and later joined the repertoire of the Spanish National Ballet.
Spanish National Ballet: from principal dancer to director (2011–2019)
He joined the Spanish National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de España, BNE) in 1997, under the direction of Aurora Pons, Nana Lorca and Victoria Eugenia, and three years later was promoted to principal dancer under Aída Gómez.
From 2011 to 2019 he was artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet. He kept its historic repertoire alive while opening the company to new creators such as Rocío Molina, Olga Pericet, Rubén Olmo, Mar López, Arantxa Carmona, Miguel Fuente, Francisco Guerrero and Carmen Cubillo, and to teachers such as Rafaela Carrasco, Javier Latorre, Manuel Liñán, Blanca del Rey, Mercedes Ruiz, La Lupi, Marco Flores and Merche Esmeralda.
Antonio Najarro Company
In 2002 he founded his own company, for which he choreographed Tango Flamenco (2002), Flamencoriental (2006), Jazzing Flamenco (2008) and Suite Sevilla (2011). After leaving the BNE he returned to his company with Alento (2020); Querencia (2022), a large-scale production for 16 dancers; and La Argentina en París, his tribute to Antonia Mercé “La Argentina”, presented at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid in the 2025–2026 season.
“Nothing happens overnight. If you want to last in the complex world of dance, you have to evolve step by step, with perseverance, discipline and rigour”
Choreographer for Olympic figure skating champions
Najarro is one of the leading choreographers in figure skating. He created Flamenco for the French pair Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat, Olympic gold medallists at Salt Lake City 2002; Poeta and Otoño Porteño for Swiss world champion Stéphane Lambiel; and Ernesto Lecuona’s Malagueña for Javier Fernández, gold at the 2016 World Championships in Boston and the 2017 and 2019 European Championships. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, his choreography The Matador and the Bull for American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the silver medal.
Ambassador for Spanish dance
Najarro works to bring Spanish dance beyond the theatre, into fields such as fashion and business. In October and November 2021 he presented and directed the series Un país en danza on Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE (La 2).
Learn Spanish dance with Antonio Najarro
At Campus Masterclasses, Antonio Najarro created the online Spanish Dance Program, which brings together Stylised Spanish Dance (Danza Estilizada), Castanets and Escuela Bolera with Tania Martín, Cristina Cazorla and Daniel Ramos. He personally teaches the online castanets course and, together with Tania Martín, the Stylised Spanish Dance module. Learn at your own pace, from anywhere, and earn a certificate.