Miguel Altunaga

Training/Education: Miguel (he/him) trained at the National School of Contemporary, Modern and Folk Dance in Cuba, which led to 6 years of performing as a principal dancer for the National Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba. Miguel joined Rambert in 2007 and performed in works by Gary Stewart, Christopher Bruce, Itzik Galili, Siobhan Davies, Doug Varone, Wayne McGregor, Barak Marshall, Lucinda Childs, Henrietta Horn, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Hofesh Shechter, Marion Motin, Cathy Marston, Ben Duke, Alexander Whitley, Andonis Foniadakis, Mark Baldwin, Tim Rushton, Kim Brandstrup, Benoit Swan, Malgorzata Dzierzon, Aletta Collins, Shobana Jeyasingh, Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham.

Professional Experience: Miguel has worked with other international choreographers, including Feri de Geus, Noortje Bijvoets, Kenneth Kvamström, Joaquin Sabaté, Jan Linkens, Georges Céspedes, Julio Cesar Iglesias, Rafael Bonachela, Isidro Rolando, Samir Akika, Mats Ek, Steve Paxton and Exedia Dance Company (Greece). As a choreographer and movement director, Miguel has created work for Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, Rambert, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Holland Dance Festival, Artistry Youth Dance, London Studio Centre(INTOTO 2024), Elmhurst Ballet School, National Youth Ballet where he is a resident choreographer, ArTEZ University of the Arts, Royal Ballet Draft Works 2023, Emergence Dance, English national Youth Co , Simply Red and Carlos Acosta. The Royal Ballet commissioned him to create “Dark Eye” for the Deloitte Ignite Festival in 2014 ( Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House) and choreographed for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2021.

Miguel won the Cuban Best Male Solo Award in 2002, and in 2003 was chosen by Carlos Acosta to perform in ” Tocororo a Cuban Tale”, which toured internationally from 2003 to 2007.

In 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, he was nominated for Outstanding Male Performance and Best Dancer by the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards UK and as Choreographer in 2022 for “City of a Thousand Trades”. In 2022, he was an Assistant Choreographer at the Jean Paul Gaultier Freakshow. He performed with Hofesh Shechter Company for the 2021-2022 season, with the Akram Khan Company for the Chotto Xenos Tour 2022, and with Lost Dog Company in collaboration with the Royal Opera House.

Biggest Inspiration: Miguel is currently committed to his choreography and developing his contemporary movement language.

Photo (c) Nauris Buksevics

Miguel Altunaga Choreographer, Residential Performance Company