The dancer from Cádiz is to promote Andalusian tourism on an international level

Flamenco-world.com

The recuperation of historic female personages has become a standard line of work for Sara Baras after her flamenco treatment of Juan la Loca. In Seville's 12th Bienal de Flamenco set for 2002 the dancer from Cádiz will debut a new show in which she is to portray Mariana Pineda, the liberal heroine whose life story was brought to the stage by Federico García Lorca.

Sara Baras (Photo: Anahí Carmody)

To give form to this project, Sara Baras will be accompanied by the guitarist and composer Manolo Sanlúcar who is in charge of composing the work, and scenic director Luis Pascual who has previously worked with dancers like Antonio Canales. Although the script is already prepared, the tight performance schedule of Juana la Loca, a show which debuted at the Bienal in 2000, has kept rehearsals for the work which was choreographed by Sara Baras from getting under way.

An image of Andalusia

The international promotion for Mariana Pineda is to be backed by the Consejería de Turismo de la Junta de Andalucía (Andalusia's official cultural board), in accordance with a new agreement that makes Sara Baras Andalusia's symbol of tourism for next year. The dancer from San Fernando will take part by dancing in a series of presentations put on by the governmental organization Turismo Andaluz, and for which purpose an effort will be made to coordinate the respective agendas.

(Photo: Anahí Carmody)

The first venue which will see the results of this agreement is London's International Tourism Fair on November 13th, 2001, where the Consejería de Turismo is planning to give a party for three hundred guests from the economic, tourism, political and sports sectors. Sara Baras will present a "straightforward flamenco show, without plots, a show of traditional flamenco".

With this presentation the dancer hopes to offer the promotional image of a "modern, dynamic, young Andalusia". And she considers that "flamenco is in a very good moment right now" which is why it will serve as a vehicle to open up Andalusia to the world. Even more so, considering it's a difficult moment for the entertainment sector in general. With the aim of maintaining its international position, the Tourism Council's José Hurtado explains that the region has decided on flamenco as a touristic reference, and specifically on Sara Baras since she is "a modern young figure who defies old stererotypes".