Flamenco Dance “From Triana to Granada” at Artscape

Castanets, colourful ruffled dresses and sensuous stylized movements will be on display as authentic Flamenco from Spain takes to the Artscape stage for three shows only from 3 to 4 June.  Direct from Seville (Spain) the production From Triana to Granada showcases the incredible talent of eight young artists of the Foundation Cristina Heeren of Flamenco Art who were winners of the renowned “Talento Flamenco ACCIONA” contest.

Brought to South Africa by the Consulate-General of Spain and the Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art, with the support of the Embassy of Spain, it is directed by the great flamenco dancer and choreographer Luisa Palicio. It highlights several different choreographies in which the talents and qualities of each of the participating artists are respected and underlined; virtuosos who through their tenacity and perseverance have become young rising stars of flamenco dance, song and beats.

The show opens with a contemplative Seguiriya, graduates to casual and sensual Tangos of Granada, and crescendos to a marvelous Caña showcasing flowy long flamenco dresses accompanied with joyful Alegrías of Cádi. Accompanied with moments of magical singing of Soleá from Triana, and an intimate guitar solo in the Rondeña style, it offers different styles and facets of flamenco in order to prove the variety and greatness of this music genre.

The group’s Flamenco technique embodies the roots of the dance emanating from the South of Spain, the region of Andalusia. Patrons will witness the prowess of the two guitarists Pablo Fernández  and Emiliano Litri (guitarists), the musicality of the two singers Marian Fernández and África Granado  and the magnificence of the four bailaores (dancers) Irene Rueda, Araceli Muñoz, Lucia Fernández and Juanjo Ortega). As young dancers their expertise in their fluidity, synchronisation and imaginative interpretations is set to enthral dance lovers.

As individuals too they’ll flaunt their mastery. Among others Marian’s mastery of “cante” are sure to delight. The highly original details that permeates Irene’s   dance as well as  Araceli and Lucia’s original “paso a cuatro por alegrías” that closes the performance  will reveal Luisa Palicio’s mastery in turning that turned what was once just a recital piece into a show as part of the program of “Flamenco viene del Sur”.

Tickets are available and can be booked at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-seat 021 421 7695. Visit the Artscape website (www.artscape.co.za) for more information.

All activities comply with all COVID-19 regulations including social distancing and patrons must wear masks for entry.

HISTORY OF FLAMENCOThe golden age of flamenco is usually considered to be the period between roughly 1780 and 1845. Singing was then the primary aspect of flamenco, dancing and musical accompaniment being secondary. What had been an essentially outdoor, outsider, family-oriented activity that focused on cante was transformed beginning in 1842, when Silverio Franconetti founded the first café cantante. Companies such as what patrons will see come June now seek to keep this dance alive and authentic.

The essence of flamenco is cante, or song. Flamenco songs fall into three categories: cante jondo (“profound song,” or “deep song”), cante intermedio (“intermediate song,” also called cante flamenco), and cante chico (“light song”). Commensurateto the cante (song) is the baile (dance)

After the mid-19th century, flamenco song was usually accompanied by guitar music and a palo seco (Spanish: “dry stick,” a stick that was beat on the floor to keep time) and a dancer performing a series of choreographed dance steps and improvised styles. Baile, or dance, has been the dominant element of flamenco since that time, though it is never performed without accompaniment.

The dancer is the protagonist of the singer’s narrative and its interpretation.

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Issued by: ArtscapeSenior Manager: Communications and Brand ManagementSimone HeradienContact: 073 207 1558