La Cadiz University It inaugurated the 76th edition of its Summer courses with an act starring the flamenco dancer and choreographer Sara Baras, one of the most internationally renowned figures of flamenco contemporary. The meeting, held in the courtyard of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, brought together a large audience for a conversation dedicated to the artistic career of the artist from Cadiz, her international projection and the legacy of an art deeply linked to Andalusian cultural identity.
The session was attended by the rector of the University of Cádiz, Casimir MantellMantell, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of opening the Summer Courses with a figure whose career represents artistic excellence and the ability to project the culture of Cádiz and Spain onto the world's leading stages, emphasized not only the unanimous praise Baras inspires in his artistic merit but also expressed his gratitude for all the assistance he provided in attending the event. For his part, the Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Culture, Gonzalo Sanchez, has highlighted the creativity of the proposals of the University's Summer courses and parallel activities, which include proposals of theater, jazz, rock or encounters such as the one experienced this Monday in the courtyard of Philosophy and Letters.
Under the title The most internationally renowned elf: Sara BarasThe conversation was led by the Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Cádiz, Alberto Romero, and the professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Seville, Cristina CrucesThrough different thematic blocks, both have explored with the artist the main milestones of a career marked by creation, innovation and commitment to flamencoShe addressed questions related to the origin of her vocation, the universal dimension of this art, and the challenge of maintaining her own top-tier company for more than two decades. The dancer quickly revealed the secret to her success: “work and dedication, not sparing a single drop of sweat to offer the best possible show.”
"The more I study and the more I prepare, the freer I can be on stage" (Sara Baras)
The conversation began by reflecting on the concept of "duende" and on Sara Baras' personal and artistic roots, delving into the influence of Cádiz, her childhood, and the heritage she received at the dance school founded by her mother. Concha BarasThe choreographer has demystified that almost magical aspect of art, contrasting it with the hours of dedication, study, and effort involved in staging a top-notch show. “The more I study and the more I prepare, the freer I can be on stage,” she told the two professors, while acknowledging that to be innovative, the flamenco It must draw on "all the tradition behind it."
The second part of the meeting focused on the international dimension of her career. The artist reviewed some of her performances on world-renowned stages and reflected on the capacity of flamenco to move audiences from different cultures and languages, highlighting the universal nature of an artistic language that transcends borders. Sara Baras thanked her team for always allowing her to go on stage “without the slightest worry about how everything would turn out; the face of the show is Sara Baras, but behind her there is a group of professionals who make it all possible.”
The last part of the conversation has been dedicated to her role as creator, director and cultural manager at the head of Ballet Flamenco Sara Barasa company he has maintained for more than twenty-five years. During this segment, the generational transition of the company was also addressed. flamencoThe creative process behind her shows and the legacy she wishes to pass on to new generations of artists. “I am very grateful to my younger self who decided to take the plunge and start the company,” shared the island artist, who emphasized the principle that “each show, each night, is unique, because the audience changes, the stage changes… But for that magic to happen, the work must be very rigorous.” Laughing, she confessed that running a company, with its paperwork and formalities, “is a huge hassle.”
The event was accompanied by the screening of various audiovisual materials that highlighted some of the most significant moments in her artistic career, illustrating the different topics discussed during the conversation and giving the audience a glimpse into the international scope of her career. To conclude the dialogue, there was a performance by [unspecified group/entity]. Dance School of the University of Cadiz.
With this inaugural conversation, the University of Cádiz has officially launched the 76th edition of its Summer Courses, a program that this year includes seventeen seminars dedicated to fields such as literature, history, heritage, artificial intelligence, the environment, tourism, and contemporary social challenges. The initiative, organized by the Vice-Rectorate for Sustainability and Culture, will once again transform the city of Cádiz into a meeting place between university, culture and citizens, bringing together specialists, professionals and research staff to share knowledge and foster debate on current issues.
