Alexandrinsky Theatre

Premiere in Russia

In Querencia, Antonio Najarro gives poetic form to a word that resonates deeply in the Spanish soul — a longing for the place where one truly belongs. In his vision, that place is Spanish dance itself: its essence, its heartbeat, its living fire. As heir to a grand tradition, Najarro does not look backward with nostalgia; instead, he journeys inward, into the hidden core of meaning, revealing it anew for contemporary audiences.

Striking theatrical effects illuminate and amplify the choreographic ideas. From the virtuosic precision of Escuela Bolera and the blazing freedom of flamenco emerges duende — the mysterious spirit that defines Spanish dance. A vibrant symphonic score weaves together the timeless and the modern into a single, powerful current, propelling the performance with emotional intensity and sweeping momentum.

Querencia is more than a spectacle — it is an experience. It speaks a universal language without words: through the proud architecture of the human body, through gestures that strike sparks from the air, through the resonant silence suspended between musical phrases. Here, Spanish dance appears in its purest state — refined, passionate, and impeccable in its truth.

As AlbiDanza writes, “Querencia is a mosaic. Each of its eleven sections has its own individuality, always inspired by the many branches that shape Spanish dance.”

Revista SusyQ praises “the sextet of castanets, embodying pure wit and perfectionism, as the highlight of the evening.”
Critic Omar Khan evokes the image of “the launching of a magical ship, setting sail across the seas of the world under the banner of Spanish dance.”

And Mercedes Albi notes the seamless flow of eleven diverse and contrasting abstract scenes, performed by a young, powerful, and energetic company — serene yet elegant, offering a captivating journey through the many forms of Spanish dance, with special emphasis on the stylized genre that remains both the choreographer’s greatest challenge and his greatest strength.

With its sculptural clarity, emotional depth, and radiant artistry, Querencia invites audiences to rediscover the place where tradition becomes identity — and where dance becomes home.

Concept and choreography: Antonio Najarro
Music: Moisés Sánchez
Performance: Orquesta de Extremadura (OEX)
Sound recording: Javier Monteverde (Cezanne Producciones)
Percussion (flamenco): Odey Lizaso
Lighting: Pau Fulana
Costumes: Yaiza Pinillos
Costume production: Lourdes Boam, Gabriel Besa, Rubén Carreño, Lorena Marcelo, Sancha Tradición Popular
Shoes: Gallardo
Hats: Sombrerería Medrano
Shawls: Pertíñez
Shawl dyeing: María Calderón
Producer: Antonio Najarro S.L.
Management: Gachi Pisani
Director: Antonio Najarro
Choreographer: Africa Paniagua
Producer: Rubén Carreño (Antonio Najarro S.L.)
Technical Director: Raúl Mallol