The show is titled "Sevilla-Madrid-Sevilla" will present a three-pant program including "Cambalache," "Dualia" and "Caprichos."

"Flamenco is a fundamental part of our repertoire," says Jose Antonio, artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet.

"Cambalache" explores the exchange of styles, cultures and ancestral feelings that create what we call flamenco today. "Dualia" is the work of Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez, founders of the ballet, who bring youth and freshness to Spanish dance.

"Caprichos" by Fernando Romero is defined as "a flamenco dancing show without a storyline, in which the one and only aim is to provide a personal, abstract vision of flamenco."

"Classical ballet means stylized Spanish academic dance and it draws from all of the styles in Spanish dance - folkloric, the bolero school from the 18th century, and flamenco," says Antonio. He once was a star dancer and choreographed the renowned "The Cafe de Chinitas," which recovered the curtains and wardrobe that Salvador Dali designed for the original version by La Argentinita.

"Driven by the inspiration of the different styles, it develops in a way that could be understood as 'symphonic,"' says Antonio. "This was the way that it was done by Falla, Turina, and Granados, among many others. Academic ballet is a universal language, but it has always had very close ties to its Spanish roots.

"In Spain, the word 'ballet' is synonymous with 'company,' not a style of dance. We draw from our roots and use them to develop stories theatrically. All of the company's members are Spanish, or at least have Spanish citizenship."

The Theater and Entertainment General Direction of the Spanish Ministry of Culture formed the Spanish National Ballet in 1978 to revive the most representative pieces of Spanish choreographers.

Star Dancer and choreographer Antonio became the new artistic director in 1986, incorporating into the repertory Jose Granero's choreography "Bolero" and created new pieces among which a new version "El Sombrero de Tres Picos" with Picasso's original decor.

Over 20 years the Ballet Company has taken part in numerous festivals and performed in some of the best theaters in the world, including the New York Metropolitan Opera House. It won the Critics Award for the Best Foreign Show performed in the 1988 season of the Met.

Date: May 29-30, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave
Tickets: 120 to 680 yuan
Tel: 021-62172426