Mediterranean Foundation convenes in Alicante with a gala that gathers distinguished dancers who have shaped the history of the National Ballet and the National Dance Company. The event is part of the Mediterranean Dances cycle and begins Saturday at 8 p.m. in Alicante’s Culture Class venue. Seven provincial artists—Ana Agraz, Néstor de Lara, Andrea Méndez, Isaac Montllor, Ilidia Solbes, Agustín Torres, and Juan Francisco Trigueros—will participate, with a tribute to Alicante-born dancer Juan Manuel Lillo (1962–2021).
Tickets are priced at 10 euros and may be purchased at the box office or through the official site of the organizing foundation, cited here for reference: Fundación Mediterráneo.
In addition, as part of the same cycle that began last Sunday with Andrea Tortosa, there will be two ballet master classes this coming Sunday. Directed by Joaquín de Luz, the current director of the Spanish National Dance Company and an internationally renowned Spanish dancer, the sessions will take place at 10 a.m. for intermediate dancers and at 12 p.m. for advanced dancers. The venue has reached full capacity for participant slots, yet tickets remain available for those who wish to observe, at 10 euros apiece.
The Gala is organized by Akdeniz Foundation with expert support. Emilio Morales has successfully brought together Alicante dancers who have helped shape the two leading dance communities in Spain from their earliest days to the present. The program features personal tributes to the honorees, with performances prepared specifically for the event. Nestor de Lara contributed to the program by choreographing a piece for third- and fourth-year students at the José Espadero Professional Dance Conservatory in Alicante.
Alicante dancer Andrea Tortosa opens a new edition of “Mediterranean in Dance”
With this show, the Foundation emphasizes public recognition of Alicante’s talent, acknowledging the province’s representation in major national ensembles such as the National Ballet and the National Dance Company, both currently led by Joaquín de Luz and Rubén Olmo. This project was launched in 2022 to celebrate regional achievements in dance.
Participants
Participating dancers include Ana Agraz, Néstor de Lara, Andrea Méndez, Isaac Montllor, Ilidia Solbes, Agustín Torres, and Juan Francisco Trigueros.
Alcoy-born dancer Isaac Montlor—cognate to the late Ovidi Montllor—has had a long career with the Spanish National Dance Company and has collaborated with renowned international choreographers since 2000. He served as the company’s Artistic Coordinator from 2019 and remained in a lead role through 2022. His career spans performance, choreography, and pedagogy, with teaching roles at prestigious conservatories worldwide. In 2023, he received the Ciudad de Alcoy Cultural Award for lifetime achievement.
Andrea Méndez-Criado (Alicante, 1982) has trained at the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona and performed with the National Dance Company. Her international work includes a stint at Ballett Mainz in Germany, and she now undertakes a multidisciplinary role across Spain, combining performance, teaching, and production while collaborating with leading ensembles and collectives.
Agustín Torres, originally from Jumilla, grew up in Alicante from age three. He discovered dance at sixteen after attending a José Espadero choreographic event. His early training took place at the Spanish National Ballet School under Antonio Ruiz Soler. He served with the National Ballet from 1980 to 1982, later returning to Alicante to establish Mi Estudio, a venue devoted to flamenco and Spanish dance.
Ana Agraz studied in Benidorm and Alicante, completing a Master’s in Performing Arts and earning accreditation from the Royal Academy of Dance, London. Her professional path began in Madrid at seventeen, with performances in renowned tablaos and participation in notable flamenco and Spanish dance companies. Since 2019 she has been a member of the National Ballet of Spain under Rubén Olmo, and she has pursued a personal project that premiered in Benidorm in 2023.
Ilidia Solbes was born in Alicante in 1961 and credits José Espadero as a lifelong influence. He served in the Spanish National Ballet from late 1978 to early 1986.
Nestor de Lara (Alicante, 1962) began training at eight and joined the Spanish National Ballet at sixteen. After international performances and studies with eminent teachers, he dedicated himself to teaching and promoting dance in Alicante and beyond. He currently serves as professor and department head of Spanish Dance at the José Espadero Professional Dance Conservatory in Alicante, maintaining ongoing ties with the National Ballet of Spain.
Juan Francisco Trigueros trained in Alicante with José Espadero, continuing studies in Madrid. He performed with the Spanish National Ballet under leaders such as Antonio Gades, earning an award at the Stuttgart Dance Festival. With extensive international experience as both dancer and choreographer, Trigueros later founded his own dance school and company in San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante.
Tribute to Juan Manuel Lillo
A moment of silence will honor Juan Manuel Lillo. Born and raised in Alicante (1962–2021), he began his career at the Óscar Esplá Conservatory and gained prominence with companies like the Antonio Gades Ballet and the Spanish National Ballet. Though his career paused due to health issues, his international performances left a lasting impression on stages and festivals worldwide.