Gabriel Barrenengoa

Biography

Born in Santander, Spain, where he began his ballet studies with Rosa Núñez and Antonio Almenara before moving to Saragossa in 2001 to attend the Maria de Ávila School.
In January 2007 he was a semi-finalist in the Prix de Lausanne. In April of the same year he appeared with Ballet Biarritz Junior under the direction of Thierry Malandain before joining Béjart Ballet Lausanne, led by Maurice Béjart and Gil Roman, in August 2007. During his time there he danced in Bejart’s The Rite of Spring, The Firebird, Bolero, L’amour la danse, Le Presbytere..., Zarathroustra, le chant de la danse, the Pas de Quatre in Golestan and Bejart’s last creation Le tour du monde en 80 minutes; touring throughout Europe and Japan. In August 2008 he joined Scottish Ballet (artistic director: Ashley Page). His classical roles there included the Prince in Page’s The Nutcracker and the Lilac Prince in Page’s The Sleeping Beauty. His neoclassical repertory included the lead role in Pastor’s In Light and Shadow and solo roles in Ashton’s Scenes de Ballet, Balanchine’s Rubies, Forsythe’s Workwithinwork and MacMillan’s Song of the Earth. He also appeared in contemporary works: Petronio’s Ride the Beast and Brown’s For MG: The Movie. Moreover, he danced in Alston’s Carmen and Elo’s Kings2Ends. With Scottish Ballet, Gabriel toured the UK and China.
In September 2011 he joined Compañía Nacional de Danza (artistic director: José Carlos Martínez). He danced in Preljocaj’s Le spectre de la rose, Forsythe’s Artifact II, Inger’s Walking Mad, Kylián’s Symphony of Psalms and Martinez’s Scarlatti Pas de Deux, touring Spain and Europe. He also took part in the choreographic workshop of the company and created the well-received choreography Moving Point. In September 2012 he was engaged as a soloist of the Ballet de l’Opera de Nice (artistic director: Eric Vu-An). He danced in Tetley’s Voluntaries, the first duet of Child’s Oceana, in Araiz’s Rhapsody, the mazurka variation in Lifar’s Suite en Blanc and performed the role of Jean de Brienne in Vu-An’s Raymonda. He has been a Czech National Ballet soloist since August 2013.