The dancer from Jerez hopes to "elevate bulerías to the status of a solo dance"

Silvia Calado Olivo

With the self-confidence that comes from six consecutive years of sold-out performances, Antonio el Pipa will premiere a new work at the Festival de Jerez. 'De Cai, el baile' is a show which, far from telling a story, tries to reflect the contribution of Cádiz and its pueblos to flamenco dancing. Guajiras, caña, farruca, soleá por bulerías, rondeña, and a closing alegrías dedicated to Rafael Alberti with the music of José Luis Montón comprise this show in which the dancer from Jerez has set himself the goal of "elevating bulerías to the status of a solo dance". After its debut, 'DeCai, el baile' is slated to tour several Spanish cities as well as Germany, Switzerland, France and Hungary.

Antonio el Pipa

After Antonio Gades' inaugural offering of 'Fuenteovejuna', 'Da Cai, el baile' gets the Sixth Festival de Jerez under way on February 28th, 2002. Antonio el Pipa'a new work, according to the dancer from Jerez, hopes to present "a journey which focuses attention on the towns of the province of Cádiz". The show, which has no story line, is presented through "a wide range of choreographies including guajiras, caña, farruca, soleá por bulerías and rondeña".

The dancer, who is responsible for the direction and choreography, makes special mention of the guajiras opening titled 'De puerto a puerto', and the closing alegrías, 'Ciudad de Gades', which is a tribute to the poet Rafael Alberti. The news is that El Pipa "for the first time is going to dance bulerías as a solo number". In this way he hopes to show that "bulerías, which is always used as a catchy 'fin de fiesta', or closing number, can be elevated to the category of soleá or siguiriya".

The company

Antonio el Pipa is backed up by a strong group of dancers with soloists María José Franco and José Triguero. The corps de ballet also includes Raúl Ruiz, Miguel Corbacho, Juan Antonio Tejero, Patricia Ibáñez, Choni Pérez and Leonor Leal. Luis Moneo, Manuel Tañé and Felipa de Moreno will sing for the group. Guitarists Juan Moneo and Pascual de Lorca composed the music for the show along with fellow-guitarist José Luis Montón.

After debuting at the Jerez festival, 'De Cai, el baile' begins a tour which will hit nine Spanish cities in the province of Castilla y León, in addition to Berlin (Germany), Amberes (Switzerland), Paris (France) and Hungary.