Junta Flamenca
Anís and Yerbabuena 
Fri, Mar 20, 5pm
Fri, Mar 27, 1:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
200 pesos

Flamenco, an explosive and sensual experience
By Jaci Winters Winters

Flamenco is more than a dance. Flamenco combines music, dance and song in a flamboyant, colorful, precise and invigorating performance. In the Junta Flamenco performance the musicians who play guitar and Cajon are joined by other musicians playing saxophone, flute or even a lute. They provide the background and beat for the dancers and singers but also entertain us with solo performances.

Dance, singing (cante), handclapping (palmas) and guitar playing constitute the magic of flamenco art which dates back to a gypsy past. The guitar became integral to flamenco in the nineteenth century.

The bright-colored flamenco costumes of the ladies accented with Spanish shawls and ruffles add to the sinuous movements of the flamenco dancers. Their hand and arm gestures and a fan add to the graceful flow of the dancing body while the staccato foot tapping connects us to the 4/4 beat of flamenco. The male dancer wears a more traditional black and white motif which adds to his dramatic entrance on stage. His high-heeled boots erect stance and strong slow movements are both athletic and elegant. The percussive feet beat out a rapid but controlled series of steps as he covers the stage.

When the male and female dance together it reminds me of the bullring. Each dancer uses their steps and gestures to communicate and respond to each other often building to a climax were they are dancing in unison but without touching. Facial expressions also change throughout the dance from serious to playful. The body moves from the waist down except when the hands and arms are in play. Flamenco dancing is like story telling each movement transmits a word or feeling.

The origins of Flamenco are debated but there is evidence to suggest that nomadic groups from the Punjabi migrated out of India in 800-900 A.D. and made their way into the Andalusia area of Spain. These people became known as gypsies and during the Inquisition 1447 they were confined to ghettos. This unjust persecution and isolation is what helped to safeguard the purity of their music and dance. In 1782 the Leniency Edict of Charles 111 restored some measure of freedom to the Spanish gypsy and allowed music and dance (flamenco) to be presented and adopted by the general population in Spain. Flamenco spread from Andalusia to other parts of Spain and was very popular in the café society of the 1900s.

Come and experience the defiant, explosive but sensual Junta Flamenco at Santa Ana Theatre. You will be entranced and entertained by this Spanish gypsy tradition.