The singing café in Malaga of the same name is the focus of this ballet, which was created in its first version by the celebrated flamenco artiste Encarnación López, 'la Argentinita'.
'El Café de Chinitas' was composed by the dancer and choreographer José Antonio Ruiz for the Dance Centre of Andalusia. It is inspired by the curtains painted by Salvador Dalí in homage to Federico García Lorca, which were commissioned by the legendary dancer Encarnación López, 'la Argentinita', for its first production in the United States in 1943.
In 2004, when he was appointed the new artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet, José Antonio Ruiz chose this work for his first programme of performances. In addition to the homage to Dalí and Lorca (it features several of the 'Canciones populares', (popular songs) compiled by the poet), the figure of Antonio 'el Bailarín' is also present in this work, in commemoration of the 10 years since his death. The work contains music by Joaquín Turina, interpreted in a jazz style by the pianist Chano Domínguez.
