Madrid, May 1 (Prensa Latina) Spanish and Cuban people paid tribute to dancer and choreographer Antonio Gades (1936-2004) on occasion of the International Dance Day, on which this intellectual and political figure was praised.

The Embassy of Cuba in Madrid was chosen for this tribute, which was attended, among others, by Eugenia Eiriz, director of the Company and the Foundation named after Antonio Gades, who revolutionized Spanish dance.

Eiriz, widow of the exceptional dancer, described Gades as a communist to the core, at home and outside home, member of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain and a great friend of the Cuban Revolution.

She said that five months before the cancer killed him, full of desires to live, he went on his sailboat during 40 days in a very difficult journey to reach what he considered the destination of his life, Cuba.

"For his innovative art, his acknowledged exceptional nature, his love for those who fight and his proven friendship and loyalty to the Revolution, the Council of State of Cuba gave him the Order Jose Marti, the highest recognition granted by Cuba", said Natasha Diaz-Arguelles, cultural counselor of the Cuban Embassy in Madrid.

"As a sign of his passion and commitment, his mortal remains lie in Cuba, in the emblematic Segundo Frente Oriental, just as he wanted", said Diaz-Arguelles, as his widow described that site as a place of highest honor.

For the occasion, the main hall of the Cuban Embassy was decorated with paintings of the permanent exhibition of the Gades Foundation, in the Madrid municipality of Getafe, as well as works by his great friend Antonio Miro.

The closing ceremony of the tribute was performed by young and talented dancer Curro Candela, who, along with various members of his company and Cuban musicians, pleased the large audience with his performance "Afrogitano".