VI Festival de Jerez

 

 

PERFORMANCES:
The 6th Annual Festival de Jerez was held from February 27th through March 11th, 2002.  This Festival is unique amongst all the flamenco festivals held in Spain for its focus on the dance (baile) aspect of flamenco.  The Teatro Villamarta organizes nightly performances by the world's best dancers and their dance companies.  This year's performers included the following:

    - Ballet Nacional de Espaņa (Antonio Gades, choreography), Fuenteovejuna
    - Compania de Antonio el Pipa, De 'Cai', el baile
    - Isabel Bayon, Ana Mari Bueno, Merche Esmeralda, Milagros Mengibar, El baile es mujer (De Sevilla/Elogio de la bata de cola)
    - Ballet de Aida Gomez (Carlos Saura, director), Salome
    - Inmaculada Aguilar con El Pele y Manuel Silveria
    - Manolete con Paco Cortes, Miguel Angel Cortes y Ochando, Cordoba, Granada...
    - Israel Galvan y Gerardo Nunez
    - Andres Marin y Rafael Campallo, Mano a mano
    - Moraito, En concierto y  Alejandro Granados, Sabor anejo
    - Compania de Carmen Cortes con El Guito, Solea, un son eterno
    - Rafaela Carrasco y Cristobal Reyes
    - Compania de Javier Latorre, Ambivalencias
    - Mayte Martin & Belen Maya
    - Mayte Bajo, Maribel Gallardo, Lola Greco, Beatriz Martin, Maria Pages (Jose Granero, artistic director), A mi manera
    - Ballet de Antonio Canales, Torero
    - Manuela Carrasco
    - La Paquera (unfortunately she fell ill just before her show, but La Macanita filled in for her at the last minute)
   
Aside from these performances at the main theater, the Festival had put together a series of cante concerts before the main event of the night.  These concerts were held at the historic palace, or the Alcazar. Singers that were presented include Rancapino, Pepa de Benito, Eva Duran, Rafael Jimenez Falo, Antonio Malena, Antonio Agujetas, and Rocio Segura. 

 

 

DANCE WORKSHOPS:
The Festival also organizes dance workshops by some of the most sought-after teachers.  One of the best parts of this festival is that when you sign up for a course, the tickets to the performances at the Villamarta for that week are included in the price. 

Week 1
    - Matilde Coral, Tecnica y estilo del baile con bata de cola: alegrias, siguiriyas (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Angelita Gomez, Las bulerias de Jerez (Nivel: Basico)
    - El Guito, tecnica y estilo de la farruca (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Javier Latorre, tecnica y estilo de la solea por buleria (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Jose Antonio, El 'paso a dos' en el baile flamenco (Nivel: Especializacion)
    - Maria del Mar Moreno, Las bulerias de Jerez, (Nivel: Basico)
    - Inmaculada Aguilar, El baile por siguiriya (Nivel: Basico)
    - Rafaela Carrasco, El baile por solea (Nivel: Basico)
    - Isabel Bayon, El baile por tangos (Nivel: Basico)
 
Week 2
    - Matilde Coral, Coreografia del garrotin con sombrero (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Angelita Gomez, Tecnica y estilo de las bulerias de Jerez (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Maria del Mar Moreno, Las bulerias de Jerez (Nivel: Basico)
    - Manolete, Tecnica y estilo del baile por solea (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Jose Granero, Coreografia del baile espanol (Nivel: Especializacion)
    - Belen Maya, Estilo y expresion del baile flamenco de mujer (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - El Pipa, Tecnica y estilo de las bulerias de Jerez (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Merche Esmeralda, Tecnica y estilo del baile por siguiriya (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Lola Greco, Baile flamenco y danza espaņola: territorio de encuentro (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - Manolo Marin, Tecnica y estilo del baile por tangos (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)

 

 

GUITAR WORKSHOPS:
There were two guitar accompaniment workshops held throughout the festival as well. 
    - Paco Serrano, La guitarra de acompanamiento al baile: solea, siguiriya, alegrias (Nivel: Perfeccionamiento)
    - El Bolita, La guitarra de acompanamiento al baile: las bulerias de Jerez (Nivel: Basico)

 

[ I saw Rafaela Carrasco perform for the first time in Jerez.  After the performance, we were having something to eat across the street from the theatre, and she walked in there as everyone started clapping and cheering.]


[ This picture with my teacher Manolo Marin was taken at the Bodega where they held our "commencement" ceremony.  Each student receives a certificate of completion as they are called up on the stage by their teacher.]
   

[Luis Lara on the left is the singer from Manolo Marin's class, and he is a cousin of Maria del Mar Moreno, pictured here second from the right.]
 [I was so impressed by Belen Maya's performance with Mayte Martin.  I had only seen her before in a video, and her performance at the Villamarta left me with such an impression that when I saw her at the Bodega, I asked to have my picture taken with her.] 
   

[Manuela Carrasco, surrounded by her fans.]