Eva Yerbabuena

Eva María Garrido García, known professionally as Eva Yerbabuena, was born in Frankfurt in 1970 to Andalusian parents and raised from infancy in Ogíjares, Granada. She began flamenco study at eleven and made her professional debut at fifteen, going on to work with Rafael Aguilar, Paco Moyano, Javier Latorre, Manolete, Merche Esmeralda and Joaquín Cortés. These early engagements exposed her to varying stage scales and choreographic approaches while keeping her rooted in flamenco's musical and social foundations.

In 1997 Yerbabuena appeared in Mike Figgis's documentary *Flamenco Women*. The following year, after a guest appearance with the Ballet Nacional de España, she founded Eva Yerbabuena Ballet Flamenco with guitarist and composer Paco Jarana as an essential musical collaborator. The company debuted *Eva* at the 1998 Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, marking the start of her work as an authored choreographer rather than a featured soloist.

Over more than twenty-five years, Yerbabuena developed a repertory that paired flamenco structures with dramatic themes and carefully integrated music. Productions including *5 Mujeres 5*, *La voz del silencio*, *A cuatro voces*, *El huso de la memoria*, *Lluvia*, *Cuando yo era…* and *Federico según Lorca* demonstrated her commitment to theatrical inquiry within flamenco forms. Spain recognized this work with the Premio Nacional de Danza in 2001, followed by the Medalla de Andalucía, the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, multiple Premios Max and Giraldillos, and in 2022 an honorary academician position at Spain's Academy of Performing Arts. In 2025 she received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for *Yerbagüena (oscuro brillante)*.

Yerbabuena continues to perform, choreograph and mentor younger artists. Her work connects an intensely individual solo presence to ensemble dramaturgy, while her continuing collaboration with Jarana makes music and dance co-authors of the theatrical event.