The festival features exhibitions and a dance course given by Juana Amaya

Carmen Jiménez, July 2003

The city of Lepe, in Huelva province, opens the fourth 'Ciudad de Lepe' flamenco festival with a lineup of big name flamenco artists. Terremoto, La Macanita, Juana Amaya, Joaquín Grilo and Esperanza Fernández head the bill. After four years of running the festival it's clear to see that Lepe city council, together with Huelva's Provincial government, aims to rank this city alongside the principal showcases of flamenco in Andalusia. The festival will be held from August 4th to 9th 2003 at the city's Juan Manuel Santana theater.

	Juana Amaya (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

The coastal town of Lepe is looking to establish itself as one of the leading benchmarks of flamenco. To that end, the festival brings us flamenco artists of the caliber of Terremoto, La Macanita, Juana Amaya, Guadiana, Esperanza Fernández and Joaquín Grilo, among others, for this the fourth edition. The first three can be seen on stage at Teatro Municipal Alcalde Juan Manuel Santana on Friday August 8th. 'Cantaor' Terremoto shares the limelight at this festival with another 'cantaora' from his native Jerez de la Frontera, La Macanita. Following these vocalists on stage will be Juana Amaya, an outstanding 'bailaora' from the contemporary flamenco scene, and who has danced alongside Joaquín Cortés and Antonio Canales.

The closing night of the festival sees another elite band of artists: Guadiana, Esperanza Fernández and Joaquín Grilo. 'Cantaor' Guadiana from Extremadura will perform a repertoire smattered with numbers taken from his albums 'Cuando el río suena' and 'Brillo de luna'. 'Cantaora' Esperanza Fernández will give a demonstration of her versatility as a vocalist, with her style nurtured between Triana and Lebrija. Last up will be 'bailaor' Joaquín Grilo from Jerez, who'll fill the stage with his personal vision of dance, developed over years of international tours with Paco de Lucía.

Photography meets flamenco

In addition, the festival will be rounded off with exhibitions in which photography meets flamenco. Journalist Araceli Pardal Redondo presents a selection of her work as a press photographer and flamenco-lover. And 'La mirada de niño' in Lepe and 'Momentos flamencos' at the Pepe Montaraz Cultural Center and 'Peña Flamenca' in Lebrija, are two exhibitions of photographs by flamenco artists, in the most part from Lebrija, and which portray the use of facial expression and gesture in flamenco. Bailaora Juana Amaya will also give a dance course from August 4th to 7th.