The line-up for FlamencA 2023, to be held in Arles (France), has just been announced. A perfect excuse to investigate the important presence of this art “Spain brand” in France.
On why the French like flamenco
In January 1992, Camarón de La Isla gave an emotional concert in Nimes, in the south of France, months before his death. The audience was surrendered at the feet of, surely, the most important flamenco singer in history. It was not the first time that the artist performed in France, of whose public he commented: “The French public has a very nice and great respect”.
The passion that flamenco provokes in the French is not new. It almost certainly began when Spanish Roma communities migrated to France in the late 19th century, bringing with them their rich cultural heritage, including flamenco. The exoticism and passionate nature of his music and dance captivated French artists, intellectuals and the general public.
This hobby took shape at the Universal Exposition in Paris. Explains researcher Sandra Alvarez Molina, from the University of Paris III: “The Paris Exposition of 1889 was the first event in which large Spanish parties were organized”. The French capital was the center of the world at that time in terms of culture, so there were many flamenco artists performing in its cafés and theaters. María Albaicín, Lolita Benavente, Raquel Meller… a lot of flamenco women in those early days.
FlamencA: women’s flamenco
The admiration of the French for Andalusian dance and song has extended to the present day, demonstrating that language does not matter if the feeling unites us. French flamenco festivals are among the most relevant in the world after, logically, the Spanish ones. In this article you can read a summary of the main meetings held outside our borders. But FlamencA is special and we have been following it since its beginnings, 6 editions ago.
First, because it arose from flamenco lovers who, voluntarily and with money from their own pockets, wanted to support all that this music means. As they themselves point out: “This erudite music, born from the meeting of European, Gypsy, Arab and Jewish peoples, is synonymous with inclusion, sharing and generosity. Forged in joy and evolving in pain, it explodes in cathartic anger and tells stories of life, of our lives.”
Secondly, and from the point of view of FlamencA that we share, flamenco does not belong to us: it belongs to us, to the people of the world… FlamencA is the way to respect “pure” flamenco, combining tradition, contemporaneity, youth and dynamics of the flamenco genre.
And, third, but not least, because its program is very attractive. It includes artists who are making a name for themselves in flamenco from both France and Spain, and female flamenco artists take center stage.
Do not hesitate to make a hole in your agenda to know this flamenco festival in the beautiful town of Arles. The venues where you can enjoy the performances are not just any: the Roman theater, the courtyard of the archdiocese, the museum of Arles Antique, the Arlaten museum, the Réattu museum, the gardens of Moulin en Fontvielle, Méjanes in Camargue, art galleries, private venues of the most prestigious…