The flamenco
tablao Corral de la Morería turns fifty. And
it celebrates this half a century with a full program of activities.
It kicks off on May 31st by holding a commemorative gala at
Madrid’s Fine Arts Circle, included within Festival Suma
Flamenca 2006, after which the center of attention will shift
to the tablao’s own stage. Between June 1st and July 5th,
bailaores Marcos Flores and Olga Pericet are scheduled to perform.
To dance in the upcoming months are other artists such as Belén
López, Soraya Clavijo, Manuel Liñán, Juan
Andrés Maya, María José Franco, María
Juncal, and of course, Blanca
del Rey, the artistic director. Moreover, among other acts,
the tablao has established the ‘Flamenco Stars’
Awards, which will go to Antonio el Pipa, Antonio Gades, Antonio
Canales and Rafael Amargo this year. Since its inauguration
in 1956 by Manuel del Rey – recently deceased -, flamenco
figures appearing at this venue include Pastora Imperio, Antonio
Gades, Manuela Vargas and La Paquera de Jerez. On the other
side of the stage, the list of illustrious visitors is long,
among them, President Nixon, Hussein of Jordan, Che Guevara,
Sophia Loren, Richard Gere and Sandra Bullock, among many others.
