After two years of work and postponements of various types, such as the pandemic; ExpoFlamenco will begin the series next Wednesday, the 27th, in Mairena del Alcor (Seville). Mi Pueblo Flamenco, will pay tribute to the Andalusian flamenco towns, along with their artists, fans and history. We will carry out the series along with the help of the town council, which has partially financed the project. To begin with, we would like to thank several towns in Andalusia which have already decided to participate, such as Mairena del Alcor, Alcalá de Guadaíra, Linares, Marchena, Las Cabezas de San Juan, Estepa or La Puebla de Cazalla, among others.

We have not only chosen towns with a long flamenco tradition, such as those mentioned but those that, at least, have a flamenco club, a contest, or an annual festival, as well as some local artists and fans. Every Andalusian town, no matter how small, has its flamenco history and we are especially interested in reaching out to flamenco fans who can tell us about the day Chacón, Manuel Torres or Niña de los Peines sang in their town. This series aims to let them remember, share stories, and tell us about those theatres, cinemas, cafes, tabancos or taverns where unforgettable flamenco moments were experienced. It gives those a chance to share, for fans who have dedicated themselves to saving posters, records, photographs or press clippings.

«The Mi Pueblo Flamenco series is made up of thirty-minute documentaries, with a historical part, interviews and a final meeting where local artists and fans speak and sing»

ExpoFlamenco is a portal that was created seven years ago in the Canadian city of Vancouver at the initiative of two lovers of our art, Mitch and Jafelin, he a Canadian businessman, and she a Venezuelan artist. I remember when they came to Seville seven years ago to tell me about their idea of creating the portal and I could see the excitement for flamenco in their eyes. In these seven years, these unconditional lovers of the world of ‘jondo’ have already spent more than a whopping two million dollars and the portal does not have public or private support of any kind. Last year the commercial department was created, directed by Raquel Gutiérrez, from which we undertook this exciting adventure.

From this article, we would like to share some important information. Firstly, we will begin in the town of Mairena del Alcor. Secondly, we have decided to get behind a great production company, Tesela Producciones, which creates documentaries held in such high esteem they are comparable to the work of Antonio de Torres, the guitar genius, or Woman, gypsy and queen of flamenco singing, dedicated to Niña de los Peines, both of extraordinary quality. We wanted to put our faith in the best production company, the most sensitive to flamenco, directed by professionals and lovers of flamenco, like the director Pedro Callejas.

Our intention is that before the summer we can issue the first chapter. They are thirty minutes long, with a historical part, interviews and a final meeting where local artists and fans will speak and sing. The only thing left for us, then, is that you help us so that those Andalusian towns who have not yet made up their minds do so and that together we can achieve this old dream of a series paying homage to the Andalusian flamenco towns, their artists, fans, and scholars.

If you don’t want your town to be left out, contact us at comercial@expoflamenco.com.

Translation by Sally Erritsos-Dulson