Flamenco is displayed at
Spain’s Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010
The world premiere of ‘Flamenco, flamenco’
by Carlos Saura, ‘Carmen’ by Antonio Gades and
‘Sangre flamenca’ by Nuevo Ballet Español
are on the cultural agenda
S.Calado/Flamenco-world.com, May 2010
Translation: Joseph Kopec
Cinema, architecture, painting,
design, cooking, music, theater, books… and of course,
flamenco. Baile, cante and toque are also part of the cultural
contents of the Spain Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010, which
is to be held in the Chinese city from May 1st to October
31st. The world premiere of the film ‘Flamenco, flamenco’
by Carlos
Saura, the shows ‘Dualia’ and ‘La
Leyenda’ by the Ballet Nacional de España and
the acclaimed ‘Carmen’ by the Antonio Gades
Company are some of the Spanish proposals revolving around
the jondo art for this universal exposition, inspired by
the slogan ‘Better City, Better Life’.
Eva Yerbabuena, 'Flamenco Flamenco'
by Carlos Saura |
Ballet Nacional de España.
'La Leyenda' (Photo Daniel
Muñoz) |
It’s now confirmed that “the
Spanish basket” will also be flamenco. The cultural
offer of Spain’s Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010, one
of the most stunning architectural works at the venue, will
have the jondo art as one of the ingredients of its exhibition.
From May to October, diverse activities centering on flamenco
are scheduled, and they won’t just be performances.
In fact, the most talked-about event will be the world premiere
of the film ‘Flamenco, flamenco’ by Carlos Saura
on August 30th, Spain’s National Pavilion Day. The
day, full of official ceremonies, will also include a performance
by Málaga-born bailaora Rocío Molina at the
Expo Center Auditorium.
But the first installment of the flamenco
program will be a few days after the pavilion’s doors
are opened. On May 13th, also at the Auditorium, the Ballet
Nacional de España will display two choreographies
from its repertoire: ‘Dualia’, authored by Rojas
and Rodríguez; and ‘La Leyenda’,
José Antonio’s piece inspired by Carmen Amaya.
Coinciding with the celebration of Madrid Day, flamenco
will once again sound in the “basket”. From
July 19th to 25th, the group from Tablao Casa Patas will
perform and there will be a flamenco workshop. And the same
thing will occur on the occasion of Andalusia Day from July
26th to August 1st. There will be clapping workshops, as
well as performances by Cádiz-born bailaor El
Junco. Then in September, a couple of galas are scheduled
with the title “flamenco festival” at the Auditorium:
the emblematic show ‘Carmen’ by the Antonio
Gades Company on the 4th; and ‘Sangre flamenca’
by Nuevo Ballet Español on the 17th.
Flamenco’s presence at a universal
exposition is no novelty. The newspaper and periodicals
libraries store evidence of the presence of artists from
the genre in events as old as the one in Paris in 1889,
where La Macarrona danced, and that of Barcelona in 1929,
where a young Carmen
Amaya danced. In that of Brussels in 1958, artists danced
such as Jerez-born Rosa Durán, and at New York’s
1964 World’s Fair, flamencos like Fernanda de Utrera
performed. Of course, flamenco was a daily ingredient at
Seville’s 1992 Expo. And at the recent Expo
Aichi 2005 in Japan, an entire flamenco festival was
even held which was attended by Sara Baras, Eva Yerbabuena,
Paco de Lucía and Vicente Amigo, among others.
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