The two most Flamenco weeks of the year start with the XVII Festival de Jerez
In addition to 46 Flamenco shows, the city has organized dozens of complementary activities including exhibitions, conferences, peñas and even the National Ballet.
The Festival de Jerez begins its 27th edition with more than fifty shows on view. From February 24 to March 11, 46 flamenco figures from the national scene will take the stage to present their artistic projects. For two weeks, singing, guitar playing and, above all, dancing will take place at this event, although there will also be a whole series of complementary activities that will give the city a more flamenco atmosphere than usual.
For those who are thinking of attending the Festival but have not yet decided which shows to go for, we leave you the link to all the shows along with some of our recommendations:
Gema Moneo. "Atrevida". Saturday, February 25
The dancer Gema Moneo has opted for the concept of "atrevida" (daring) for her show. Daring in flamenco and in life, which implies being flamenco having as a starting point the personal experience. It is an absolute premiere, which makes "Atrevida" a doubly significant show.
Accompanied on vocals by Miguel Lavi and Antonio el Pulga; on guitar, Paco Iglesias and Jesús Agarrado; with palmeros Manuel Cantarote and Diego Montoya; and with the announcement of a special collaboration with María Vizarraga.
Madrid Choreography Competition Awards. Monday, February 27.
Another flamenco dance show that promises to leave you open-mouthed is the pairing of Carmen Young and Iván Orellana, winners of the Premios Certamen Coreográfico de Madrid.
The Mexican dancer will present her work "Siempre Vivo" (Always Alive), a celebration of life and death as a second life. Next, the dancer Iván Orellana, who has already accumulated several awards in the field of dance and choreography, will demonstrate his talent through "Inherent", a work designed from the introspection and fluidity of the movements and that promises to consecrate an artist who is sweeping the different areas of flamenco dance.
Gala of the Concurso Internacional de Baile Flamenco Puro de Torino
The Concurso Internacional de Baile Flamenco Puro de Torino has revealed itself as a phenomenon bigger than a contest. It is an opportunity to connect artists from all over the world and elevate emotions. That's why this year's concept (or "hashtag") is #Connection.
For 6 days, the Festival de Jerez becomes a space of encounter, recognition and union for artists from countries as diverse as Japan, Argentina, Chile, Russia, Mexico, Thailand, Colombia, Turkey, China, Holland, Malaysia, Israel, Portugal, Switzerland, Venezuela, Poland, France, Austria, United States, Greece, Australia, Italy and of course Spain.
"Flamenco has that power, the power to connect us. And after all that we have lived and suffered in recent years, some more than others in the different countries of the world, we need more than ever to enjoy that gift that Flamenco offers us, to feel "one" with the whole Universe" declare from the organization.
La Macanita. Looking South. Friday, March 3rd.
The cante has colossal voices this year, such as Esperanza Fernández or Vicente Soto Sordera. But among them all, it is worth mentioning the presence of La Macanita, one of the greatest figures of today's flamenco and at the same time a continuation of the tradition of La Paquera, Fernanda de Utrera and La Perla de Cádiz.
The night of March 3 will be clearer and deeper with La Macanita's "Mirando al Sur" performance, which promises to sell out.
Complementary activities
Parallel to the performances on stage, the Festival de Jerez organizes a series of complementary activities including:
- "De Peña en Peña" cycle: an opportunity to get to know the local flamenco peñas and discover the inner workings of the city. An appointment between pure art and local gastronomy.
- The National Ballet of Spain premieres a new educational program that includes attendance at the rehearsal hours before the start of the show.
- Flamenco exhibitions: the Festival de Jerez stands out this year for holding an exhibition in tribute to the photojournalist Javier Fernández González -known as Javier Fergo-, a renowned international journalist and flamenco lover who collected some of the best audiovisual works of this art, which will be exhibited in Jerez. Two painting exhibitions from different flamenco prisms also stand out: the gypsy costumbrismo of Luis Márquez and the tribute to the bulería pop-art version of the painter Agustín Israel.
- A special conference dedicated to the centenary of Lola Flores and the zambra, a flamenco palo that the Jerez-born dancer turned into her personal trademark.
- The presentation of the books by Juan Manuel Suárez Japón (Manuel Morao. Yo nunca a mi ley falté) and Manuel Herrera (Flamencos. Viaje a la generación perdida).
You can consult in detail the Complementary Activities through THIS LINK.