Two celebrated choreographers from Genesis were honored this Wednesday with the National Awards in Dance 2023, a yearly recognition from the Ministry of Culture and Sports accompanied by grants of 30,000 euros each.
The jury praised Melania Olcina of Barcelona, born in 1982, for a distinctive persona that blends an intelligent, hypnotic stage presence with a versatile and poetic range. Her artistry shows through a natural maturity that captivates audiences across stages worldwide.
They also highlighted the unique voice of Rafaela Carrasco from Seville, born in 1972, describing her work as a choreographic discourse in flamenco creation that serves as a benchmark for emerging generations.
Melania Olcina is a translator, choreographer, video artist, and choreography assistant. Her academic path includes a Bachelor of Art History from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2009, a Bachelor of Contemporary Dance from the Royal Professional Conservatory of Madrid Mariemma in 2008, and a Master in Thought and Contemporary Stage Creation completed in 2021 at a leading arts academy.
Olcina has reached notable milestones on national and international stages, including appearances at major dance festivals such as Impulstanz in Vienna in 2009 and collaborations with the University of Madrid Carlos III in 2009, among others. She has worked with Pedro Berdayes as a performer, interpreting pieces such as Allegro ma nondetto and To be continued. She has also collaborated with Jose Reches and Jesus Rubio Gamo on projects like Sinnerman, earning top prizes at choreography competitions. Her training included studies with Teresa Nieto and participation in the ballet realm under Carmen Roche. Since 2013 she has been involved with the Sharon Fridman Company in Free Fall and since 2010 with Antonio Ruz on pieces such as Recreo01 and Ignore. As a choreographer she created Only Organic in 2008 and I Have the Ambition of an Ant in 2015, presented during the 75th RCPD Mariemma Gala. Olcina has contributed to youth movement programs through Trasdanza, supported by professional associations in Madrid and regional cultural foundations.
Rafaela Carrasco stands as a leading flamenco figure recognized for both dance and choreography. She founded her own company in 2002 and has earned top honors at the Spanish Dance and Flamenco Choreography Competition. From 2013 to September 2016 she led the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet. Carrasco ranks among Spain’s foremost dance scholars, with training shaped by Matilde Coral and Mario Maya, two towering influences in the field. Her work fuses rigorous dance research with a flamenco-centric vision that invites insights from other disciplines without abandoning the genre’s roots.
In 1996 Carrasco relocated from Seville to Madrid and has since collaborated with renowned ensembles and artists such as Belén Maya, Israel Galván, Javier Barón, Adrián Galia, Rafael Amargo, Ricardo Franco, Teresa Nieto, Ramón Oller, Antonio Canales, Farruquito, Duquende, Chicuelo, and Merche Esmeralda. These collaborations reflect a dynamic career marked by artistic exploration and a deep commitment to flamenco’s evolving language.