ASUN NOALES

Asun Noales (Elche, 1972) is a prominent creator in today’s contemporary dance scene, with a distinguished career as both performer and choreographer. She is a founding member of the Spanish Academy of Performing Arts.

Education & Training

She holds a Degree in Choreography and Performance Techniques from the Spanish Ministry of Education. She graduated with Honors in Classical Dance and Summa Cum Laude in Spanish Classical Dance from the Oscar Esplá Conservatory in Alicante. She also earned a Degree in Choreography and Performance Techniques, specializing in Contemporary Dance (Distinction), from the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona.

Her training began in 1982 at the Pilar Sánchez Dance School in Elche, where she studied Classical Ballet and Spanish Dance until 1993. Alongside her studies, she attended intensive courses with renowned teachers such as Margarita Urbino, Bárbara Kasprovicz, Víctor Ullate, Vicente Gregory, Alain Davesne, José Ferrán, Eugenio Valukin, Alix Riga, Joe Alegado, and Ramón Oller.

In 1994, she continued her education at the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona, working closely with exceptional teachers like Guillermina Coll, who reintroduced her to the richness of classical ballet; Gilberto Ruiz Lang, her mentor in Graham technique; and Avelina Argüelles, who trained her in Limón technique.

She also studied with distinguished guest artists including Maxine Steinman (José Limón Company), Karine Saporta, Toni Mira, Karemia Moreno, Marta Munsó, María Muñoz, Pep Ramis (Mal Pelo Company), and Àngels Margarit (Mudances Company), whose singular choreographic language deeply influenced her and led her to join Margarit’s company after graduation in 1998.

During her studies, she received a residency grant at the Montpellier Choreographic Centre under Mathilde Monnier and participated in an exchange program with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.

Throughout her career, she has continued to refine her artistry through masterclasses and workshops with renowned professionals such as Jeremy Nelson, Alexis Eupierre, Joan Palau, David Hernández, Ana Luján, Laura Aris, West Howard, Mónica Valenciano, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ohad Naharin, Shantí Vera, and Cesc Gelabert, among many others.

Professional Experience as Performer

As a performer, she has worked with prestigious companies such as:

Ballet Contemporáneo de Barcelona (BCB)
Ballet Joven de Alicante
Mudances / Àngels Margarit (Térbola, National Prize of Catalonia)
Compañía Roberto Alonso
Compañía Avelina Argüelles
Selene Lux Dance Company
Compañía Vicente Sáez
Tanz Forum Köln / Jochen Ulrich

She has also collaborated as an independent dancer in productions alongside Luc Buoy, Rick Merrill, Santiago Sempere, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano (Fetos, winner of the Ricard Moragas Prize 1997), Antonio Canales, Ramón Oller, and Gigi Caciuleanu.

Experience as Guest Dancer

Coppélia (1998), Tanz Forum Köln (Germany), directed by Jochen Ulrich.
Lamento de Tristano (2003), music and direction by Carles Magraner, with choreographer Santiago Sempere, dancer Toni Aparisi, and filmmaker Bigas Luna.
Congelado en el Tiempo (2005), choreography by Ramón Oller, with the Centro Coreográfico de la Generalitat Valenciana, directed by Inmaculada Gil Lázaro.
La Venta del Cruce (2007), with La Carátula Company, directed by Antonio González.

Choreographic Career

Her first choreographic works include Tinajas (2002), Mixto (2003), Sacra (2004), and Afán (2006).

In 1998, she co-created the project Jacaranda with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano and a group of dancers from the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona, premiering their first work at the Gran Teatro de Elche.

From 2001 to 2006, she co-directed the Patas Arriba Company with Arantxa Sagardoy, presenting productions acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, such as:

Tinajas (2002)
Mixto (2003)
Storyboard (2005)
Islas (2005)
Afán (2006)

She also co-created the double bill Dícese / Sacra (2004), sharing the program with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano (Dícese) and earning two of the most prestigious awards from the Generalitat Valenciana Performing Arts Awards 2005: Best Dance Performance and Best Choreographic Direction, along with five additional nominations.

During this period, she also created short pieces such as:

En Sueños (2001), awarded at the I Certamen Burgos NY.
Tiempos Centrífugos (2003), Third Prize at the Masdanza International Contest (Maspalomas).
Tan Lejos, Tan Cerca (2005), a duet selected for the International Tanzmesse Düsseldorf 2006 and finalist at the Burgos NY Choreographic Competition.

OtraDanza – Founder & Artistic Director (2007 – present)

In 2007, she founded her own company, OtraDanza, which has since created an extensive repertoire performed in over 25 countries worldwide.

During the company’s early years, OtraDanza developed a close partnership with the Mudanzas Festival in Cartagena, presenting several co-productions with dancer and choreographer Kike Guerrero:

Orillas (2007)
Salpíca-te, Salpica-me (2008)
Óyeme con tus Manos (2009)
Soy lo que Fuimos (2010)

In 2008, she premiered OtraDanza’s first full-length work, Tierra, which received the Best Dance Performance Award at the Generalitat Valenciana Performing Arts Awards 2009, along with three nominations.

From this point forward, she entered a highly creative and prolific period, producing works such as:

El Gran Banquete (2009), commissioned by the Teatro Chapí de Villena for the centenary of composer Ruperto Chapí’s death. This production was recommended by Spain’s National Theatre Network and won the Abril Award 2009 for Best Female and Male Dance Performance, touring extensively across Spain.
The Back Trilogy: Back (2010), Ara (2011), and Tattoo (2012), all selected for the Danza a Escena National Circuit (2010, 2012, 2014).
Eureka (2014), her first work for children, included in the PLATEA National Program.
Mater (2014), commissioned by playwright Toni Tordera for the Elche Medieval Festival, focusing on the theme of Passion.
Da Capo (2014), co-created with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano.
Juana la Loca (2015), an expanded version of her earlier work created for the Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago.
Eva y Adán (2015), a playful reinterpretation of the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve, still touring nationally.
Polvo (2015), her first piece designed for non-conventional spaces, premiered at the Convent of Las Clarisas in Elche.
Rito (2016), a danced installation in collaboration with visual artist Susana Guerrero.
Sacra (2016), a reimagining of her iconic earlier work for OtraDanza’s 10th anniversary.
PI (2017), commissioned by the Teatro Escalante, awarded Best Lighting at the Generalitat Valenciana Performing Arts Awards 2018.
Melon & Watermelon (2018), created with Israeli choreographer Ravid Abarbanel.
Arbre (2018), a site-specific work for museums.
La Consagración de la Primavera (2019), commissioned by the Joven Orquesta de la Generalitat Valenciana, combining dance and a new score by Marc García, performed with 16 young dancers and 203 musicians.
Vigor Mortis (2020), created with a multidisciplinary team and nominated for five Performing Arts Awards, winning Best Set Design and Best Female and Male Dance Performance.
La Mort i la Donzella (2020), commissioned by the Institut Valencià de Cultura, awarded three Max Awards 2021 — including Best Dance Performance and Best Choreographic Direction — plus six Generalitat Valenciana Performing Arts Awards 2021.
La Banda (2021), an outdoor performance blending dance and circus, co-created with playwright Lucas Escobedo and composer Raquel Molano.

Her latest creations include:

Sempere (2023)
Romeo y Julieta (2024)
Prometeo (2025)

Guest Choreography

Beyond OtraDanza, Asun Noales has choreographed for renowned international companies and institutions, including:

Axis Dance Company (Desiderata, 2022, San Francisco)
Institut Valencià de Cultura (La Mort i la Donzella, 2020)
Tanzcompagnie Giessen (Rebellen, 2019)
Dance Company Osnabrück (Pulmón, 2023)
Rigolo Swiss Nouveau Cirque (Wings in My Heart, 2015)
Luna Negra Dance Theater (Chicago, Juana, 2011)
Ballet de Teatres de la Generalitat Valenciana (Llebeig, 2009, awarded Best Choreographic Direction).

Awards & Recognition

Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including:

Burgos New York International Choreography Award (2002, En Sueños).
Masdanza International Contest Award (2003, Tiempos Centrífugos).
Generalitat Valenciana Performing Arts Awards for:

Best Dance Performance: Sacra (2005), Tierra (2009), Back (2011).
Best Choreographic Direction: Sacra (2005), Llebeig (2009), Back (2011), La Mort i la Donzella (2021).

Abril Award for Best Dance Performer (El Gran Banquete, 2010).
Estruch Award for Best Dance Production (Clandestino, 2016).
Max Awards 2021: Best Dance Performance, Best Choreographic Direction, Best Lighting (La Mort i la Donzella).
Miguel Hernández Award (2022) in the Arts category.
Medalla del Bimilenari (2019) granted by the City Council of Elche.

Her works have toured extensively across Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, Argentina, the United States, Costa Rica, Albania, Cyprus, Morocco, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Portugal.

Teaching & Pedagogy

Since 2003, Asun has developed a parallel pedagogical career, combining her creative practice with teaching and mentoring dancers worldwide. She has conducted workshops, masterclasses, and choreographic residencies at:

Centro Coreográfico de Teatres de la Generalitat Valenciana
Summer Dance International Burgos-NY (2003–2007)
Purchase College, State University of New York (2005)
Universidad Nacional de Heredia (UNA Danza Joven, Costa Rica, 2006)
Compañía Nacional de Danza (Costa Rica)
ArtGarage (Pozzuoli, Italy)
APDC Madrid
Conservatorio Profesional de Danza José Espadero (Alicante), where she has been a professor since 2008.