Dance fans are in for a treat over the next month as award-winning showcases of flamenco and tango come to the stage as part of Bangkok’s 17th International Festival of Dance and Music.
Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia (Instituto Andaluz Del Flamenco), under award-winning director Rafaela Carrasco, takes to the stage first on September 21 with “Images: 20 Years”, which received the Giraldillo Award for best show at last year’s Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla.
This musical and artistic genre evolved more than 200 years ago in Andalusia. A blend of Gypsy, Arab, Jewish and Spanish traditions, it is the main identifier in the region’s social and territorial cohesion. To safeguard this essential part of their culture, the Andalusian government in 1994 formed its own dance company, Compania Andaluza de Danza, which was renamed Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia in 2004. In 2010, Unesco recognised the art form as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage programme.
Few companies voice the common culture, values and emotions of a people better than this dance troupe, who have taken flamenco’s essence around the world.
Carrasco, who has been with the company since its inception, as a student, repetitrice, soloist dancer and since 2013 as choreographer, created “Images: 20 Years” to mark the troupe’s anniversary. It is also her tribute to all the former directors who have inspired her. A personal interpretation of the company’s rich history, it revisits five of their most celebrated choreographies.
For their Bangkok performance, three top award-winning soloists, David Coria, Ana Morales, and Hugo Lopez, ably supported by a talented corps de ballet give form to Carrasco’s creation and memories.
Argentina takes its turn on October 6, with “Tango Legends”, featuring 14 award-winning dancers, an outstanding music quartet and two soulful singers, who trace the history of the tango.
Mariela Maldonado and Pablo Sosa are not just the founders and artistic directors of the troupe, but also the lead dancers. The duo made their professional debut under top director and choreographer Eduardo Arquimbau and their sheer passion and talent for tango has taken them to the best tango houses and milonga shows in Buenos Aires.
In 2000, the two created “Alma de Tango”, which toured South America to rave reviews. They performed “Tanguera: El Musical Argentino” in Brazil, Peru and Chile, before taking it on tours with the Orchestra Sexteto Mayor. With shows around the world, they also popularised the art form outside South America.
Accompanying them are Manuela Rossi and Juan Malizia, the champions of the 2014 edition of the World Tango Championship, the Tango Bardo Quartet who are all set to release their debut album this year, and singers Christian Chinellato and Yamila Figueras.
Staging performances of such magnitude is possible only thanks to sponsorship from Bangkok Bank, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, B Grimm, BMW, Beiersdorf, Crown Property Bureau, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Indorama Ventures, PTT, The Nation Group, Singha Corporation, Thai Airways International, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Ministry of Culture.
LATINO MOVES
-
“Images: 20 Years” will be staged on September 21 and “Tango Legends” on October 6. Both shows are at 7.30pm at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
-
For tickets, check www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and for more detail, see www.Bangkok|Festivals.com.
