Beatrice Morales (Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, 1984) presents in the Jerez Festivalwhich we are enjoying so much, ArtA tribute to the 'mineral' roots, and to the fifty-year career of "his father" in the flamencoEnrique El Extremeño. The Jerez-born flamenco dancer clings to orthodoxy while participating in electronic music festivals like Ombra in Barcelona. Beatriz Morales, versatile, classic, and modern all at once, is the perfect backdrop for any high-quality performance. In the world premiere of Art At the Blas Infante Social Center on March 7th, essence, experiences, and grandeur will be revealed in an intimate, unpretentious gathering, a chance to reconnect with the past, to feel, to truly be present, and to remember where we are. Because if Jerez is your home, for lovers of... flamenco It remains our cradle.
- What is Art?
Art It represents the situation I'm in. Art is everything to me; it's present in my daily life because it's part of me. I see art as being in everything around me. Even when cooking, from a simple salad to a stew, I like to find the art in it. It's a big part of my life, from what I wear to my very outlook on the day. Art has saved me in many personal situations. Every day is a challenge, and art is one of my salvations: art and faith. I'm at that point in my life where art is a salvation and everything to me, along with my family, but it's one of the most important things I have. And when you realize so many things in life, you realize that art is what accompanies you everywhere and what you breathe. I have two children who are my driving force, but art is the engine that fuels me every day.
– How would you present it?
– I didn't want to create a grandiose spectacle, full of extravagance, but rather something real, a reflection of the purest feelings. It's also about returning to my roots, where I started, and Enrique El Extremeño is with me because he's always been with me. Art I wanted to do something like a tribute to his fifty-year career. He's always helped me and has always been there for me since I started. Enrique is like a father to me. flamencoBecause I started working with him when I was about 18, and we've continued together ever since. He had a lot of experience, and I was just starting out, and I've always been grateful for his advice. I wanted to pay tribute to all those moments. Because he's always been there.
"I didn't want to create a grandiose spectacle, full of extravagance, but rather something real, a reflection of the purest feelings. I also wanted to return to my roots, to where I started, and Enrique El Extremeño is with me because he's always been with me. With 'Arte' I wanted to pay him a kind of tribute to his fifty-year career."
– He claims it's a journey to the roots. Has he ever left them?
– I never stray from my roots. They're calling me now for shows that are evolving, you could say, like electronic music and more innovative things, and they're counting on me, but I've always made it clear. I'm going to dance. flamencoEven though I make electronic music. I was at Ombra Festival in Barcelona, an electronic music festival, but I danced all over the place. palos of the flamencoAnd they want to take it where all the international electronic music is, but I'm bringing in the dance. flamencoEven though I'm in a different kind of music. To return to my roots, I wanted to do it, like in my beginnings, by dancing. flamenco And with the people who have always been there for me. Given my current state, it was very good for me to return to my roots and essence. Even though we may take many turns, we can never lose sight of our foundation. When you have a safe harbor and you're sailing, and although I really enjoy taking risks and innovating, I like to do it with my feet firmly on the ground.
– Do you think that, in some sense, with certain programs the essence of the flamenco?
– I think everything is being lost all over the world: principles, values, everything! And that's where all the problems in life come from. When you lose the fundamental foundations of daily life as a person, you start to lose yourself in music and art. I think both music and good people are in decline. There are defenders of the music of the future, but it's true that I miss those moments of artistic sparks, that transmission, that heartfelt connection. There are many things that are perfectly made, but they don't resonate or aren't made from the truth. Since there's no truth in the world, since there's a scarcity of authenticity, it's being lost in art too. Before, it didn't matter if you made a mistake or not; it came from the soul, and that was true. Now there's a lot of fear of making mistakes, of what others will say, of not being perfect. Beauty and art are imperfect. Beauty is infinite, just like art. When you see a completely perfect person, it's a lie. Art can't be perfect either because that would be a lie. Either we're making a mistake, or we're being pressured to be perfect. Sometimes I tell myself I'm getting off this world, because I see so much hypocrisy that I just shut myself away in my own world, but we have to keep dealing with what's out there!
– When they call you the “queen of bulería”, don’t you feel embarrassed?
– Of course! It's scary, it makes me dizzy. My students have been suggesting it to me, but it seems way too big for me. It's been spreading through social media, YouTube comments, and honestly, when people tell me, it makes me really dizzy because it's such a huge responsibility. I live and breathe flamenco every day of my life, but I also dance to every tune! palos!
– How would you define that 'personality and unique flamenco spirit' with which they describe you?
– I've even been frightened by those comments because people have called me: the only one, the loner… And I wondered: is that good or bad? It's true that I do what comes from my soul, and one thing I ask is that my dance be pure and from God; that a dance comes to me from the divine, that it's not me who creates it. That's all I ask. I have faith, and I try to make sure that my dance isn't mine, but that it comes from the divine. I don't know where the sounds come from, or where things come from. I can't explain it because I don't try to imitate anyone. I admire many people, but I try to have my own feelings and my own path. I consider myself a flamenco dancer with my own personality, and I try to let it come from beyond. It's difficult because you don't know if others will like it when it's something personal, and you're also afraid: what if I'm doing this wrong? When I put paws The most difficult in the Jerez bulería, until the established teachers told me that I was doing it well, I had my doubts.
"I think both music and good people are in decline. There are defenders of the music that's coming, but it's true that I miss those moments of artistic sparks, that connection, that heartfelt feeling. There are many things that are perfectly made, but they don't resonate or aren't made from the heart."
– You were a teacher at 13. Can someone teach at that age?
– I started, I started! I covered and helped the teacher where I was. They were all women! And now I have students who are already artists, and I've even shared the stage with them. For me, it's an honor, because I'm not so old to have students on stage.
– What is it that cannot be taught in dance? flamenco?
– The soul. You can't teach someone to have a soul. I can bring out what's inside, but if you don't have a soul… I can teach everything, even how to overcome fears, but you can't teach pure feeling. It's easier with people who are attuned to something, but everything is possible. It's true that when someone's soul is closed, it's harder to teach them to open up, but it can still be done. I don't see anything as impossible in teaching. ♦
I saw Art with Beatriz Morales at the Blas Infante Social Center in Jerez and it was a triumph. Miss Morales skill and invention was astounding and her development in Flamenco styles was so good. Her supporting artists were also very good and the music was exceptional. It's the best dancing I have seen this year. Thanks!!