Joaquín Cortés

Joaquín Cortés — Biography

Joaquín Pedraja Reyes, known professionally as Joaquín Cortés, is a Spanish dancer, choreographer and actor of Roma (Gitano) heritage. Born on 22 February 1969 in Córdoba, he was taken to Madrid by his grandfather at the age of eight and began classical ballet training under the guidance of his uncle Cristóbal Reyes, himself a flamenco virtuoso. At fourteen he joined the Ballet Nacional de España, quickly rising to principal dancer and performing on stages such as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Kremlin in Moscow.

After leaving the national ballet in 1988, Cortés founded his own company, the Joaquín Cortés Flamenco Ballet, in 1992, developing a distinctive style that blends flamenco with classical ballet and modern dance. Fashion designer Giorgio Armani contributed to the stage design of several of his productions, and Cortés appeared on screen as Carlos in the 2004 film Vanilla and Chocolate, while touring widely including performances in Istanbul. Since 2006 he has served as a representative of the Roma community to the European Union, founding a Roma foundation in Spain and arguing for improving the image of the term "Gypsy" rather than banning its use.