Rocío Bazán, Eduardo Trasierra and Mercedes Ruiz top the 4th Young Performers Awards

Flamenco-world.com

The flamenco world has three new laureates. The Estepona-born cantaora Rocío Bazán, guitarist Eduardo Trasierra from Seville and Jerez-born bailaora Mercedes Ruiz came up winners in the fourth edition of the Young Performers Awards, a contest which took over from the former Giraldillos of Seville's Bienal. As in all contests, neither was the choice of winners unanimous nor the prizes defining for the careers of the finalists, many of whom are professionals on the billboard of the very festival. May experience decide when only the audience is to judge.

Mercedes Ruiz (Photo: Javier Hurtado)

The cante award was one of the most controversial ones: Rocío Bazán (Estepona, Málaga, 1977), cantaora who works with El Lebrijano and took part in the cast of 'Contrabandistas', one of the premieres at the Bienal. Competing with the winner were Antonio Ortega (Mairena del Alcor, Seville, 1976), Nazaret Cala (El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, 1980) and Ezequiel Benítez (Jerez, Cádiz, 1979), also a finalist in the previous edition.

More balanced was the guitar final. The favorites following their performances were Daniel Méndez (Morón, Seville, 1981), who plays in the festival with Antonio Canales as well as Javier Latorre, and Eduardo Trasierra (Villaverde del Río, Seville, 1982). The balance tipped in favor of the latter. Niño Seve (Córdoba, 1982), who accompanied Inmaculada Aguilar in her performance at the Alameda Theater, and Miguel Ángel Moral completed the group of finalists.

In the dance category, everything looked rosy for the ladies. The prize was between Adela Campallo (Seville, 1977) and Mercedes Ruiz (Jerez, Cádiz, 1980), who had danced together on the same stage accompanying Andrés Marín two nights earlier. The award went to the Jerez-born bailaora, who received jaleos from the audience throughout her performance, while there was little noteworthiness in the final from Pedro Córdoba (Sabadell, Barcelona, 1978) and Rafael del Pino (Córdoba, 1977).

The three winners already have an initial performance date to prove they are deserving. Lope de Vega Theater has reserved a gala for them on October 5th, one night before the Bienal de Sevilla 2002 closes its doors. Afterwards, as part of their prize, they will show what they are worth in an eight-show tour in each of the Andalusian provinces with a paycheck of ten thousand euros.

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