Natallia Basava shares her experience of the prize she won at last year’s Flamenco Certamen USA––a week of study at the famed Festival de Jerez:

“Attending sunny Jerez de la Frontera during the Flamenco Festival in February was like finding myself in flamenco paradise. Walking through streets full of old architecture and flamenco history, seeing artists at the tables of local restaurants, dancing my way through morning flamenco classes (with the amazing Antonio El Pipa at a beautiful studio just two blocks away from my hotel), visiting flamenco peñas in the afternoons, watching evening shows at the Villamarta Theater, catching nightly bulerías singing at the bar (I was lucky to experience it in Peña Flamenca Luis de la Pica) made every day perfect!

It was very easy to make friends––after a few days I felt like I knew half of the town. Even if you’re standing in line to enter the popular La Guarida del Ángel flamenco club at night you’re bound to run into many people from уour morning class there.

Of course, one week was not enough… so I’ll be back for sure!”