Andalusia is the birthplace of Flamenco, making Jerez a fitting host for the world’s leading Flamenco festival. Thousands of dance students gather each year for workshops and master classes on the full range of flamenco styles and skills such as flamenco compás and clapping and learning how to handle the bata de cola and other elements such as the shawl and the fan. It is a once in a lifetime chance to learn from the masters, which helps explain the fierce competition from around the world to claim one of the 1,000 student spots. For those who are not lucky enough to get one of the coveted student invitation, it is still worth making the journey to Jerez to witness the most famous bailaores of our time performing throughout the festival at the Teatro Villamarta.
In just two weeks, a total of 624 students coming from 30 countries have formally registered for the baile courses of Festival de Jerez 2013, which is to be held from February 22nd to March 9th. Registration for the 44 courses in the event’s training section – which also includes compás and clapping workshops – opened on September 6th. In this short period of time, the level of occupation has already reached 57.5% for an offer which rises to 1,085 places. There are currently 8 courses which have filled up and, just like in past editions, predictions point to a figure of nearly one hundred percent occupation being reached.
Of the 30 countries represented, belonging to every continent, this first statistical survey is highlighted by the traditional dominion of the students coming from Japan and the strong establishment of this training section in European countries like Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium and the Czech Republic, among others. However, the ‘global village’ dimension which the courses acquire every year is reflected in the notable presence of students coming from places as distant as the United States, Canada and Brazil, as well as Hungary, Romania and Argentina, to name a few.
The training section of Festival de Jerez is one of the most unique proposals in this event which moreover includes an extensive program of shows and concerts together with other activities. All of them have flamenco dancing and Spanish dance as their common thread. The interest in the festival’s courses and workshops responds to the existence of a varied offer – of styles and academic level – and the presence of the greatest maestros, many of whom are active artists. There are four learning levels. This diversification covers everything from beginners’ level to advanced.
NOVELTIES
Highlighting the novelties of the upcoming edition is the workshop-seminar which Eva Yerbabuena will teach about a show’s creative process, which is complemented with practical classes on knowledge of the body through technique. Moreover, a related program includes the collaboration of two private companies specializing in cultural management. On the one hand, Monto Cultura will set up a course on flamenco photography taught by Gilles Larrain, a prestigious artist whose works have been seen in New York, Paris and Hamburg, among other cities. On the other, the International Flamenco Institute of Jerez will carry out courses in cante, guitar, soniquete and introduction to flamenco, in such a way that the training offer extends to other artistic disciplines besides baile.
