Complete program

Flamenco-world.com, August 2004

The 32nd Congreso Internacional de Arte Flamenco in the town of Mairena del Alcor is finalizing the details of its program of activities. The forum opens its doors from 1st to 11th September 2004 in the town - one of the axes on the map of cante flamenco, in the province of Seville. It will feature lectures and debates on subjects such as the changes in the aesthetics of flamenco dance, the work of Antonio Mairena, facial expression and gestures in flamenco, the flamenco idiosyncrasy of Mairena del Alcor... Of the shows that accompany these theoretical ideas, highlights include ‘Dime’ by Javier Barón on 9th September and a ‘festival’ at the Festival Bienal de Sevilla on 10th September at Teatro Lope de Vega, featuring Calixto Sánchez, La Macanita, Terremoto and Milagros Menjíbar. Among the activities leading up to the congress there's the XLIII Festival de Cante Jondo, with a line-up including José Mercé, Calixto Sánchez, Aurora Vargas, José Menese, El Cabrero and Antonio el Pipa.

The warm-up put together for the congress features some enticing events. From 1st to 7th September, flamenco will invade every corner of Mairena del Alcor. The activity begins at Casa Palacio on Wednesday 1st with the workshop ‘The youth and flamenco’ and the inauguration of a photographic exhibition covering images from past festivals in the town. The second day sees an organized visit to the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco in Jerez and a seminar on the festival in Mairena del Alcor. Besides the opening of an exhibition of paintings by Juan Valdés and another of photographs by Paco Sánchez, Friday 3rd sees the 43rd edition of the Concurso de Cante Jondo. This contest between vocalists is a precursor to the Antonio Mairena Festival de Cante Jondo, which takes place the following evening, featuring José Mercé, Calixto Sánchez, Aurora Vargas, José Menese, El Cabrero and Antonio el Pipa.

The tribute to Antonio Mairena will be the focus of events on the fifth ‘pre-congress’ day , which will also see the inauguration of the exhibition of posters and a performance by El Payo Humberto. The warm-up to the congress continues on Monday 6th September, with a conference on the role of women in flamenco, courses, a movie and a showdown between informal flamenco clubs - the 'peñas'. Then on Tuesday 7th an intense day's activity is scheduled, with a conference by Gerhard Steingress, two sessions of courses, a book presentation and a performance by cantaor Antonio Reyes.

Inaugural Seminar

The congress kicks off on Wednesday 8th September with an inaugural seminar, the launch of a CD and a flamenco show ‘Sabor Jerez’, among other activities. The following day's events include a lecture by Ángel Álvarez Caballero on ‘The aesthetics of flamenco dance in the context of the 21st Century’ and a debate on the same topic, with Javier Latorre, Cristina Hoyos, Mario Maya and Eva Yerbabuena all expected to participate. In the afternoon, the seminars will deal with the Festival de Mairena del Alcor and Antonio Mairena. The day is rounded off with the show ‘Dime’ by Javier Barón.

Besides the debate on the legendary Antonio Mairena, on Friday 10th September there'll be a lecture giving a close examination of flamenco, the presentation of a book on the role of women from Malaga in flamenco, and a recital of flamenco poetry. The congress shifts its activity that evening to Seville's Teatro Lope de Vega, with a ‘festival’ forming part of the program for Seville's Biennial Flamenco Festival, featuring Calixto Sánchez, La Macanita, Terremoto and Milagros Menjíbar.

The congress winds up on Saturday 11th September with three other seminars: ‘The presence and essence of flamenco in Mairena del Alcor’, ‘An evolutionary study of flamenco compás: a tool to back up musicological principles’ and ‘The usefulness of the Congresses on the Flamenco Arts’. The closing ceremony will feature the nomination of next year's candidate and a summary of the conclusions drawn. The final icing on the cake will be the flamenco show at the last night’s gala dinner.

magazine@flamenco-world.com