Letter from Spain - current state of ballet, modern, flamenco companies and resources for dance education and government subsidies

Dance Magazine, Oct, 1998 by Laura Kumin

The education of dancers has come under scrutiny recently; both the validation of diplomas issued by official conservatories and the establishment of advanced and university-level curricula are topics of debate.

The Ministry of Education and Culture's refusal to grant university equivalency to conservatory diplomas (which in the past were also issued by the ministry) means that dance teachers with these diplomas are no longer qualified to give classes at certain levels.

During the 1990s, the ministry has also been implementing sweeping educational reforms, establishing standards level by level. Conservatory dance programs have balanced precariously between curricula, waiting for a definitive policy to cover all levels of dance training. The ministry maintains that the previous lack of a uniform curriculum made for drastic differences in the quality of diploma programs throughout the country.

Dance teachers are protesting a decision which would give hiring preference in certain teaching positions to holders of university degrees over qualified dance teachers. (University dance degrees do not officially exist yet for dance). The Spanish Federation of Associated Dance Professionals has the difficult task of maintaining a fruitful dialogue with the government while working toward unity in an often divided field. At present, the Federation has more than 1,000 members and is growing in number and in clout.

In terms of funding, dance still remains the Cinderella of the performing arts. National government grants for the arts face an uncertain future, as a growing federal government structure is gradually giving Spain's regions responsibility for cultural affairs. Catalonia recently won a lawsuit against the Ministry of Education and Culture, in which they demanded that national grant money for the performing arts be administered directly by the regions. Besides concentrating all funding decisions within one local panel, there is no proviso guaranteeing that such federal money would necessarily be used for the arts. Although grants will be issued by the Ministry this year, it is impossible to predict what will happen in 1999.

Given this situation and decreases in other government funding, private entities play an increasingly important role. The Fundacion Autor, which recently organized the Max Awards for the Performing Arts, also provides grants and, with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, has created a choreography competition for ballet in Spain and Latin America.

Although these are uncertain times for the arts, Spain's dance community remains rich in ideas and talent, instantly identifiable in an increasingly global world.