Once a year a magical event draws Flamenco enthusiast from miles around for a beautiful Southern California summer night filled with smells of authentic Spanish cuisine and the sounds of a Flamenco dancers accompanied by Cante and powerful yet eloquent Flamenco guitar. Enthusiast, performers and media arrive to The Barclay in Irvine California for the annual New World Flamenco Festival with heighten anticipation of experiencing world class Flamenco performances and a bit of duende.
Falseta.com was invited to attend the opening night of the New World Flamenco Festival to experience “Somos Flamencos!†a spectacular production coordinated by Yaelisa the artistic director of the festival who hand picked each of the artist for there ability to perform in the moment and spontaneously improvise each and every night achieving the ever elusive state reffered to as “duendeâ€. Yaelisa is not only the artistic director but a distinguished and accomplished flamenco dancer managing to turn in a tremendous performance for the evening.
Walking up to the performance hall a pleasant aroma of authentic Spanish food and tapas fills the air and the sounds of excited ticket holders talking about the pending evening’s performance. Many people here are familiar with one another after several years of attending the New World Flamenco Festival and those who are new to the event are quickly greeted by the friendly staff, vendors and other enthusiast who are about to share with them a Flamenco experience like no other.
Several vendors selling authentic Flamenco merchandise from Spain are tending to customers. You can buy everything from a handmade Cajon to handmade flamenco dresses. One of the vendors Claudia de la Cruz (http://www.tierra-flamenca.com) has everything from castanets to beautiful one of kind Flamenco dresses for sale. Claudia de la Cruz who is also a talented Flamenco dancer and operates a Flamenco dance studio in the Southern California area gave us tremendous welcome when we arrived.
As the opening of the curtain revealed the ever familiar dark backdrop and chairs lined up in row for the performers, the intense feeling of nervousness for the opening night was released with wave after wave of genuine and passionate Flamenco performances.
Although all the performers where immensely talented and performed beyond expectation I felt drawn to the talents of two. Singer Encarna Anillo who’s textured yet soothing voice still echoes through my mind and the tremendous talent in guitarist Eugenio Iglesias who seemed to have so much fun on stage managing to play extended jazz chords and intricate falsetas all with precision within the Compas.
After all the performances where complete and I walked passed the bar reading my notes I was startled by a women who I had never met before. This woman was so moved by the evening’s performances, the obvious impact of true Flamenco and duende were so apparent in her voice and movements. She paced back and forth touching her face and telling me how much passion she felt in the singers voice, the dancers moves and the sounds of the Flamenco guitar. She continued to explain her disbelief of what she had just experienced and the tremendous talent of all the performers. Although a brief encounter I couldn’t help but to smile and think to myself how genuine her words were. That when the true essence of Flamenco is felt by those who have never experienced it, it is truly an experience like no other.
Do not miss the New World Flamenco Festival and make sure to reserve your tickets for the remaining performances at The Barclay in Irvine.
Related posts:
- Review of Paco Pena “A Compas” at UCLA
- New World Flamenco Festival
- Maria Jose Franco Compañia de Danza Flamenca
- Flamenco Jewelry
- Ojos De Brujo In California 2007