Valeriano Paños is a celebrated dancer, performer, choreographer, and director of Danza Española. Born in Barcelona, Paños was raised in Córdoba where he began his academic training. Paños is a disciple of Eva Leiva, Nuria Leiva, Araleo Moyano and Javier Latorre, Rosa Naranjo, Manolete, Maestro Granero and Carmina Ocaña, among others. He danced in the Compañía Andaluza de Danza, under the direction of Mario Maya, and in the companies of José Antonio, Blanca del Rey, Antonio Márquez, Aída Gómez, Manolete, among others. He was a member of the prestigious Ballet Nacional de España from 1998-2000.
Paños teaches in conservatories throughout Europe as well as internationally, notably being invited by Julio Bocca to teach Spanish dance to the Ballet Nacional del Sodre Montevideo Uruguay. From 2016-2018 Paños was Principal dancer and choreographer in the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía for which he created the shows …AQUEL SILVERIO and FLAMENCOLORQUIANO.
In 2001, Rafael Estévez and Valeriano Paños formed an artistic tandem after discovering that they had much in common regarding artistic concepts and vision of dance. They began an arduous work together involving research and experimentation, combining tradition and innovation. Through this artistic and creative journey, they investigate movement, experimenting with contemporary dance forms, Spanish Dance, and flamenco, and create a language and concept of dance and choreography that is characteristically their own.
In 2019, Estévez and Paños were awarded the Premio Nacional de Danza in the modality of creation.
Together they have choreographed, directed, and collaborated with artists such as Carlos Saura, Carmen Linares, Miguel Poveda, Israel Galván, Rocío Molina, El Terremoto, Arcángel, Patricia Guerrero, Olga Pericet, Marco Flores, Manuel Liñán, Amador Rojas, Fuensanta la Moneta, Pastora Galván, Ana Morales, Concha Jareño, and Alfonso Losa, among others.