Interview with Farruquito, dancer:

"I'm more interested in where I came
from than where I'm going"

Silvia Calado Olivo. Sevilla, January 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz
Translation: Estela Zatania

"Farruco is still teaching me". His grandfather, the maestro and patriarch, is still showing him the way of tradition, to distinguish between a job and a culture, to defend one of the possible truths of flamenco, that which advocates concepts such as purity and orthodox ways in terms of respect. At barely twenty, Farruquito is carrying the responsibility of succession of a dynasty which, fortunately for him, continues to sprout... and with firm shoots. True to these concepts, to the fount of flamenco he leads and to that which he understands as the feeling of flamenco, the dancer from Seville can't help openly admitting, after keeping silent for so long, something which could be taken as a provocation, but also as plain, simple integrity: "I don't like anyone dancing".

Farruquito is not merely a look, or strength, or flavor, or even just dance. Farruquito is also the symbol of a way of understanding flamenco. Dancing by rights, dancing from the source and truly dancing are, in his opinion, synonyms. Representative of a single profound meaning: "Dancing with an open soul". And he believes that anyone who is moved by him is aware of this. Juan Fernández Montoya considers that "everyone is beginning to realize that truth is all around". In a sudden rush of humility he adds that "it's not that others aren't truthful and I am", but he emphasizes the difference. "I'm a person that when I go out to dance, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't prepare it the day before, which is why the singer and guitarist are hanging on every movement, just as I'm waiting to hear what they're going to sing, how it's going to turn out... When that moment arrives where we all come together, and it doesn't always happen, people know it's something magic, like when you look at someone and instantly fall in love, but you never know when you're going to fall in love".

Farruquito is capable of talking about this art in terms of romantic love: "I'm so full of love and respect for dance and flamenco, that I don't like to mix it with anything else because as far as I'm concerned that's a lack of respect. Many people are distorting flamenco and for me that shows a lack of respect not only for the profession, but for a centuries-old culture". And he believes that when people "see that respect for dance and that truth and sweat, and that willpower and strength -because I really give everything, I'm not one of these who does six poses, two turns and heads for the door, I want to give it all I've got when I dance- appreciate the fact that you're giving them something real".

	"I don't like anyone dancing"

He is as respectful towards flamenco as he is to flamenco people, which is not to say that he hides his feelings about the present state of the art. And he's merciless: "I don't know if it's because I was lucky enough to have been born with maestro Farruco's genes, but I don't like anyone dancing. And it's something I've been wanting to say".

- Why?

- Because they're only kidding themselves. Before, not forty, but ten years ago, I was able to look at someone or other, but not today. Everyone wants to have a different personality and call it flamenco... and they're doing a lot of harm to people who've been breaking their backs for years, like Güito, Manolete or Manuela Carrasco. With all that fusion and the different personalities they're showing a lack of respect, that thing of each one having a different way of feeling flamenco. That's a lie! There's only one way to feel flamenco. If you're feeling something different, don't call it flamenco. You can't expect to do a bunch of contemporary dance poses and then say you're feeling flamenco. I'm really sorry, but I just don't like it.

	"Air and foam are not as pure as earth and mud. And flamenco is earth, not air, not little birdies, not bubbles"

And the speech turns serious. With a slightly furrowed brow, the tone of his voice rising and his eyes piercing the interviewer he decides not to hold anything back. "I hear them talking about Manuela Carrasco, her majestic presence, her way, dancing forty years, suffering, and now these jerks come along doing a few turns in their nightgowns and they want to take over the world. What unbelievable gall! I call it like I see it". As his anger grows he offers a speech sprinkled with pauses before going on to say that, although "what's happening to flamenco is painful for him", he knows that things have changed. Making use of metaphor he claims that "purity is always at the center of the earth, purity is what's buried underneath. Air and foam are not as pure as earth and mud. And flamenco is earth, not air, not little birdies, not bubbles".

-And if you have no one to look up to, how do you get inspired, what do you draw on?

-Farruco. In dance I have to keep to Farruco because that's what's inside me, because he's the only one who opens my heart up. He's still teaching me. He taught me the most important thing: how to feel flamenco, and way of honesty. He told me to be myself, never to go after fame... And he continues to teach me. I put on a video and remember what he said to me, his advice, and I relate the images to his words.

Even despite this clear guiding light, some windows are left open. "I don't just like dancing, I like flamenco singing very much, I like the guitar very much". In fact, he's accompanied by two guitarists, "one who's a fabulous musician called Román Vicenti, but the other is a guitarist who learned in the street so to speak, so I have a rather inspired mix, just as I like music, I have to be transported to the traditional playing that came before". He clarifies: "I distinguish between the two because I like music. I don't want to burn any bridges, I'm twenty years old, I'm very young and just like any other young person, I'm interested in many things". The difference between this young person and the rest is that "I'm more interested in where I came from than where I'm going. I'm not interested in who my grandson is going to be when I don't know who my grandfather is. Today's way is confusing for me, even though I'm young".

next >>

revista@flamenco-world.com