Seville’s 2006 Bienal de Flamenco specializes
in baile in its fourteenth edition

Mario Maya and Manuela Carrasco flank the lineup, which is to perform from
September 13th to October 15th at six stages in Seville

S.C. Seville, May 2006

“Flamenco history happens at the Bienal”. With this slogan, the Sevillian flamenco festival embarks upon a new era. Twenty-five years of history shape up the lineup of this event’s fourteenth edition, specializing in baile. From September 13th to October 15th, 2006, six stages in Seville will offer a selection of shows with room also for cante, toque and instrumental flamenco. Unlike previous editions, Bienal de Sevilla gives up the criteria emphasizing premieres and bends over backwards for tributes, revisions of repertoires and compilations of shows already presented at other flamenco events. With the presence of Carlos Saura, author of the poster, the festival organization presented the definitive program at Seville City Hall on May 12th, 2006, before artists like Manuela Carrasco, La Susi and Fernando Terremoto.

Israel Galván (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

On the night of September 13th, 2006, the Reales Alcázares in Seville will host the inauguration of the fourteenth edition of Seville’s Bienal de Flamenco, with Mario Maya’s show, ‘Andalucía, el flamenco y la humanidad’. From that night on until October 15th, with the closing gala in tribute to Manuela Carrasco, there will be over thirty consecutive days of flamenco, especially of flamenco dancing. As Domingo González, director of Bienal de Sevilla, explains, “We’re going to shine the spotlight on the generation of bailaores who are at a more restless creative moment, developing their own style on stage”. Thus the revival of the latest choreographies by Israel Galván, winner of the 2005 National Dance Prize - ‘Arena’ and ‘Tabula rasa’- plus his new creation, ‘Las Francesas’, starring Pastora Galván.

Also included in this section are other artists such as Eva Yerbabuena with ‘Huso de la memoria’, Belén Maya with ‘Dibujos’, Joaquín Grilo with ‘A solas’, Andrés Marín with ‘Vanguardia jonda’ and Mercedes Ruiz with the premiere of ‘Juncá’, among others. Said criteria is not incompatible with the recovery of old-time repertoires and classic-style baile, as will be demonstrated by the Antonio Gades Company and artists like Milagros Menjíbar, among others. Joining all of it will be large-scale shows such as ‘Gitanas’ by La Farruca and ‘Mujeres de Lorca’ by Carmen Cortés.

Touches of cante and toque

Room has also been made for cante in this program, which starts off with the handicap of not having at its disposal the Teatro de la Maestranza – the city’s leading stage – due to remodeling work around the time of those dates. A tribute to El Carbonerillo, a special gala for La Unión’s cante, the premiere by Miguel Poveda entitled ‘Tierra de calma’, performances by Fernando Terremoto, Perrate de Utrera, Diego el Cigala with Salif Keita... will quench the thirst of cante enthusiasts. Although guitar hardly plays a role in this edition, standing out is the performance by Vicente Amigo and the tribute to Pepe Habichuela. As far as instrumental flamenco goes, shows will be included such as those of Dorantes, Son de la Frontera and Ara Malikian.

With the lineup still fresh out of the oven, Bienal de Sevilla is already thinking about the future. The mayor of Seville has now put forth a challenge: to change the word ‘biennial’ to ‘biannual’, since he is convinced that with more continuous work, flamenco would become more widespread.

Carlos Saura (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

magazine@flamenco-world.com