Young people drive bullfighting’s resurrection in Spain

Bullfighters followed by their assistants walk during the ‘paseillo’ or ritual entrance to the arena, before a bullfight with young bulls, at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid (Manu Fernandez/AP)

The death of Spanish bullfighting has been declared many times, but the number of bullfights in the country is at its highest level in seven years, and the young are the most consistent presence as older groups of spectators drop away.

In Madrid, Alvaro Alarcon plays out the moment when he will enter the Spanish capital’s Las Ventas bullring for his final challenge as a “novillero”, or apprentice bullfighter.