FLAMENCO NEWS
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, and in the pursuit of our vision to connect audiences and artists nationwide with the powerful, living art of flamenco, we’re excited to unveil a bold, new look for our organization.
Our goal is all about helping YOU build a stronger, more exciting connection to this amazing artform – whether you’re a practicing artist who’s known flamenco your entire life, or someone who’s just discovered it.
Even this weekly newsletter has a fresh new name – now La Voz Flamenca. But don’t worry! Everything you’ve grown to love about it will still be here!
Thank you for being a part of our organization.
– The Flamenco Vivo Team
Last Friday, 9 rising artists from across the U.S. took the stage and competed to win cash and scholarships to study with our prize sponsors in Spain. Finalists were evaluated on their performance by a panel of professional artists and awards were presented at the end of the evening!
Couldn’t make the live event? Watch virtually from Oct 19–Nov 4 with a Virtual Viewing Pass!
If you can’t make it to Spain, we’ll bring Spain to you! Join us for an ongoing series of Virtual Masterclasses with superstars of the flamenco world in rare virtual appearances. For our first class, Lucía Álvarez “La Piñona” will lead students in an exploration of the weight, sensations, and character of Soleá.
Prior flamenco experience required. • Registration closes at 10am EST the morning of class. • A recording of the class will be available for 48 hours following the class.
Occasionally I travel from Seville to Amsterdam to arrange business, and of course I go to watch flamenco performances. On Sunday I had the chance to see the Granada-born flamenco dancer Manuel Liñán’s show STEFFA, inspired by the dancer Steffa Wine who performed in the Second World War. Steffa danced for both the Germans and the Dutch public. Her mother was a Spaniard who taught her the knowledge of flamenco dancing, and who was married to a Dutch navigator and lived in Veendam. Before and during the Second World War, Steffa Wine was a popular flamenco dancer and toured throughout the Netherlands and Germany with her ‘Spaansche Dansavonden’ until 1944. This was not quite appreciated by everyone after the war.
Manuel’s show STEFFA is a re-enactment of her controversial performances that took place in the City Theaters during WWII. In Steffa’s journey, Manuel recognized many of his own struggles. As a young man, Manuel always liked to dance in what is considered the female flamenco style of dance and in women’s flamenco clothes, yet it took 30 years before he dared to share this with the general public. Manuel Liñán now tours internationally with his company, breaking gender barriers throughout the world.
Here in the Netherlands, Steffa Wine is known for her flamenco dancing in the 1930’s and her dance academy that was in Amsterdam-West. So it was great to see Manuel Liñán’s show while I was in Amsterdam. He danced solo with Fransicso Vinuesa on guitar and María Marín singing. Manuel feels Steffa in himself when he dances, has thoroughly researched her and understood exactly what she experienced in the war time: the opposition of both the Germans and the Dutch, because flamenco was completely unknown to them. Liñán himself has been faced with opposition in his career, namely from those of the traditional perspective due his subversion of gender, which could be argued stems from the same root: fear of the unknown. Manuel became Steffa and Steffa became Manuel. Viva Flamenco around the world, gracias Manuel and Steffa.
Kind regards from Freddy Flamencolover, this time from Amsterdam!
– La Macanita, La voz del sur
In the famous flamenco neighborhood of Santiago in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, one block in particular has had an incredible impact on flamenco: Calle Nueva. Home to the iconic peña Los Juncales (which is now in ruins) countless flamenco legends have come from this block, including los Zambos, the Junqueras and the Cantarotes, Tío José de Paula, Paco Laberinto, El Borrico, Fernando Terremoto, Manuel Morao, Manuel Soto Sordera, and la Macanita. It’s where legendary juergas (flamenco parties/jam sessions) used to take place for days on end, where El Capullo de Jerez ripped Camarón’s shirt and poured a bucket of wine over him as the ultimate gesture of OLE! The emblematic building, #25 Calle Nueva, is where several flamenco greats were born, including guitarist Manuel Morao, and where Tía Anica La Piriñaca still sings her heart out in the patio.
Sadly, the block has become more and more deteriorated over the years, with government indifference only exacerbating the problems. Tenants and activists have created the Asociación para la Recuperación de las Calles Nueva y Cantarería to declare Calle Nueva and the nearby street Cantarería an area of cultural significance. This association has over 700 members, including flamenco greats José Mercé, Vicente Soto ‘Sordera,’ Manuel Morao, La Macanita, and Rafael de Paula. Their efforts are supporting over 300 years of flamenco history in one of the most important streets in all of Spain.
El Ritmo de la Sangre (bulerías) by El Vicente Soto ‘Sordera’
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Puma Guerrero2024-09-12 16:58:252024-09-12 17:15:00Sep ’24 #1: Remembering María Benítez, Company Named NDP Grantee, & More!
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Puma Guerrero2024-08-23 04:56:572024-08-23 18:59:24Aug ’24 #1: NYC Flamenco Flashmob, Mysterious Spanish Film, & More!
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