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Mexico once again becomes the hub of Spanish dance. From July 9th to 23rd, the city of Santiago de Querétaro will host the third edition of the International Contemporary Iberian Dance and Art Festival. And on this occasion, the biennial event pays tribute to maestros of flamenco as well as of Spanish dance, among them, Manolo Marín, Cristóbal Reyes and Ángel Pericet. The program, which is still being finalized, includes a training block with courses and lectures, a choreographic encounter between groups and academies, and the dance forum with scheduled performances by flamenco dancing artists such as María Pagés, María Juncal, Adrián Galia, El Junco, Ángeles Gabaldón, Yolanda Heredia and Úrsula López, among many others. They are joined by Mexican flamenco companies in this festival which lays stakes on artistic exchange.  

María Pagés. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa) / El Junco. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa) / Ángeles Gabaldón. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa)

The international forum on Spanish dance created by Contemporary Iberian in Mexico in 2007 continues to become consolidated. The International Dance and Art Festival of Santiago de Querétaro is now putting the finishing touches on the bill of its third edition, which is to be held from July 9th to 23rd in the Mexican city. In the words of the organization directed by Adriana Covarrubias, “the festival has positioned itself significantly on the international dance scene, with the aim of being a forum for artistic exchange and professionalization centered on the new trends in Spanish American dance; valuing this expression as an essential part of our roots”.

An approach which is expressed in three ways. The first one is the International Dance Course which, at the Proart Cultural Center, offers courses, master classes, lectures and workshops on the study of Spanish dance and classical dance taught by many of the professionals on the bill. The subjects stress the technique of flamenco dancing, the bolero school and also musical aspects like guitar and percussion. The second is the Choreographic Encounter between Groups and Academies which gathers numerous Spanish dance, classical, folk and contemporary schools from Mexico and other countries “to present their own artistic proposals, encouraging creativity and artistic production”.

María Juncal. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa) / Cristóbal Reyes. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa) / La China, cursos. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa)

And the third is the International Dance Forum, which presents great figures live of Spanish dance, flamenco dancing and other disciplines like classical, folk and contemporary. Flamenco prevails on the show schedule. The participation has already been confirmed of maestros Manolo Marín and Cristóbal Reyes, who are to receive a tribute together with recently-deceased bolero school maestro Ángel Pericet. The company of bailaora María Pagés, figures of current flamenco dancing such as Adrián Galia, La China, El Junco, Ángeles Gabaldón, Yolanda Heredia, Úrsula López, Juan Paredes, María Juncal, soloists of the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía and musicians like guitarist Gerardo Núñez, join artists in the program from Cuba, Argentina and Mexico. The festival also hosts other cultural expressions such as music, painting, photography, gastronomy, cinema and fashion in the colonial courtyards and emblematic buildings in Querétaro and other cities in the center of the country.

Ibérica de Danza. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa) / Encuentro de academias. Festival de Danza de Santiago de Querétaro 2009 (Photo Daniel Ochoa)