FESTIVAL DE JEREZ 2003

Antonio el Pipa confronts the stage
solo in 'De la tierra'

The Jerez-born bailaor is accompanied on cante by El Torta, Fernando Terremoto
and Juana la del Pipa

Silvia Calado Olivo

He flees plots, stage design and even company. Antonio el Pipa attends the seventh edition of the Festival de Jerez dancing solo, "like a bullfighter who faces six bulls". The strength of the artist from Jerez in the recital that will take place Wednesday, March 5, 2003 at the Villamarta Theater is cante, since he has chosen to be accompanied by the exceptional voices of three special guests: Juan Moneo El Torta, Fernando Terremoto and Juana la del Pipa. Backed by this trio, El Pipa recovers some of the "most powerful" choreographies in his repertoire. He thus premieres a format more than a show.

	Antonio el Pipa

If he performed a plot in 'Vivencias' and nine bailaors came out on stage in 'De Cai, el baile', in the version of 'De la tierra' he intends to offer at the Festival de Jerez 2003, Antonio el Pipa takes on the performance without additions or company. "More than a premiere, it's the premiere of a format, since the show is already in my repertoire. The novelty is that I confront it like a bullfighter who faces six bulls, dancing solo". The solitude is not absolute. The Jerez-born bailaor has invited three top-notch cantaors. "I cover my back with the best in cante: El Torta, Fernando Terremoto and Juana la del Pipa". Joining this trio native to the land of wine is the usual group behind El Pipa, consisting of Manuel Tañé and José Valencia (Joselito de Lebrija) on cante; and Juan Moneo and Pascual de Lorca on the guitar.

The bailaor has chosen "three of the most powerful choreographies that I have and each guest will do one". In this show "of dancing through dance", El Torta will perform the seguiriya which, "although it is a redone choreography, it changed so much when going through the studio that it could be considered a premiere". He will do the soleá next to his Aunt Juana; and with the son of Terremoto de Jerez, "we're deciding between alegrías and bulería por soleá".

Antonio el Pipa is one of the mainstays at the Festival de Jerez, a setting he usually chooses to premiere his shows and where he is a member of its staff of teachers. Last year, the bailaor achieved great success with his presentation of 'De Cai, el baile', a work that reflects upon the wealth of bailaors in the province of Cádiz, putting stress on the bulería. With this show, in which solo bailaors such as María José Franco and José Triguero performed, El Pipa's company toured the stages of several European countries throughout last season.

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