Beatriz Morales and Agujetas Chico, a couple in life and in the tablaos, return to the Festival de Jerez to show a flamenco without additives or "without sulphites" in one of their most personal works. We interviewed the dancer Beatriz Morales to find out how this show, which will soon be on show at ALL FLAMENCO, came about.

A.F.- How have you managed this year and have you completely recovered your rehearsal/performance rhythm?

B.M.- This year has been a year of taking everything forward with challenges and projects that are gradually coming to fruition, we are much more eager than before because of the time we have spent on hiatus, but the truth is that we have been getting back to work for a year now.

The truth is that I don't have much time to rehearse, I've only recently become a mother and with breastfeeding I'm happy to be able to work. There will come times of more rehearsals, for the moment I'm taking advantage of my little time to set up the new Festival project.

A.F.- Has this break been a turning point in your career?

B.M.- The truth is that this break has been a way of cutting our wings and life short. A radical change that some of us have taken better than others. We've been a year without working, which is soon to say, but then we've taken it up again with more enthusiasm than ever and with the desire to work hard and to carry out all the projects that were put on hold.

A.F.- How do you see the future of flamenco after the pandemic?

B.M.- I have faith that what has happened in the world will be a before and after for flamenco. And I have faith that the public will reclaim the truth of what is authentic and not what has been performed. 

A.F.- Why did you decide to direct your life towards flamenco?

B.M.- I didn't decide to direct my life towards flamenco, I just let myself go, I wouldn't know how to live without dancing, what I didn't know is that flamenco would be part of my life forever. Dancing is my life and what takes away my sorrows, point in my career there have been many important moments that I won't forget. 

A.F.- What moment in your artistic career do you remember the most?

B.M.- Every process, every change, every journey, every job has been a learning process on my path and what has forged me day by day. I have many important moments that will remain forever in my heart. 

A.F.- What does it mean to bring one of your works back to the Festival de Jerez?

B.M.- The Festival de Jerez is, without a doubt, the best festival in the world in terms of dance and for me it is a great honour to be back. I've already been able to perform three works and I'm very happy to be able to do so. As well as being my homeland, it is very important for my career. 

A.F.- What do you want to tell the audience this time?

B.M.- We want to tell the audience the truth. I have always been transparent but this work shows a way of life. It shows my home but in dance, song and music. 

A.F.- Now that you are returning to theatres, do you think that now there are more audiences who enjoy shows through digital media or do you think that the live performance in person is irreplaceable?

B.M.- The pandemic has accelerated digital things but flamenco will always be in person, although we are grateful to technology that has taken us to every corner of the world. But to feel flamenco you have to see it and live it. 

A.F.- And after Jerez, what plans do you have for the rest of the year?

B.M.- After Jerez we have quite a few projects that we will be telling you about little by little through the social networks that we keep up to date and my new website that is in process. In addition to the galas and courses that are in sight such as tacón flamenco in Utrera, Teatro de Olatz in the north, San Sebastian, French Brittany. There will also be more projects that I can't tell you about yet and I'm looking forward to them. 

A.F.- In your latest work, Flamenco sin sulfitos, you talk about flamenco based on your experiences. Which are the ones that have marked you the most?

B.M.- Well, the truth is that we are two people who have come together with the same way of feeling and living life, making the most of every minute, we like to enjoy good singing, good flamenco, good food and a good glass of wine. We have many experiences and each of us comes with our own experiences, so by mixing these two lives we have created "Flamenco sin sulfitos". 

A.F.- What does Agujetas-Chico's music contribute to this approach to this work?

B.M.- Agujetas Chico has contributed all the music to "Flamenco sin sulfitos" because it is a work where the dance adapts to the music, to the singing; and not the other way round. Agujetas' singing is different, that's why the staging has nothing to do with the songs for dance. We are also accompanied by great musicians who will help to make it even more beautiful, such as Diego Villegas on harmonica, Juan Grande on bass, Caro on guitar, Dani Bonilla and Cristina Tovar on backing vocals, Carlos Merino on percussion, Juan Grande, Dani Bonilla and Cristina Tovar on hand clapping. We also have two great technicians: Alan on sound and Otero on lights, who will be in charge of taking the scenography to another dimension with his state-of-the-art technology. Sori Reina will help us to take care of every detail as regidora, and as sponsors we have a young designer from Triana called Arte KM and Roberto Garrudo's shoe shop.  I hope I don't overlook anything because each one of them is part of this great team, and from here I would like to thank them all. 

A.F.-Is it your most personal version, perhaps there is something autobiographical?

B.M.- The truth is that you can say that in each work I have created there is something personal. Each one wants to say something about what I am, in this case it is also the transparency of what I feel or how I feel about my dancing and how Agujetas Chico feels about his music, his singing, his guitar, in a word, my home. 

A.F.-Why is this work different from previous ones?

B.M.- It's different because it's my day to day life, because it's "without sulphites", without additives and taking risks despite the difficulties. 

You can judge for yourselves, you will be able to see it in ALL FLAMENCO very soon, thank you very much.