The company premieres in Torrelodones (Madrid) on December 13th and 14th, 2003

S.C.O., December 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

María Pagés is experiencing a period of reflection of which 'El bazar de las ideas. Canciones para antes de una guerra' ('The Bazaar of Ideas. Songs for Before a War') is the fruit. The Sevillian bailaora and choreographer, the winner of Spain's 2002 National Dance Prize, wants this new show "to call attention to values that are currently in need of attention". The company has taken this work as a test field for more ambitious productions which will come out in the next two seasons. The show premieres on December 13th and 14th at Torrelodones Theater (Madrid, Spain), where the company 'resides'.

Compañía María Pages. Rehearsal

Following the triumphant international tour with the triple bill consisting of 'La Tirana', 'Un perro andaluz' and 'Flamenco Republic', the María Pagés Company has stopped to think. Under the inscription 'El bazar de las ideas', the Sevillian bailaora has created 'Canciones para antes de una guerra'. The show's name is inspired in 'Canciones para después de una guerra' ('Songs for After a War'), a documentary film by Basilio Martín Patino which was censored by the Franco regime; but performed in a hopeful way. María Pagés comments that "instead of referring to the dramatic reconstruction of a country, we turn things around positively, and we stop and reflect on what's happening, on this convulsed moment, to give an optimistic outcome".

This work which appeals to values such as solidarity is presented as "a succession of songs" both from Spain's popular repertoire and from flamenco. The bailaora and choreographer explains that "we dance to songs, some are recognized and others aren't; and of course, flamenco, but updated since as there are other current phenomena to sing, the old lyrics sometimes lose the value they used to have".

Laboratory of the future

As is their norm, the company has put together the show "trying to discover, trying to investigate". Not in vain was María Pagés the first flamenca to be awarded Spain's National Dance Prize in the category of creation. The work is conceived as "the laboratory in which to try and test things for future shows, taking advantage of the opportunities given to us by the infrastructure we have", Torrelodones Theater of Madrid, of which it is the resident company through an agreement with the (Autonomous) Community of Madrid. María Pagés now promises that "in 2004 we'll do a greater show and in 2005, another one still greater". The show to be premiered on December 13th and 14th, 2003 is just the appetizer.

Compañía María Pages. Rehearsal

magazine@flamenco-world.com