Born into a dancing family in Sevilla, Spain, Galván trained in classical Flamenco from a young age and has transformed into one of the world’s most innovative dancers and choreographers.

Following in the footsteps of Vaslav Nijinski’s notorious performances, Galván weaves Flamenco with Igor Stravinsky’s imposing score, The Rite of Spring, subverting and reconstructing tradition, re-evaluating the full possibilities of Flamenco.

Accompanied on stage by two pianists, Daria van den Bercken and Gerard Bouwhuis, Galván uses his body as a sound box, becoming consumed by Stravinsky’s score, where rhythm is the driving force. Alongside The Rite of Spring are two additional contrasting musical works, Sonata K87 by Domenico Scarlatti and Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues by Frederic Rzewski.

Reconstructing the physical language of Flamenco and challenging gender norms, Galván draws on a wide range of inspirations including bullfighting, football culture and activism.

[Image description] In golden light, a man with short dark hair, wearing a long black shirt over a full black skirt, looks upwards, his arms forming a sinuous s-shape: the right arm is twisted elbow up, hand pointing downwards, the left arm is lifted in a curve, the hand pointing upwards.

Header image © Jean-Louis Duzert