The Flamenco Series at GALA Theatre Part 1
- Written by Jose Sueiro
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It has been 18 years now that GALA Theatre first presented its ‘Fuego Flamenco’ Festival and each year there seems to be a new wrinkle, a new twist. It just gets better and better! The theatre has managed to create an excellent company right here in the nation’s capital under the curatorial eye of El Salvador’s, Edwin Aparicio. Over the years they have also set up a reciprocal agreement with the famous Casa Patas flamenco company in collaboration with Flamenco Spain Flamenco Arts and Culture (FECACE).
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n addition, for the first time, Fuego Flamenco has become a 3-week affair, having added the Cadiz inspired, Santa Fe based, ‘Entre Flamenco’ spectacle to its long list of successful flamenco shows. ‘Cerrando el Circulo’ the title of the first show, co-directed and choreographed by Antonio Granjero had its debut performance the weekend of October 28. More on that later.
The weekend of November 4-6, Edwin Aparicio will highlight the latest in his Flamenco Men series, an approach that has garnered him widespread recognition in the flamenco world.
Finally, the weekend of November 10-13, directly from Spain the entry to this year’s series, ‘Alejandra’, directed by Jose Almarcha and choreographed by Lucia Ruibal, will be in town to wrap up the festival.
This is the first of three articles we will be presenting regarding these shows.
The ‘Cerrando el Circulo’ concert had a special allure for me, having just visited Cadiz for a week this past August. When listening to the voice of ‘Trini de la Isla’, I was transported back to his native Cadiz and the sounds and sights of that magnificent city. Close your eyes and Trini’s voice will remind you of the Casbah in Marrakesh or a flamenco version of Joaquin Sabinas. Trini’s rough, powerful voice will return for the ‘Alejandra’ performances at the end of the series and just listening to him is worth the price of admission. Definitely get a ticket for that.
The other notable feature of this first show was the Taranta themed flamenco version of the classic Mexican tune ‘Llorona’. The Santa Fe influence was apparent in this tune and, once again, the inimitable voice of ‘Trini de la Isla’. We can only hope this lively and energetic company featuring dancers Angel Muñoz & Estefania Ramirez, the voices of Trini and Momi de Cadiz as well as the guitar of Juan Jose Alba returns again soon to our ‘tablaos’.
It is a full and rich flamenco season for lovers of this idiom, so click on over to www.galatheatre.org and buy your tickets now!
