There are many flamenco documentaries in the works right now. Some of them need funding to complete the film so if you encounter a preview on Vimeo or YouTube that really compels you, do consider supporting it.
Here’s one that caught my attention this week. The backdrop is Jerez. It’s about a young woman from East L.A. who travels to Jerez to gain a deeper understanding of flamenco. The journey can be difficult. She discovers that flamenco is a way of life, and that to live a life in flamenco, is to free her deepest passion for the dance, the art and for life itself.
There is an interesting new video blog called Flamencos viajeros. The series endeavours to take us on a journey behind the scenes throughout Europe and Spain.
Recent episodes feature master teachers Carmen Ledesma and Antonio Canales:
You remember it vividly and with fondness – that first contact with flamenco, that moment when you plunged deeper, that learning environment which was magical and transformative, that gathering place where the flamenco spirit embraced you into the night. The type of moments, places, that inhabit your flamenco memories.
A recent addition to the websphere – Mi Flamenco Place – offers a series of video vignettes that highlight such moments. The focus of the series is Sevilla, a city rich with flamenco history. However, in listening to the stories I suspect that each of us who has journeyed through flamenco will no doubt relive some cherished places – whether closer to home, Sevilla or elsewhere.
Mi Flamenco Place is a multi-platform voyage collective-driven by people who make and love flamenco. More that 50 artists, experts, journalists, researchers and professionals are participating.
The project locates and reviews flamenco places that existed or exist and links them to stories told by artists such as Israel Galvan, Cristina Hoyos, Matilde Coral, Farruquito, Raimundo Amador, Andres Marin, Pastora Galvan, Jose Valencia, Rafaela Carrasco, Esperanza Fernandez, Juan Carlos Romero, El Nino de Elche or Rocio Marquez; researchers Jose Luis Ortiz Nuevo, Ricardo Pachon, Juan Vergillos or Cristina Cruces; journalists Marta Carrasco, Alberto Garcia Reyes, Lola Pantoja, Manuel Curao or Rosalia Gomez; cultural managers Cristobal Ortega (la Bienal’s Director) and Mª de los Angeles Carrasco (Instituto Andaluz del Flamenco’s Director) share their “flamenco place” with us in a video.
As a complement, there is mobile app. With it you can configure your personal route through the city with your smartphone or tablet with the advice of the guides and the possibility of learning more about flamenco and the city listening to the audio guides available both in Spanish and English.
There are 35 videos to date. Here’s a sample to wet your interest – Esperanza Fernandez brings us to Triana and shares memories of the place where her father Curro Fernandez was born:
I love experiencing various expressions of flamenco on the street. And it doesn’t just happen in Spain. Here’s what a few gals did while waiting for the bus in Buenos Aires:
It’s been the kind of hot and humid weekend that we know so well here in Ottawa. The humidity has a way imposing itself and make one yearn for the hot without the humid! Ah yes, memories of dry heat of a Jerez summer. Sure – it’s REALLY hot but one can somehow not only endure but enjoy it. Part of it is the ocean breeze and sweet thoughts of Cadiz, but it also doesn’t hurt to have a rebujito in hand.
A rebujito is a Sherry based drink that is very popular at the Feria de Abril in Sevilla, Feria de Caballo in Jerez, and at fairs and events throughout Andalucia. It’s very refreshing. I first enjoyed it for the first time at a Viernes Flamenco one August evening in Jerez. We foreigners were very excited to see a flamenco show of local talent and had only flamenco on our minds. However, the little open air theatre on Calle Francos was full of locals and they were busy getting sandwiches and some kind of drink that was very popular. The man seated next to me explained. He happened to have his own bottle of Tio Pepe and was happy to share. Thus the initiation to rebujitos began. 🙂
Today I’m far away from that lovely place. Oh, there was a little bit of Spain in our midst with Buika’s concert on Friday as part of the Ottawa Jazz Festival. Maravilloso, her fusion of flamenco, jazz and soul.
Back to rebujitos – it is pretty simple to put together:
One part Fino or Manzanilla Sherry wine [when in Jerez – Fino Tio Pepe 😉 ! ]
Two parts 7-up or Sprite
A sprig of mint
Lots of ice
To be enjoyed on a hot summer day, in the company of friends…with a good dose of flamenco on the side. Eso e’!
While the white fluffy snow is a beauty to behold, the impulse to stay indoors and plug into something good is strong today. Enter Entre Palos y Quejíos – a radio program on Saturdays and Sundays produced by Canal Extremadura.
The one hour program not only features some good music but discussion about flamenco and flamenco events. Today’s program looks at the Festival Flamenco de NÎmes and the presence of Extremadura at the festival. The few programs I’ve listened to so far have been quite interesting. There is an archive of programs going back to 2011 – simply go enjoy when you can. Follow their blog for program details.
Bajari: Gypsy Barcelona has been making its way around the film festival circuit since its debut at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam last year. Most recently presented in Canada at the Festival du Film du Monde in Montreal, it is now headed for Ottawa. It will be featured at the European Union Film Festival on November 29. 🙂
The film is about the transmission of Flamenco tradition within Spanish Gypsy communities. One thread follows Karime Amaya, a niece of the legendary Carmen Amaya, as she prepares for a performance. And the other focuses on Juanito, a Gypsy boy about to get his first pair of boots for dancing.
Flamenco Fix 