Evolución

It’s time to commit to your flamenco education! Applications for all Evolución programs are open now through Friday, June 10th. Become part of a growing network of support and engage in truly customized training.

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FIGURAS FLAMENCAS

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

New Release by Israel Fernández: Madrecita

Rising Spanish Romani star Israel Fernández releases his latest single “Madrecita” just in time for Mother’s Day! According to Israel this song is dedicated to all the mothers and women of the world, especially his mother whose presence he’s always felt while singing it.

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ARTS FLAMENCO & LA NACIONAL

La Feria de Sevilla

Saturday, May 7, 3:00 – 10:00 pm

La Nacional, NYC

Celebrate La Feria de Sevilla! Get ready to enjoy dancing, food, drinks, a Spanish Market, Sevillanas contest and more!

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NEW ONLINE CLASS

Rhythm, Compás & Palmas

Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST

Flamenco Maps has opened a new weekly online class for ALL— dancers and musicians alike. Taught by Guillermo Guillén, who played at our last Peña Flamenca NYC performance, this class will help you understand the compás, practice the compås, and BE the compás!

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FUN FACT

1
Feria de Abril, the spring fair of Sevilla, began in 1847 as an agriculture and livestock fair and has since become the biggest celebration in the South of Spain— with 492,924 attendees a day and nearly 4 million attendees every year. Although Sevilla hosts the largest feria, many cities throughout Andalucía have their own unique version.
2
La Portada is the huge gate that marks the main entrance to the Feria with a new design every year. This year’s portada, designed by César Ramírez, is titled «Embajadores de la cultura» or Ambassadors of Culture. It pays tribute to the 150th anniversary of Real Circulo Mercantil de Sevilla, a prestigious social club and cultural institution of Sevilla.
3
“El Alumbrao” is a spectacular light show that marks the beginning of Feria. At midnight, the whole city watches as over 200,000 lights in La Portada and throughout the fairgrounds are turned on. It’s customary to eat pescaito (fried fish) to celebrate the occasion.
4
The tents of the Feria are called casetas, and usually have red & white or green & white stripes.There are over one thousand of these party tents, serving drinks and tapas throughout the fairgrounds. Most of these are exclusive to friends and family of the owner, but there are public ones that belong to charities and political parties too.
5
Day and night, the casetas and fairgrounds are filled with thousands of people dressed in full flamenco garb dancing sevillanas— the regional dance of Sevilla. Sevillanas are a partner dance with folkloric roots that are danced by everyone regardless of dance training. (See video below)
6
Los farolillos are the thousands of colorful paper lanterns that line the fair and light up at night.
7
The ‘official’ drink of Feria is rebujito- Manzanilla or Fino (dry white wine/sherry) mixed with lemon & lime sodas such as 7UP, Kas, or La Casera, and lots of ice.
8
Calle del Infierno, is a bustling area of the fair with rides and attractions. This year will host 56 attractions for children, 63 rides for adults, and 7 taverns.Want more? There will also be a full circus, and a giant stage with 57 shows, 75 merchant shops, 30 ice cream kiosks, 28 cotton candy machines, 23 nougat stands, 7 chocolate shops, and 6 buñolerías (see Fact 9)!
9
Towards the end of the night (which is often in the wee hours of the morning), it’s customary to eat churros or buñuelos (fried dough delicacies traditionally made by Gitanas) with hot chocolate. Mama Dolores’ legendary buñuelos are the talk of Sevilla! (See video below)