ABSTRACT

The content of Triana's dance was so human that his genius became accepted as universal. He knew that dance and music can never be separated, even though each is beauty in itself. The choreographer's feeling for the music must inevitably determine whether his creation will be appropriate to it. Primitive dance stresses repetition, equal balance of steps, and musical phrases. Somehow, familiar monotonous motion is consoling to the spirit. Theatre dance, however, must introduce the element of contrast which goes together with the proportion and harmony. This was never forgotten in Triana's choreography. Few Spanish dance companies can afford scenic designers or extravagant musical accompaniment. The elite have always patronized classical ballet, possibly to be seen, rather than to see. His Spanish dance was a living process, its best traditions constantly developing new traits. Its poetry revealed to his audiences and to his pupils the inestimable treasures ingrained in his own artistic nature.