Centro Danza Matadero will host the world premiere of Bien vale un imperio on 6 and 7 November. This new creation by choreographer and dancer Paula Comitre, who is a resident artist at the centre, is the second piece in the Nuevos Creadores series, which highlights emerging talents in dance through collaborations with companies, dancers, and choreographers.
Bien vale un imperio is the second chapter of the Trilogía de la Edad de Plata Femenina, a project that pays tribute to three pivotal women in the establishment of flamenco and Spanish dance in the early 20th century. Following Après vous, Madame, which honoured Antonia Mercé, known as ‘La Argentina’, this new work explores the figure of Pastora Imperio. Her bold personality serves as a foundation for a performance that aims to investigate the past from a contemporary perspective rather than merely reconstructing it.
Comitre's creation blends tradition, memory, and experimentation, expressed through the body, gestures, and music. The costumes, designed by the creative duo Fuentesal Arenillas, reinvent iconic elements of traditional flamenco, such as the hat, the bata de cola (a long dress), and the mantón (shawl).
The soundscape of Bien vale un imperio is crafted from three distinct guitar styles: classical, flamenco, and experimental, performed by Pedro Rojas Ogáyar, Francis Gómez, and Jesús Rodríguez. This work is a co-production of Centro Danza Matadero, Casa Velázquez, and Théâtre de Nîmes, supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Andalusian Agency for Cultural Institutions, and the Community of Madrid.
The premiere is the result of the first call for the Creative Residencies programme at Centro Danza Matadero, which provides artists with a supportive framework for developing new projects.
Born in Seville in 1994, Paula Comitre graduated in Flamenco Dance and has collaborated with notable figures such as David Coria and Rafaela Carrasco. Her career includes performances like Cámara abierta, Cuerpo nombrado, Alegorías (el límite y sus mapas), and Après vous, Madame, which won the Premio Lorca 2025 for Best Performer in Spanish/Flamenco Dance.
As a parallel activity, Comitre will conduct a workshop titled El cuerpo del flamenco on 8 November, aimed at children aged 7 to 12. Additionally, young people aged 16 to 30 can attend Bien vale un imperio for free, thanks to JOBO, the Cultural Youth Voucher from the Madrid City Council.
