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UPDATED JANUARY 26, 2012 |
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This month's articles Fronteras 2012 Jerez | 12 Days | |
 Dance of Hope : Flamenco Fundraising Event
 2011 Flamenco Year In Review
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Fronteras Design WinnerFronteras 2012 gets a look that shows community, art, and performance. By Julie Baggenstoss
Firmly JerezAtlanta flamenco fans get a second dose of the proud tradition of the "Jerez style" in a January show. By Julie BaggenstossIt was 1:30 a.m. on a cold February morning in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, and we sat like sardines in la Peña de Bulería applauding the performers who were finally taking the stage for what would become my first flamenco show at a peña. On one of my first nights in Spain, I wasn't really sure what a peña was or if it would be the scene of one of those much talked about flamenco parties that lasted until sunrise. I was sure that on that chilly night, I was tired and hungrier than the bocadillos and the beer that I had consumed while waiting for this mysterious show. As I clapped for the entering performers, I waited and waited for the dancer to join them, in something ruffled and maybe red. She never showed up. Only the men did. And, most were senior citizens. And, so the show began.
A couple of songs into it and my angst over the missing women was replaced by laughter. For, these over the hill and approaching sunset men were jumping, spinning, and running as they played with one another through dance and singing - por bulerías after bulerías. Before I knew it, tears were uncontrollably running down my cheeks while the men poked fun at each other, life, us, and more, as if they were children. And, yes sir, these men even pranced around like women to clown around. The night didn't stretch too far into the morning, but it was enough to initiate me into the style of Jerez, full of singing, laughter, fellowship, life. Seems my reaction to the famed Jerez style of flamenco was right in line with what at least one Jerezano expects.
When Granjero performs just outside of Atlanta on January 28, 2012, with Entre Flamenco, it will be the second dose of the distinct Jerez style of flamenco that the Atlanta area has seen in recent months. His show at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center brings emotional variety to the audience, according to Granjero. "Often when you see dancers from another style or location of Spain, yes, they give an excellent performance. But, their essence is based on 'remates' (endings to verses and dance steps) and fast feet. The essence of Jerez style evokes a more broad base of emotions of the audience." The Jerez style refers to a distinct sound, look, and feel that is unique to flamenco practiced in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It is one of several cities across Andalucía where flamenco was born and evolved in isolated pockets, creating separate and distinct forms of the art form.
"In Jerez, there is nothing more important than the bulerías," says Domingo Ortega, a Jerez-born flamenco dancer who taught a flamenco workshop in Atlanta in November 2011. "The bulerías is something that has much 'soniquete.' Soniquete for us is like a rhythm with counting. And then, the letras (song verses) in the style of Jerez are not sung normally if they are sung in the style of Jerez. No. They are very identifiably ours." With the focus on men here - Granjero, Ortega, and those clowning guys at La Peña Bulería - let's not overlook the women of Jerez. In the case of cante, two ladies, La Niña de los Peines, Paquera de Jerez, take legendary status for their widespread performance of bulerías de Jerez. Their voices are among those that shaped generations of dancers in their accompaniment of bulerías de Jerez. Granjero points out that in Jerez, the song is at the center of it all. "In dance, any dancer from Jerez, regardless of the technique that is being executed there is a great respect for the 'cante' (singing)," he says. "From childhood, we are familiar with the cante. Jerez practices a strong culture of cante. That influences the personal style of each dancer, which distinctly sets apart dance style from Jerez."
It's a small difference, but one of many that adds up to a distinct style that is at the core of art and pride of flamenco in Jerez. experimentation, fusion, and the arrival of outside influences. "The most important idea is that the new generations of dancers from Jerez maintain the same firmness in the identity of our dance style, that we don't go along with modern fads that come and go," says Granjero. "In Jerez, the flamenco goes a bit slower than the rest of the world. In Jerez, flamenco advances with firmness, without forgetting the roots, without forgetting where you are from," says Ortega. Despite more communication with other countries and the influences of music from other countries, Jerezano artists stick to the roots, Ortega explains with an analogy to medicine. "You are able to understand a little about all of medicine… but it is difficult to advance in one thing at a time, such as curing cancer. If you want to advance inside of flamenco, you must go little by little." The Twelve Days of Flamenco ChristmasReflecting on 2011 bounties is a gift unto itself. By Erica PooleWith Christmas only days away, mall traffic has heightened with shoppers scrambling to purchase just the right gifts for their loved ones. To give with an open heart is purely a demonstrative act of love toward mankind. Although Christmas comes annually, your life experiences leading up to it can possibly modify how you and your families choose to partake in the holiday's consumerism. Perhaps during particular years, you have found that instead of creating Christmas lists, you feel satisfied and content to ponder previous gifts whose impact cannot be quantified. With this notion in mind, I have taken the traditional "Twelve Days of Christmas" carol and tweaked it into a flamenco version that hopefully spans some of the sundry selections (both tangible and intangible) that the Atlanta flamenco community has received and re-instilled this past year. As you read these SPANGLISH lyrics, be sure to sing it to the melody of the original: On the 1st day of Flamenco Christmas my true love gave to me, un amor para flamenco! On the 2nd day of Flamenco Christmas my true love gave to me, dos castañuelas y un amor… On the 3rd day of Flamenco Christmas my true love gave to me, tres abanicos On the 4th day of Flamenco Christmas my true love gave to me, cuatro coplas de sevillanas On the 5th day of Flamenco Christmas my true love gave to me, CINCO PALOS!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the 6th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, seis villancicos On the 7th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, siete talleres On the 8th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, ocho marcajes On the 9th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, nueve pellizcos On the 10th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, diez falsetas On the 11th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, once jaleos On the 12th day of Flamenco Christmas, my true love gave to me, doce cantes chicos © jaleolé.com 2012
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Congrats to Natalia D'Angelo, winner of the 2012 Fronteras poster design contest. She created the look that will be used
on posters, websites, and other promotional materials for Fronteras 2012, set for Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Robert Shaw
Theater of North Atlanta High School. Originally from
Russia, D'Angelo is a grandmother who enjoys painting ,playing guitar and piano. Of all her creative interests, perhaps it
is her years of studying flamenco dance that contributed the most to her concept for this year's poster. In creating the
design, contestants considered the ideals that support the annual show. Fronteras fosters the spirit of flamenco community,
artistic preservation and integrity, personal achievement, and group work toward performance.
Thanks to all contestants for entering the contest and for sparking imaginations about flamenco across Atlanta. 
Above, Domingo Ortega teaches a flamenco dance class in November, 2011 in Atlanta. Photo by Gloriela
Rosas.