WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas 2022

The Competition Comes to a Close

One of flamenco’s most prestigious awards for dancers and musicians alike, the annual Cante de las Minas, announced its winners this past weekend. Check out the winners in action!

Videos courtesy of DeFlamenco.

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DESPLANTE FEMININA

Best Female Dancer: Irene Lozano Ruíz

DESPLANTE MASCULINO

Best Male Dancer: David Romero Cardoso

LÁMPARA MINERA

Best Flamenco Singer: Esther Merino

PREMIO FILÓN

Best Instrumentalist: Ángel Bocanegra (Violin)

BORDÓN MINERO

Best Guitarist: Álvaro Mora

ADVENTURES OF FREDDY THE FLAMENCO LOVER

The Festival: A Firsthand Account

La Unión: Murcia, Spain

Last week I had the honor of witnessing the Cante de las Minas Festival in La Unión, close to Cartagena. What an unbelievably high level of artistry to see! There were artists I knew, Facebook friends of mine, but also artists I didn’t know.

I enjoyed the performances every day from 10pm until 2 in the morning, along with over 1,000 visitors each time––the hall was always full. After I had seen the Semifinal for 3 days and about 30 artists from the different disciplines, the grand finale was Saturday.

Of the five winners I can say that I know three as Facebook friends and also personally, not that it’s important but it’s nice to see them win. The winners, from left to right, are dancer David Romero Cardoso, dancer Irene Lozano, singer Esther Merino, guitarist Álvaro Mora, and violinist Ángel Bocanegra.

It was a great experience––if you ever get the chance to go in the future, make sure to start your visit a few days ahead because you’ll be able to watch the best flamenco of the moment! This year’s performances included La Tremendita, Farruquito, José Mercé, Reyes Carrasco, Paco Cepero, El Yiyo, Rancapino Chico, and India Martínez.

A friendly Ole from Freddy Flamencolover, this time from La Unión, Murcia!

¡ENHORABUENA!

Dance Teacher Award Honors Yvonne Gutiérrez

Beloved teacher Yvonne Gutiérrez (Flamenco Latino, Ballet Hispánico, Henry Street Settlement, & founding member of the Black Flamenco Network) receives Dance Teacher Award Honor: Force of Empowerment and Connection Through Spanish Dance.

The award celebrates Yvonne’s dedication to “pushing the boundaries of the dance classroom, affirming students’ unique capabilities and experiences and questioning conventional notions of who belongs in dance spaces.”

FUN FACT

FLAMENCO TRIVIA

What is the highest award a flamenco singer can receive?

**Hint: It’s not the Lámpara Minera!**

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ANSWER:

It’s La Llave de Oro del Cante (The Golden Key of Singing)!

Never heard of it? It’s no wonder why––only 5 Llaves de Oro have been awarded in its 150+ years of existence! The award has been granted roughly once per generation of artists, to the legendary cantaores Tomás el Nitri (1868), Manuel Vallejo (1926), Antonio Mairena (1962), Camarón de la Isla (2000), and Fosforito (2005.)

The Llaves have had their fair share of controversies, among them that no cantaora has ever been awarded one thus far. Many believe that La Niña de los Peines should be awarded posthumously. Which singer do you think should be honored next?

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FROM SPAIN: NOTABLE NEWS