Carlos Saura directs a show starring young talents of today’s flamenco

In ‘Flamenco Hoy’, Chano Domínguez tackles the musical directing, and Rafael Estévez and Nani Paños sign the choreography which they dance together with Rocío Molina and Pastora Galván

S.C./Flamenco-world.com, May 2009

During Festival de Jerez 2009, Carlos Saura made an appearance at the Teatro Villamarta. That visit was part of the preparation of the filmmaker’s new project on the jondo art. This time it is not a movie, but rather a theater show entitled ‘Flamenco Hoy’. The stars will be bailaoras Rocío Molina and Pastora Galván, and bailaores Rafael Estévez and Nani Paños (both of whom author the choreography). Moreover, the dance corps includes Olga Pericet, Concha Jareño and David Coria, among others. The show’s musical directing is by pianist Chano Domínguez and the artistic consulting is by José Luis Ortiz Nuevo. Cantaores David Palomar and Jesús Méndez, guitarist Antonio Rey and percussionist Israel Suárez ‘Piraña’ are also in the lineup of artists.

Carlos Saura with Chano Domínguez, Laura Martínez, Rafael Estévez and Antonio Alvarado (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

Carlos Saura renews his commitment to flamenco. But this time he does so from the stage, not from the film set. The Aragonese filmmaker, author of the famous Antonio Gades Trilogy, heads up a new project: the show ‘Flamenco Hoy’. The show, which is to premiere from August 18th to 23rd at Madrid’s Veranos de la Villa, stems from an “ambitious idea; since it aims to be if not new, to incorporate other ideas, to go beyond”, he explains. To do so, as Saura indicates, “I’ll take advantage of my experiences in theater and films”, added to which will be stage design work by Laura Martínez, musical directing by Chano Domínguez, that of José Luis López Linares in the lighting design, that of Antonio Alvarado in the wardrobe, and choreography by Rafael Estévez and Nani Paños.

Surrounded by this creative crew, he will try to frame the art of a new generation of bailaores, cantaores and flamenco musicians. “There isn’t a story, but there is a sort of arch through time and light. We’ll try to simplify things within the utmost beauty and elegance, in order to give the artists the chance to express themselves with the utmost freedom and to appreciate what they do”. And the thing is that if he’s sure of anything, it’s that “the artists are the most important thing in this project”. In this case, young talents yet to be discovered by the greater public, and even by he himself: “It’s a generation unknown to me, it’s new and fantastic… flamenco is at a prodigious moment”, the director comments.

(Photo Daniel Muñoz)

Heading up the lineup of artists will be four top bailaores-dancers: Rafael Estévez, Nani Paños, Pastora Galván and Rocío Molina. Also dancing together with them will be Olga Pericet, Concha Jareño, David Coria, Jonatan Miró, Álvaro Paños and Rosana Romero, among others. The choreographic design is signed by Estévez and Paños, directors of Dospormedio & Cía., who are going to develop the concept of “always looking back but not to mimic, but rather with a vision of the 21st century; on these grounds, we can destructure those who precede us with respect and admiration”, they elaborate.

Flamenco music with influences

The music is in the hands of Chano Domínguez. The Cádiz-born pianist and composer lets on that “the music includes from the deepest roots to the most avant-garde modernity; it’s going to be a mixture of music and musicians”. And that includes influences flamenco has from Mediterranean, Arab and Hindu music. Domínguez emphasizes the lineup of cantaores, guitarists and instrumentalists consisting of David Palomar, Jesús Méndez and Antonio Rey, among others. “They’re young musicians who feel like experimenting and playing. Their youth, not without wisdom, will give strength to these two hours of flamenco, music and baile which are going to delight us”.

All of it is completed with the stage design by Laura Martínez, who understands that she has to “provide the right setting within simplicity, so that the important thing is the music and the baile”. The commitment of fashion designer Antonio Alvarado is similar, since he understands that he has to bear in mind “the functional nature of the wardrobe, for it not to hinder the movement and to make a nice picture”. As in his collections, he will make “references to elements of traditional dress”, he affirms. José Luis López Linares wants the lighting design to make the show be “more narrative through light, for it not to remain in a series of numbers”. Missing from the presentation’s press conference was researcher and poet José Luis Ortiz Nuevo, the project’s artistic consultant. But in the dossier there is a text of his in which he explains that ‘Flamenco Hoy by Carlos Saura’ “is a formidable display of the Andalusian genre by its three sides: the instrumental, the echo of voices and the silhouettes of dancing bodies play in the same playground”. And according to the producers, it is going to be enjoyed in a tour of Spanish theaters from autumn 2009 to spring 2010, later going on to tour the international stage circuit.

'Flamenco Hoy de Carlos Saura' (Photo Daniel Muñoz)