María Pagés and Rafaela Carrasco showcase their new creations at the 20th Madrid en Danza Festival

Flamenco-world.com, April 2005

The twentieth edition of the International Madrid en Danza Festival kicks off with a week dedicated to the “new wave of flamenco scenic arts created by women.” And, to this end, it's picked “two Andalusian women who've chosen Madrid as their adopted workplace.” On the one hand, María Pagés, with her solid reputation earned on the international dance circuit, and winner of the 2002 Premio Nacional de Danza for her work as a choreographer. And, on the other, Rafaela Carrasco, one of the forerunners in the new generation of creator-bailaoras.

María Pagés presents her production ‘Canciones, antes de una guerra’ at the Teatro Albéniz from 6th to 10th April, following its resounding success at events like the 2004 Festival Bienal de Sevilla and the 2005 Festival de Jerez. In addition, at the Royal Coliseum in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, she offers audiences three special offerings with her creative workshop, as part of the instructionally-based season ‘Flamenco para todos’: ‘Encuentro flamenco con el público’ (Flamenco meets the audience), ‘El bazar de las ideas’ (The ideas bazaar) and ‘Las ideas de María’ (Maria’s ideas - family-oriented).

María Pagés (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Rafaela Carrasco (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Rafaela Carrasco will present her company's second show, ‘Una mirada del flamenco’ at the Teatro de Madrid. The show - a vision of flamenco so personal that she even moves the traditional 'bata de cola' flamenco dress into masculine territory - was premièred in March at the 2005 Festival de Jerez. After the show in the capital, she'll take the production to five theaters spread out around the Community of Madrid region, including Las Rozas and Pozuelo de Alarcón.

The festival's flamenco program is rounded off with a screening of the movie ‘Los Tarantos’ by Rovira Beleta, as part of the ‘Choreographic Camera’ film season. The movie, which stars Carmen Amaya and which includes Antonio Gades's incredible farruca will be shown on 5th April 2005 in the Cine Studio at Madrid's Círculo de Bellas Artes. Also showing on the same screen on 29th April will be Carlos Saura's ‘Sevillanas’.

The 20th Festival Madrid en Danza runs from 4th to 24th April 2005 in the Spanish capital. A rich melting-pot of international dance companies, offering everything from opera theater ballets to contemporary dance, with choreographic experimentation in between.

magazine@flamenco-world.com