2003 FESTIVAL DE JEREZ
Rafael Amargo: Poet in New York (Villamarta Theater)
José Zarzana (The Apostles Winery)

Polymorphism

Silvia Calado Olivo. Jerez, March 1st, 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz
Translation: Joseph Kopec

Flamenco dancing is displayed at the Jerez Festival as a polymorphic being, in such a way that it can be wondered if the very name itself is adequate to designate such different realities. It was inevitable to go on listening to the passionate words of Matilde Coral speaking about the ethics of the flamenco dress with a train, while the Rafael Amargo Company danced that night at the theater...

Matilde Coral and Ángel Álvarez

The Sevillian maestra went to the San Ginés Winery in the morning to present 'History of the Flamenco Dress with a Train. Matilde Coral, a Life of Art and Mastery', the first book promoted by the Villamarta Theater Foundation. The work seeks, according to its author, Ángel Álvarez Caballero, "for a serious, accurate testimony to be left of flamenco personalities". The contents of the history, illustrated by Juan Valdés and soon to be published by Alianza, were undertaken by the bailaora: "I have dedicated all my life to a type of dancing whose clothing was the flamenco dress with a train, but I haven't invented anything, I haven't been autodidactic, but rather I've copied the great ones and I've put it in order". And, in fact, the aim of the book is to perpetuate such knowledge, "so that it is known how to teach about the flamenco dress with a train". Matilde Coral argues that "there's always a place for history", although she is respectful of each person's proposals, "as long as they have training". And she did not stint her praise of Eva la Yerbabuena, who minutes earlier had presented 'La voz del silencio' ('The Voice of Silence'), a show she performs tonight at the Villamarta. The Granada-born bailaora, who asked the maestra how to juggle art and motherhood, explained that her show is the fruit of teamwork, "since surrounding yourself with people who know is the best way to learn about what you don't know and to shape your preoccupations". La Yerbabuena brings to Jerez this show already staged on eleven occasions and therefore somewhat different to how it was premiered at Seville's 2002 Bienal de Flamenco: "A work is like a child who after birth needs education, becoming enriched little by little". Less inclined to evolution as her scarce words indicated was the cantaora from Jerez Dolores de los Santos Agujetas, who confirmed that this evening at the Bullfighting Museum, taking over after Segundo Falcón, she will do "what Manuel does, what we carry in our veins".

Rafael Amargo in 'Poeta en Nueva York'

Flamenco dancing, dance, theater, cinema... or all in one: the variety show. Rafael Amargo offers a multi-faceted show in 'Poet in New York', made from the juxtaposition of numbers with different looks. From the gypsy wedding to the music hall, from Galician folklore to the seguiriya, from Lorca's poetry to soul. Since it has a bit of something for everyone, tastes on some front have to be satisfied; a statistical fact. Others play a single card. Like Lorca himself, the motif of this show, who used to say he had "no other show than bitter, but alive, poetry".

Entertained, but tired of so much stimulation for such a long while, we set off for The Apostles Winery, which drank another toast to 'the others'. José Zarzana, a local pianist, made his début at the festival as a soloist but not alone. Together with María del Mar Moreno, on dance and cante, and her father, an amateur cantaor, he tried to draw images of Andalusian song - with Lola Flores and Manolo Caracol in mind - before getting down to work with flamenco he approached with strict classicism. A lullaby for the wine being made... and for the exhausted enthusiast.

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