Festival Review
Flamenco Gala 2009
by
Dagmar Bernstorff
Nothing attracts Indian audiences as strongly as a Flamenco performance. This Sunday evening of the ‘IIC Experience 2009’ again saw the Fountain Lawns packed with aficionados standing, squatting, sharing seats. Thanks to the dynamic Spanish Ambassador, Ion de la Riva, one has seen excellent Flamenco performances in Delhi during the last few years. This was the most unusual one.
The Spanish dance form Flamenco traces its origin to the gypsies, who wandered from South Asia to parts of Eastern Europe as well as to the Iberian Peninsula. The forceful rythmic patterns of their music as well as hints at Indian melodies probably account for the popularity of Flamenco in this country. In Spain, particularly in Andalusia, a region at the crossroads of cultures, the music of the gypsies fused into local traditions and absorbed influences from Arabia, Greece, and Phoenicia, as well as elements from different religions in the early middle ages. Later, with the expansion of Spain to South America indigenous as well as African elements and musical themes enriched Flamenco. It has changed and evolved into a classical art which is still open to innovation as could be experienced at the performance of Antonio Rey and his group. These young dancers in their twenties do break the barriers of traditional Flamenco, both in forms, expression and themes, but without losing its essence. No longer swirling long skirts, but jeans and T-shirts and unexpected movements, yet still within the vocabulary of the discipline.
The texts, here sung by the powerful voice of Mara Rey, talk of love and separation, suffering, persecution and death, but mainly of boundless joy. Mara’s young brother Antonio Ray, the leader of the group, delighted with his outstanding command of the guitar and sensitive rendering of emotional themes, sometimes suggesting Flamenco steps on the strings. Antonio is of Mexican-gypsy origin. Several compositions were only accompanied by rythmic hand claps and footsteps.
Enter the guest artist Farruco, an explosion of creative energy, imagination, sensitivity and flawless precision. In breathtaking speed this handsome youth applies the intricate patterns of footwork, which stresses clapping of heals and toes, to express his concepts. At times he jumps and turns or he seems to fly across the stage. Farruco—his full name is Antonio Fernandes Montoya Farruco—is the youngest member of the Farruco family of gypsy dancers. He learnt his skills within the family and performed publicly already as a child. Now 21 years old, he is a lead dancer in his brother’s productions and already formed his own dance company ‘The Gnomes of Flamenco’.
The violinist, Bernardo Parrilla, also belongs to an Andalusian gypsy family of musicians. He travels and accompanies leading guitarists and dancers all over the world. And Isidro Suarez provided multiple percussion sounds to reinforce the hand clapping and foot tapping.
The evening demonstrated that Flamenco is very much alive and Frederico Garcia Lorca’s words ‘Flamenco is like the soul within our souls’ are still valid.
Reader’s response can be sent to deputyeditor.iic@nic.in