La XXIV Biennial of Flamenco of Sevilla It complements its program of shows with a wide range of parallel activities that will turn the city into a great stage for encountering art. jondoUnder the heading Other pearlsThe event will offer exhibitions, film screenings, outdoor performances, meetings and cultural proposals that expand the flamenco experience beyond the theaters, bringing the Sevillian public and visitors a diverse, contemporary and deeply rooted vision of this universal heritage.
The Delegate for Tourism and Culture of the Seville City Council, Angie MorenoHe emphasized that “the Biennial is today one of Seville’s major cultural drivers and one of our city’s most recognized brands worldwide. Its prestige, its capacity for innovation, and its deep roots have generated an extraordinary force of attraction that makes institutions, organizations, and companies want to be part of this collective project and contribute to its growth.” He added, “These parallel activities are the best demonstration of the Biennial’s vitality and its ability to radiate culture beyond the stages. Thanks to the involvement of numerous public and private stakeholders, the flamenco It reaches new spaces, engages in dialogue with other disciplines, and expands its presence throughout the city, generating opportunities for creation, participation, and encounter."
Finally, Moreno stated that “the combined efforts of institutions, associations, and the private sector do not make the Biennial more exclusive, but rather more open and expansive. Each collaboration broadens its scope, incorporates new perspectives, and allows the flamenco reach wider audiences, consolidating Seville as the world's great capital of this art."
For his part, the director of the Biennial of Flamenco, Luis Ybarra, has stated that “with the alternative programming, the Biennial offers a genuine, visceral and comprehensive experience to discover and enjoy the flamenco both to those visiting us for the first time and to those who already know us. Also to those who are not looking for us, but I am sure that they will find us.”
In this regard, he added, “we will be out on the streets, both in the historic center and in many other corners of the city: from Polígono Sur to San Jerónimo, passing through María Luisa Park, Sevilla Este, and La Barzola. We will be in foundations, exhibition halls, universities, squares, courtyards, hotels, peñas, cinemas… Beyond the official programming, these Other pearls, alluding to the motto of Pearls by the thousands This year's Biennial takes the form of exhibitions, conferences, public speeches, workshops, presentations, roundtables, free shows, gastronomic routes, tastings… This Biennial, make yourself visible. Even outside the theaters, where everything is already happening.” In this regard, Ybarra referred to “the Romantic travelers who came to this distant city attracted by clichés, but stayed for other reasons. Some of those reasons are found in these 'Other Pearls'.”
"With its alternative programming, the Biennial offers a genuine, visceral and comprehensive experience to discover and enjoy the flamenco "Both those who visit us for the first time and those who already know us. Also those who are not looking for us, but I am sure that they will find us" (Luis Ybarra)
Other pearls
The program of parallel activities will begin with the exhibition The Blue Night. Flamenco Opera in the Carlos Martín Ballester CollectionAn exhibition that invites you to explore one of the most decisive periods in the history of flamenco and its close relationship with phenomena such as the expansion of radio and the development of the recording industry. Housed in the Engraving Workshop of the Royal Artillery Factory, the exhibition will bring together nearly 150 pieces—including posters, photographs, gramophone records, manuscripts, advertisements, and other previously unseen documents—from one of the most important private collections dedicated to Spanish sound heritage. The exhibition, which will be open from September 2 to November 22, will be complemented by a selection of digitized historical recordings, allowing the public to delve into the artistic world of essential figures such as La Niña de los Peines, Manuel Vallejo, Pepe Pinto, Ramón Montoya or Niño RicardoAmong these recordings, one previously unreleased piece stands out: a fandango sung by Manolo Caracol in 1929 under the title What a shame about my kisses.
Another of the main focuses of 'Other Pearls' will be Flamenco at street levelA proposal that will bring free open-air performances to different points in Seville with the aim of bringing art closer jondo to residents and visitors in everyday spaces throughout the city. The series will begin on September 3rd in the Polígono Sur district with The night of the gypsies, a choral performance in which they participate Herminia Borja, Mara Rey, Zamara Carrasco and Manuela Vargas which celebrates the cultural and artistic legacy of Gypsy women through a journey through the flamenco heritage of neighborhoods and communities where this art form is part of daily life. The following day, at the Monastery of San Jerónimo, the brothers Diego and Hugo Aguilar will present Matter of timeA creation that explores identity, heritage, and family ties through the shared experience of two artists united by dance. On September 5th, the Plaza Virgen del Pilar will host the second edition of Macarena Flamenco Festival, which will pay tribute to the flamenco singer Jose de la Tomasa in recognition of a fundamental career for the conservation and transmission of the canteSevillians, in which, among others, will take part, Potito, Manuel Herrera and Manuela Amador CarrascoThis first tour will conclude on September 6th at the Nazareno y Olivares Museum of Arts and Popular Customs with a theatrical performance that explores the life and work of Antonio Fernandez Diaz Phosphorite, an essential figure of flamenco contemporary, through the words, music, and dance of artists such as Enrique Garcés, Bernardo Miranda, Alejandro Hurtado and Yolanda OsunaAll performances will begin at 21:30 p.m. and will be free of charge until capacity is reached.
The parallel programming will also include the opening address of the XXIV Biennial of Flamencowhich will kick off this edition on September 9th in the Plaza de San Francisco. Under the title Primitive Echoes. Cante Up high, dance on the ground, the singer Second Falcon He will lead a proposal specifically designed for public space that will transform this emblematic Sevillian landmark into a large immersive stage. The intervention will bring together the voices of Segundo Falcón, María Terremoto, Rafael de Utrera, Esperanza Fernández and Pedro El Granaíno, located on different balconies of the square, while the flamenco dancer Ana Morales It will develop a choreography in the center of the space. The creation proposes a dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity through a collective experience that transforms urban architecture, the cante and dance as the protagonists of a unique opening act of the Biennial.
The youngest children and their families will also have their own space within 'Other Pearls' thanks to Come experience the rhythm flamenco family time with TirititránThis proposal can be enjoyed on September 11, 12 and 13 at CaixaForum Sevilla. Conceived as a participatory and educational experience, the activity will bring the flamenco The initiative aims to introduce children to flamenco rhythm through play, body percussion, and the cajón, inviting them to discover some of the essential elements of flamenco in a fun and creative way. It seeks to foster knowledge and enjoyment of this art form among new generations, transforming learning into a shared experience for the whole family.
"The parallel program will also include the opening address of the XXIV Biennial of Flamencowhich will kick off this edition on September 9th in the Plaza de San Francisco. Under the title 'Primitive Echoes. Cante 'High above, dance on the ground', flamenco singer Segundo Falcón will lead a performance designed for public space that will transform this emblematic Sevillian enclave into a grand immersive stage."
'Seville reveals itself' with screenings, exhibitions and conferences
In addition to the activities directly promoted by the Biennial, the entire city is breathing flamenco thanks to the associated program Seville makes itself knownAn initiative promoted by universities, foundations, and local cultural entities that complements the Biennial with an excellent selection of exhibitions, series, and various activities, making the experience even more enriching and complete. Through it, the Biennial reinforces its commitment to becoming a shared cultural event, capable of projecting the universe flamenco beyond the stages and engaging with other disciplines, spaces and forms of creation.
Audiovisual proposals will play a prominent role, starting with the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, which will once again join the Biennial with the film series Flamencowhich will take place on September 8, 15, 22 and 29 and will offer a selection of documentaries dedicated to women who have decisively contributed to the construction, preservation and international projection of art flamenco...reclaiming its artistic, cultural, and human legacy through film. Furthermore, the Lope de Vega Theater will host the premiere on September 23 of Naquerar, Patricio Hidalgo and José RomeroA film that revisits the legacy of We came to Naquerar, a fundamental work of the Spanish scene of the 70s, to reflect from dance and contemporary creation on memory, identity and current forms of expression.
Visual creation and dialogue between the flamenco and other artistic disciplines will have a prominent presence in this edition through various exhibitions that invite visitors to discover new perspectives on the universe jondoFrom September 4th to 30th, the MAS Foundation host synesthesiaAn immersive and multidisciplinary proposal that explores the connections between perception, emotion and flamenco through painting, poetry, sound, and sensory experience. Starting September 9th, the Peña Flamenca Torres Macarena host Torres Macarenaa photographic exhibition of David Villarán focused on the artistic and human life of this emblematic space flamencoIt will open its doors on September 16th. Flamenco with a woman's accent, a collective exhibition organized by the Official College of Technical Architecture of Seville and the Aparejadores Foundation that pays tribute to the contribution of women to canteDance and music are explored through paintings, sculptures, photographs, and literary works. The program is completed by [unclear - possibly "complete program"]. Anvil, line, and hook. Landscape and local people, an artistic intervention promoted with the support of Loyola University and curated by Rafael Iglesias placeholder image which will transform shop windows and emblematic businesses in the area around Feria Street into an urban gallery open to dialogue between the flamencothe city and its inhabitants.
Reflection and analysis on the flamenco They will also find their place within Seville makes itself known Thanks to a program of conferences and meetings promoted by various academic institutions, the Menéndez Pelayo International University will open this section on September 4th at the Santa Clara Space with the conference 'Flamencuras of '27: From the jondo to the goblins of Lorca', by the writer and journalist Eva Diaz Perez, accompanied by cante by Alicia Gil, dedicated to exploring the influence of flamenco in the Generation of '27 and its connection with the artistic avant-gardes of the 20th century. For its part, Loyola University will organize three masterclasses on September 9, 14 and 15, led by Olga García Sánchez, Pedro Ricardo Miño and José María Garcíarespectively, which will offer new perspectives on the creation, interpretation, and transmission of art flamenco from complementary fields.
Gastronomy will also be part of the Biennial experience with the presentation of a new special edition of the guide Gastropass 360º Biennial of FlamencoA bilingual publication, with a web version, that proposes discovering Seville through its main cultural, tourist, and gastronomic attractions. The publication, which will be distributed in hotels and strategic locations throughout the city, highlights the close relationship between the flamenco and Sevillian identity, offering visitors and enthusiasts a tool to complement their experience of the Biennial from a perspective linked to culinary heritage and local culture. This initiative will be joined by From Mirabrás to Solear. Flamenco in the feminine, between verses and winesA sensory experience powered by Gastropass and Bodegas Barbadillo, coinciding with its tenth anniversary, proposes a dialogue between the flamencoThe event will explore chamomile tea and Andalusian gastronomy through guided tastings and live performances. The program will also highlight women's contributions to cultural heritage. flamenco, establishing a suggestive journey through different historical wines from the Sanlúcar winery and some of the palos most representative of art jondo.
And, also within the gastronomic section, we find the XXV Gastronomic Days of the Hotels of Seville and ProvinceThe event, which will take place from September 25th to October 25th, will involve between 20 and 25 hotels. Participating restaurants will offer menus, tapas, and specials inspired by various culinary traditions. palos of the flamenco, turning the culinary experience into an original extension of the Biennial's artistic universe.
From September 22 to 25, Photo Coverage will arrange Flamenco in images, evoking the divinea photography workshop taught by Antonio Pérez and Alberto Rojas Maza which proposes an approach to the universe flamenco through contemporary photography. The initiative will combine theoretical and practical sessions to explore both the performance dimension of this art form and its presence in the streets and everyday spaces of the city. Participants will have access to rehearsals, presentations, and various activities, fostering the development of a personal photographic perspective on one of the most universal and evocative cultural phenomena of our identity.
Literature linked to art jondo will be represented by the presentation of It tastes like blood. Anthology of flamenco poetry, Antonio Lafarque, which will take place on September 23 at the headquarters of the Andalusian Institute of FlamencoThe publication brings together 273 poems and prose poems by 168 authors who, from the end of the 18th century to the present, have found in the flamenco a source of artistic and literary inspiration. The anthology offers a broad exploration of the landscapes, figures, emotions, and symbols of the universe flamenco through the voices of fundamental authors of Spanish and international literature, becoming one of the most ambitious compilations dedicated to the presence of flamenco in poetry.
Nor will there be a lack of dialogue between flamenco and heritage, which will be present throughout the cycle Come closer to flamenco, a proposal promoted by the Education and Youth Delegation of the Seville City Council in collaboration with Engranajes Culturales, which offers an informative journey through the history and evolution of art jondo in different spaces of the city such as the Metropol Parasol, Asunción Street, Plaza de los Perdigones, etc. Conceived as an itinerant and participatory experience, the activity will combine interpretation, music and cultural mediation to bring the public closer to some of the key moments in the development of flamencoFrom its origins to its consolidation as one of Andalusia's most universal cultural expressions, the initiative invites visitors to discover Seville's tangible and intangible heritage from a new perspective, connecting urban spaces with the memories, sounds, and stories that have shaped its history. flamenco.
peñaThe flamenco dancers of Seville will return to performpeñaplay an essential role in the dissemination and preservation of art jondo through the cycle Empeñatwo for SevilleThis initiative will highlight these spaces as true custodians of flamenco tradition. Between September 12 and November 29, some twenty recitals will tour various venues. peñas with performances by artists such as Raúl El Perla, Antonio Fernández, Manuel Agujetas Hijo, Perico El Pañero, Carlos Carbonell, Sara Correa, Curro Vargas, Alegría Navarro, Jonathan Torres, Lito Espinosa, José Oruco, Carmelo Picón, Miriam Méndez, Andrea Martín, Laura Román, Laura Santamaría, Miguel El Rubio, José Manuel Martos and Consuelo HaldónThe proposal strengthens the link between the Biennial and the associative network. flamencobringing the intimate and personal experience that characterizes the peñas, true spaces of coexistence, transmission and creation around the flamenco.
Finally, the Santa Clara Space will host Montelirio, a choreographic creation project directed by Chloé Brûlé-Dauphin In collaboration with LaCosAde and developed in collaboration with artists from the movement based in Seville. Conceived as a site-specific proposal, the initiative explores the relationships between body, territory, and community through flamencoStructured improvisation and collective listening. With a language that moves between the ritual and the contemporary, 'Montelirio' will transform this heritage space into a stage for living creation, generating a unique experience in dialogue with the particularities of the place and with the cultural memory that inhabits it. ♦
