AFRICA GUZMAN was born in Madrid. She studied with her mother at the “Escuela de Ballet y Danza Española Africa Guzmán” and at the “Escuela del Ballet Nacional de España” directed by Lola de Avila.
She was awarded Honors by both the “Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Madrid” and “The Royal Academy of Dancing” during her training as a dancer. In 2007 she obtained a “Diploma in dance. Specialty: Choreography and Interpretation Techniques of Dance”. She won first price in classical dance at the County of Kent, 1985; at the County of Sussex, 1987; in the “Concurso Nacional de Danza Monteprincipe”, 1987.
In January 1988 she joined “Ballet del Teatro Lirico Nacional” (now “Compañía Nacional de Danza”) directed by Maya Plisetskaya where she danced principal roles in classical and neoclassical repertoire in ballets from Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Michail Fokine, Alberto Mendez, Ray Barra, etc.
Under Nacho Duato´s artistic direction with CND (june 1990) she was promoted to Principal Dancer and she took part in many of Duato´s creations as well as dancing in most of his pieces until 2010.
In 2003 she joined “Netherland Dans Theater” until 2005 when she returned to CND. Africa has worked as well with numerous choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Paul Lightfoot y Sol León, Hans Van Manen, Jorma Elo, Johan Inger, Angelin Prejolcaj, Olga Roriz, Paul Norton, Nicolo Fonte, Örjan Anderson, Gustavo Ramirez, Meryl Tankartd, André Gingras. Africa has danced all around the world and has been a frequent guest at international ballet galas throughout Europe, Asia, United States, South America, Australia and New Zeland.
She presented her first choreography in Madrid, “Reflejos de un Lied”, for the “Taller Coreográfico of the Compañía Nacional de Danza” in 2000. Since then she has choreographed several works for the “Joffrey Ballet School” and the “Alvin Ailey School” in New York, and the “Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Carmen Amaya” and “Ballet Joven Africa Guzmán” in Madrid.
In 1999 she filmed several episodes for Spanish television (TVE) of the series “Step to step with Nacho Duato”, in 2004 she filmed for Dutch television (NPS) “Kerst met het NDT”, in 2010 she filmed the documentary “Nacho Danse la Danse” by Alain Deymier.
She teaches in “Escuela de Ballet Africa Guzmán” and “Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Carmen Amaya” in Madrid. She has worked as guest teacher for “Joffrey Ballet School” and “Peridance Capezio Center” in NY, and “The Academy of Performing Arts” in Prague. In 2012 she is invited to judge the classical ballet exams for the private dance career ACADE. As Nacho Duato´s assistant she has been invited in 2013 to the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow.