The art flamenco conquers the Pacific coast again from September 20 to 28 with the celebration of Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, which this year reaches its 35th edition. Three and a half decades of cultural commitment have made this event a benchmark for flamenco in North America, uniting tradition and avant-garde, local and international artists, and an increasingly diverse audience.
Organized by the company Flamenco Rosario, the festival maintains its vocation of building bridges between cultures. According to its promoters, it is about “honor the history of flamenco and, at the same time, open paths towards the future of this universal art”To achieve this, the program combines performances, master classes, screenings, and community activities in various venues around Vancouver.
«This year's festival brings together artists from Spain, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, Morocco and the United States, in a mosaic of proposals that underlines the mixed character of the flamenco and its capacity for dialogue with other musical traditions"
A plural and global programming
This year's festival brings together artists from Spain, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, Morocco and the United States, in a mosaic of proposals that underlines the mixed character of the flamenco and its ability to dialogue with other musical traditions.
The organizers have opted for a balanced program, combining free and paid programs, with tickets ranging from 30 to 60 Canadian dollars, as well as workshops accessible to all levels.
20 and September 21 —Picnic Pavilion, Granville Island
Two days of free outdoor events, featuring performances by British Columbia artists, workshops for children, and introductory classes for adults.
September 23 — Alliance Française Vancouver
Screening of the short film Be/You Are, with a live guitar performance and discussion with the artists. A poetic reflection on the human condition and the search for inner light.
September 24 — Waterfront Theatre
Dark Sounds, by Palabra Flamenco (Victoria), fuses contemporary poetry and flamenco with Denise Yeo, Gareth Owen and poets Garth Martens and Jan Zwicky.
September 25 — Waterfront Theatre
From Fez to Jerez, by the international group Seffarine, weaves together music from Morocco, Spain and Iran with the power of dance. flamenco.
September 26 — Waterfront Theatre
The Karen Company Flamenco reinterprets The four Seasons by Vivaldi, through Max Richter's contemporary version and the energy of dance flamenco.
September 27 — Vancouver Playhouse
Grand anniversary gala with Flamenco Rosario: Soulfulness. A celebration of 35 years of experience, featuring figures such as Macarena López, Pilar Fernández, José “El Cachito” Díaz, and Caroline Planté.
September 28 — St. James Community Square (Mel Lehan Hall)
intimate concert The Music of the Flamenco, with singer José “El Cachito” Díaz and guitarist Caroline Planté, accompanied by local artists such as Jafeline Palacios and Gerardo Alcalá.
«Since its founding in 1990, the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival reaffirms its mission: to celebrate the duende flamenco as a vehicle for cultural diversity, tolerance, and artistic dialogue. As Rosario Ancer summarizes, flamenco It connects us with the purest emotion and reminds us that, in essence, we all share the same inner music.
Training and workshops
The festival isn't limited to the stage. It also focuses on training and the transmission of art. flamenco:
September 20: Free introductory class with Rosario Ancer (Scotiabank Dance Centre).
September 24: Intermediate/advanced level masterclass with Manuel Gutiérrez.
September 28: Comprehensive dance workshop with Macarena López, a Sevillian artist who combines tradition and experimentation.
September 28: Class of cante y palmas José “El Cachito” Díaz, open to all levels.
35 years of history and future
Since its founding in 1990, the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival has been a privileged showcase of flamenco in North America. Under the artistic direction of Rosario Ancer and with the legacy of the musician Victor KolsteeThe company Flamenco Rosario has cultivated a loyal community and fostered several generations of artists.
Today, 35 years old, the festival reaffirms its mission: to celebrate the duende flamenco as a vehicle for cultural diversity, tolerance and artistic dialogue. As Ancer summarizes, “the flamenco It connects us with the purest emotion and reminds us that, in essence, we all share the same inner music.”
More information and tickets: www.vancouver.flamencofestival.org
