El II International Dance Competition Flamenco Extremeño Jaleos has announced the names of its five finalists, and two reserves, in a presentation held at the Seville headquarters of the Andalusian Institute of Flamenco. Hugo Sánchez, María Canea, Carmen Yanes, Silvia Fernández and Anaïs Ribas, along with the two reserves Kotoha Setoguchi y Lorena Alférez, They are the dancers who will take to the stage Lopez de Ayala Theater from Badajoz on October 2, at the final gala, to give a live demonstration of his art on stage.
In an event that included the participation of the director of the Andalusian Institute of Flamenco, Cristóbal Ortega, the Secretary General of Culture of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Francisco Palomino, the deputy for Culture, Youth and Sports of the Provincial Council of Badajoz, Ricardo Cabezas, and the director of the International Center for Flamenco Jesús Ortega, Jesús Ortega, the representation of the jury members composed of Cristina Hoyos, La Lupi and Juan Carlo Guajardo has announced the names of the finalists and reserves chosen from more than thirty registered participants from countries as diverse as Germany, Japan and Russia.
After the welcome from the director of the Andalusian Institute of Flamenco, Christopher Ortega, which has emphasized the importance of the collective work of public institutions to continue disseminating the flamenco, the Secretary General of Culture of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Francisco Palomino, has referred to the important contribution of Extremadura to the flamenco national and international, since, in addition, “the flamenco It is the spearhead that opens the way to other artistic manifestations.”
For his part, the Deputy for Culture, Youth and Sport of the Badajoz Provincial Council, Ricardo Cabezas, has expressed his pride and sense of privilege in the fact that “the flamenco be a sign of identity of our territory" and recalled the figure of the flamencologist Paco Zambrano, who recently passed away, as well as the director of the International Center for Flamenco Jesus Ortega, Jesús Ortega, who has defined it as “a fundamental pillar of flamenco extremeño”, while announcing that he will be very present at the final gala on the 2nd. The coordinator of the contest also referred to this regard, David Sánchez, which has put emphasis on the creation of the International Center for Flamenco, and in the commitment that this contest makes to the Jaleos Extremeños, “a palo that we already see in the repertoires, which gives us certainty of continuity.”
«The jury has especially highlighted the presence of the Extremadura jaleos, a palo Native to Extremadura and the city of Badajoz, with a characteristic sound and its own identity that differentiates it within the universe flamenco»
The diversity and versatility of the participants
The jury, which also included the director of the Spanish National Ballet, Ruben Olmo, and the director of the Ballet Flamenco from Andalusia, Patricia guerrero, highlighted the high artistic level of the candidates, which reflected a wide diversity of both generations and styles. Thus, the age range covered from early youth (18-19 years), through established youth (20-30 years), to artistic maturity (30-40 years). A breadth that, as the jury noted, "allows us to appreciate intergenerational coexistence: from young talents with great future prospects to performers with solid careers that are recognized nationally and internationally.”
The jury also highlighted the versatility of these artists, "who complement the flamenco with other disciplines, bringing freshness and a personal language, as well as the presence of more experienced performers who represent the maturity of the flamenco on the big stages." This, together with the variety of the palos performed –jaleos extremeños, soleá, bambera, taranto, alegrías, caña, seguirilla, jaleos, soleá por bulería and fandango– is a sample of both the tradition and the capacity for creative exploration that reign in the flamenco.
In this sense, the jury has especially highlighted "the presence of the jaleos of Extremadura, a palo Native to Extremadura and the city of Badajoz, with a characteristic sound and its own identity that differentiates it within the universe flamenco” and has emphasized “the courage and creativity of the contestants who have presented themselves to dance jaleos extremeños, since their proposals represent a fundamental contribution to the development and consolidation of this style, contributing to the creation and projection of the dance por jaleos extremeños.”
In short, he highlighted that "the competition highlights the quality, diversity and vitality of flamenco current, balancing the freshness of the new generations with the maturity and stage presence of experienced artists.”
The presentation also revealed the person who will receive one of the prizes included in the call: a five-day immersive scholarship on the project Flamenco of Hercules, lead by Antonio Molina 'El Choro', Lucía La Piñona and Carmen Young, with which the German dancer was awarded first place Fernando Leon.
On October 2, at the final gala, the jury will determine the winners of the competition's three main awards, which include a direct cash prize and institutional recognition: a first prize of €9.000 plus a trophy, a second prize of €4.000 plus a diploma, and a third prize of €2.000 plus a diploma.
In addition to the three official prizes, the jury will award a prize consisting of a three-day professional contract in the tablao Flamenco from the Cultural Center Flamenco Madrid, a direct opportunity for professional insertion into the artistic circuit. And a TikTok Award €500 for the best “patá por jaleos” shared on this social network, in a bid to connect the flamenco with the new digital platforms.
And among all the entrants (not just the finalists), based on the candidates' training and artistic potential, the jury will also award scholarships and training stays to participants selected from all the applications submitted. These scholarships represent a unique opportunity to learn and develop alongside leading figures in the field. flamenco current: two training scholarships at the National Ballet of Spain two weeks long and a training stay in Ballet Flamenco Andalusia, in an environment of artistic excellence. With this diverse range of awards, the Jaleos Extremeños Contest not only celebrates emerging talent, but also supports, promotes, and projects it into the future.
"The competition highlights the quality, diversity and vitality of flamenco current, balancing the freshness of the new generations with the maturity and stage presence of experienced artists"
About the finalists and reserves
From Madrid to Huelva, Seville, Granada or France, the five finalists embody the richness of the flamenco contemporary. Hugo SanchezA Madrid native who began his career at age 10, he has taken his art to national and international stages and collaborated with artists such as Patricia Guerrero and Salvador Távora. Following his own path, Maria Canea She combines a solid education at the Cristina Heeren Foundation with an international projection that has taken her from India to France, and her awards, such as the Flag of Andalusia, attest to her versatility.
From Seville comes Carmen Yanes, a versatile dancer who unites flamenco, Spanish dance and classical ballet, who combines performing in iconic tablaos with teaching, standing out for her delicate work in Taranto. From Granada, Silvia Fernandez has evolved from its first performances in local tablaos to premiering its own shows, showcasing a dance that unites technique and emotion. And, for its part, Anaïs Ribas has completed his training with great references of the flamenco and contemporary dance, standing out in tablaos and peñas of Seville as the Peña Torres Macarena or The Mushrooms.
As contest reserves, Kotoha Setoguchi y Lorena Alférez They also stand out for their talent and training. The first, a Japanese dancer, trained in Tokyo and Yokohama and completed her studies in Seville thanks to a scholarship from the Japanese government. She has been recognized with first prizes in the Competition Flamenco Pure Jerez or the XXII Flamenco Renaissance, among others. Meanwhile, Lorena Alférez from Córdoba began dancing at the age of two and trained at the Luis del Río Professional Dance Conservatory, expanding her studies with renowned masters. Her career includes winning First Prize in the Young Dance Competition. Flamencos of Córdoba 2024 and performances at numerous festivals and tablaos.
