The most internationally acclaimed flamenco dance festival is back with 53 shows.
From 22 February-9 March 2013, the 17th edition of the Festival of Jerez will be offering the very best in flamenco. The programme of this event – the most important international flamenco and Spanish dance festival of its kind – includes 53 shows and 44 dance master classes and clapping and rhythm workshops, among other official and extra-official activities. Furthermore, new features include dance premiers and record presentations.
At the Villamarta Theatre, the festival’s official programme will commence with the show "Las cinco estaciones", including performers from Cordova and Jerez – Blanca del Rey, Marco Flores, Olga Pericet, Laura Rozalen and Mercedes Ruiz – directed by Francisco Lopez.
Moreover, six National Dance Award winners – Rocio Molina ("Afectos"), Javier Baron ("En clave de 6"), Eva Yerbabuena ("Federico según Lorca"), Antonio Marquez ("Siempre Antonio"), Antonio Canales and Javier Latorre will be performing during the festival.
Students from 40 countries
The festival also includes 44 dance master classes and clapping and rhythm workshops, which, as always, are so much in demand that only a few of the 1,085 places are still available.
Alegrias, bulerias, tangos, solea and siguiriyas are some the flamenco styles that will be covered in the clapping and rhythm workshops, which are geared both to dance students and amateurs.
World-class flamenco in Jerez
Unbeattable programme
Lasting more than 15 days, the festival will feature shows, concerts, conferences and master classes at the Villamarta Theatre, dance performances at la Sala Compañia, and flamenco singing at the Palacio Villavicencio.
As part of its official programme, the Sala Compañia will host both flamenco dancers and singers. The series of recitals "De la raíz" feature Antonio Malena and Vicente Soto Sordera, both singers from Jerez, accompanied by Jose Valencia from Lebrija.
At the Palacio Villavicencio, the accent will be on flamenco singing. The recital series "Conciertos de Palacio" will feature singers such as David Carpio, Marquez El Zapatero, Antonio Ruiz "El Carpintero", Rancapino Chico, Mari Peña, La Tana, Melchora, Ortega and Ricardo Fernández (a La Unión Miner’s Lamp award winner).
At the Sala Paul, the recital series "De la Frontera" will include the festival’s most modern offerings combining flamenco with other styles of music, with performers such as Jorge Pardo, Ezequiel Benitez, Jose Galan, and Tomasito. Only one show in this series will be staged at the Sala Compañia: the one performed by the Mayumi Kagita e Hiroki Sato Company.
The festival’s programme will not only be limited to the Villamarta Theatre, the Sala Compañia and the Palacio Villavicencio, since the city’s flamenco clubs will also be providing evening entertainment. In addition, complementary activities will include presentations, conferences and talks, scheduled to be held in the morning at the San Gines Winery.
The last edition of the festival was attended by 31,875 people, the average attendance level of the 126 programmed activities being 92%.
