Juan Parra Born in Jerez in 1945, on Campana Street in the San Miguel neighborhood. He is currently the oldest active dance teacher in the city. He has been showcasing his unique style for half a century, always taking care of the forms, the position, and the originality. He fondly remembers Christopher the Jerez native, from whom those of his generation learned, and his time in Madrid. It was his father who gave him a pair of castanets as a child, to his mother's astonishment. "Is my son going to be a faggot for playing castanets?" Against all odds, his mother was reluctant to let him dance, and his father encouraged him to become an artist. He went to Madrid as a dining room boy to earn some money, and at the same time, he left his details in Amor de Dios. From there, they called him to participate in the Ballet Zoom, who was popular at the time for appearing on TVE, but chose not to join because "I saw a high level and I wasn't ready." gades y Guito have been his role models and "almost all those who later set up academies such as Chiqui de Jerez, Ana María López, Fernando Galán" have taken his classes, as well as dancers such as Ana María Blanco, Leonor Leal... He is discreet; he has not received great public recognition "because I have never knocked on doors nor have I liked being close to those who give out those awards." 

"To my mother's astonishment, it was my father who gave me some castanets."

Juan Parra, a flamenco dancer from Jerez, in his dance studio. September 2023.

Juan Parra, a flamenco dancer from Jerez, during his interview with Juan Garrido at his dance school. September 2023.

Juan Parra, a flamenco dancer from Jerez, during his interview with Juan Garrido at his dance school. September 2023.