In 1978, the Theatre and Entertainment General Direction of the Spanish Ministry of Culture created the Ballet Nacional de España, to which Antonio Gades was appointed Artistic Director. From that first moment, Gades’ goal was to revive the most representative pieces of Spanish choreographers. In this way, he composed a repertory which includes: “Diez Danzas Vascas”, “Fandango del Padre Soler” by Mariemma; “Fantasía Galaica” by Antonio; “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Pilar López; “Rango” by Rafael Aguilar and “Bodas de Sangre” by Gades himself.

In 1980, Antonio was appointed Artistic Director, incorporating his own choreographies into the repertory: “El Sombrero de Tres Picos”, “El Amor Brujo”, “Sonatas del Padre Soler” and “Estampas flamencas”.

In 1983, the Theatre and Entertainment General Direction joined the two permanent dance companies, the Ballet Nacional de España and the Spanish Classical Ballet, entrusting its direction to María de Avila who included new pieces, with original choreographies and music, in the repertory, ”Ritmos” by Alberto Lorca, “Medea” with scenery by Miguel Narros, choreography by José Granero, or “Danza y Tronio” by Mariemma.

In September 1986, María de Ávila left the direction and the company again separated in two independent ballets. José Antonio, Star Dance and Choreographer, who had previously been Assistant Director, became the Artistic Director of the Ballet Nacional de España. From 1986 to 1992 he created 17 choreographies, which includes: “Laberinto”, “Con mi soledad”, “Fandango de Soler”, “Zarabanda” a new version of “El Sombrero de Tres Picos” with Picasso´s original decor, “Soleá”, “La vida breve” and “Don Juan”.

In 1993 the National Institute for the Performing Scenic Arts, appointed on Artistic Direction team coordinated by Aurora Pons, Nana Lorca and Victoria Eugenia. This new team added premiered “La gitanilla” by José Granero; “Romance” by Juanjo Linares; “Concierto de Málaga” by Manolo Marín; “Bailaora” by Ciro; “A mi aire” by Victoria Eugenia; “A ritmo y a compás” by Currillo; and “Grito” by Antonio Canales.

In 1998 the Ministry of Education and Culture, acting on the proposal of the National Institute for the Performing Arts, appointed the ballerina Aida Gómez BNE Artistic Director. From 1998 to 2001, BNE produced “Poeta” by Javier Latorre; the flamenco suite “Oripandó” created by Isabel Bayón, Currillo, Israel Galván and Adrián Galia; a new version of the mythical “Carmen” created by José Antonio; two pieces set to original music by Dorantes, “Semblanzas” by Aida Gómez and “A ciegas” created by Antonio Canales specially for Aida Gómez; “Nereidas” by Antonio Najarro; and “Estamos Solos” by José Granero, premiered in 1982 and restored by BNE.

From March 2001 to June 2001, with Elvira Andrés as Artistic Director, Ballet Nacional de España restored "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Pilar López and premiered several choreographies: "Fuenteovejuna", by Antonio Gades, and "Women" by Elvira Andrés, “Entreverao (Farruca)” by Manolete, “De Azabache y Plata” by Mayte Bajo, “Mareas” by Teresa Nieto and Florencio Campo, “Ilusiones F.M.” by María Pagés, “Taranto” by Antonio Canales and “Colores” by Elvira Andrés.

Over the years the Ballet Nacional de España has participated in various festivals such as Spoleto, the Lyon Biennial and the Bogota Latin-America Theatre Festival. It has also appeared at some of the world´s most important theatres such as the Bellas Artes Theatre in Mexico, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the London Coliseum, Tokyo´s Orchard Hall, Sadler´s Wells (London) and Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin.

Awards received by the Ballet include the critics´ prize for the best foreign show during the 1988 season at the New York Metropolitan, the Japanese critics´ prize in 1991, the critics´ prize for the best spectacle at the Bellas Artes Theatre in Mexico City in 1994 and a prize awarded by the Spanish newspaper, El País (Tentaciones), for “Poeta” which was judged Spain´s best choreography in 1999, and the Critics’ prize as well as the Prize awarded by the audience at the VI Festival de Flamenco de Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), for “Fuenteovejuna” by Antonio Gades.

In 2004, Ministry of Culture appointed the dancer and choreographer José Antonio BNE Director.