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<\/p>\nBetween the \u201cbrilliant present\u201d of baile flamenco<\/i> and the \u201cnecessary impulse\u201d to the new talent in this artistic genre. These are the two main roads where the 23rd Festival de Jerez will circulate, from February 22nd and March 9th, 2019. That\u2019s what Mamen S\u00e1nchez, mayor of Jerez, declared today during the presentation of the artistic program to the media. This event was also attended by Miguel \u00c1ngel V\u00e1zquez, Culture Councillor of the Junta de Andaluc\u00eda<\/i>, and Isamay Benavente, director of the festival, as well as representatives of other organizations and contributing enterprises.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are before a festival which has become one of the icons which identify the city with its intangible heritage: flamenco\u201d, added the mayor. Flamenco elevated to the category of \u201cuniversal\u201d, as is evident in this series, because it \u201cattracts people from all corners and continents\u201d.<\/p>\n
After listing the data from the last edition, she insisted that such results reflect the ability of this festival in providing Jerez with \u201can excellent international promotional platform\u201d, at the same time that it places flamenco at the same level of other artistic genres. \u201cWe understand the uniqueness of this art, the diversity of its various manifestations, the necessity to be aware of its roots and the vitality of its innovative trends\u201d, she stated.<\/p>\n
Mamen S\u00e1nchez highlighted the fact that this promotional aspect in the touristic sphere was produced through \u201can event designed from the culture of the heart\u201d. In that respect, she said that \u201conly through feelings is flamenco able to transmit its own language and contribute its true dimension\u201d.<\/p>\n
In that \u201cbrilliant present of baile<\/i>\u201d which will be include in the next edition, the first municipal authority mentioned artists who have been awarded the National Prize of Dance. To that group belong Eva Yerbabuena, Mar\u00eda Pag\u00e9s, Rub\u00e9n Olmo and Israel Galv\u00e1n. The later will close the festival with the premier of a new production about Falla. At the same time, \u201cwe acknowledge the established careers of artists from Jerez\u201d, she said. That\u2019s the case of Joaqu\u00edn Grilo (who will open the festival with another premier) Mercedes Ruiz and Mar\u00eda del Mar Moreno. However, the festival always makes room for the inexhaustible quarry of baile<\/i> of Jerez with artists such as Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 Franco, Beatriz Morales and Yessica Brea, among others.<\/p>\n
To all of them we can \u201cexhibit the work of a new generation of artists that are becoming wonderful creators\u201d. In this sense, she highlighted the work of Rafael Est\u00e9vez and Nani Pa\u00f1os leading the Ballet Flamenco de Andaluc\u00eda<\/i> and \u201cthe new aesthetic paths explored\u201d by Marco Flores, Ana Morales, Leonor Leal and Patricia Guerrero, among others.<\/p>\n
The program of the 23rd edition of the Festival de Jerez also seeks to be a platform for new talent in baile<\/i>, whom it aims to give a \u201cnecessary impulse to its emerging artistic careers\u201d. That\u2019s the context of the baile<\/i> of Ana Leiva, Adri\u00e1n Santana, Vanesa Aibar and Vanesa Coloma.<\/p>\n
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Internationalization<\/b><\/p>\n
In her speech, the first municipal authority pointed out that in this edition, as has happened in previous years, \u201ca space has been reserved for the necessary internationalization of flamenco on stage\u201d. In this occasion, the opening of frontiers is centered in the existing agreement with the organizers of the International Flamenco Contest of Turin, an event which will take place in the city a week before the start of the festival. \u201cA magnificent preamble for those contestants, coming from other countries, who will feel and breath the flamenco atmosphere of our streets\u201d, she stated.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, guitar and cante<\/i> will also be represented in specific series, so that people will be able to listen to the new works of the guitarists \u201cJavier Patino, Jos\u00e9 Quevedo El Bolita<\/i> and Pepe del Morao, who have surprised us with their quality and creativity\u201d.<\/p>\n
Regarding cante<\/i>, Mamen S\u00e1nchez stated the Gonz\u00e1lez-Byass Cellars will host \u201cwomen\u2019s cante<\/i>\u201d, featuring La Argentina, Lela Soto and Felipa del Moreno, besides the traditional flamenco of Jos\u00e9 de la Tomasa and El Pa\u00f1ero.<\/p>\n
Yet, that\u2019s not the only stage. \u201cOne of the novelties\u201d will be the rehabilitation of Villavicencio Palace as a venue for cante<\/i> without acoustic amplifiers, featuring the voices of Alfredo Tejada, Juan de Mairena and Manuel Ta\u00f1\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Weekends and tourism<\/b><\/p>\n
Another novelty will be the \u201cgreater dimension\u201d assumed by the series From Pe\u00f1a to Pe\u00f1a<\/i>, which was diminished in former years due to financial constraints. \u201cWe\u2019ve recovered this unique proposition in full, with the participation of all flamenco entities in the city\u201d, the first municipal authority explained.<\/p>\n
Besides, the pe\u00f1as flamencas<\/i> will participate actively to increase cultural tourism. To achieve that, they\u2019ll \u201coffer noon programs which, besides performances, will include local gastronomy\u201d, she informed.<\/p>\n
In this attempt to attract a varied public, which will visit Jerez for the first time, the Festival \u201chas reinforced events on weekends with a series of activities\u201d. It\u2019s in that period when the master classes of initiation to buler\u00eda and the show Flamencokitchen<\/i> will take place.<\/p>\n
For his part, Miguel \u00c1ngel V\u00e1zquez, Culture Councillor of the Junta de Andaluc\u00eda, pointed out that the Festival is a \u201cshowcase unique in the world\u201d. The support of his department, through the Instituto Andaluz del Flamenco<\/i>, is due, among other reasons, to the fact that this Festival \u201cshares and contributes to the goals of diffusion and promotion\u201d of this art established by the regional government. Among such goals, he mentioned the \u201cvisibility\u201d of women, the acknowledgement of the role of young people and the capacity to open new markets overseas.<\/p>\n
In his opinion, another distinctive element is baile<\/i>. Thus the presence of the Ballet Flamenco de Andaluc\u00eda<\/i> which, under the direction of Rafael Est\u00e9vez and Nani Pa\u00f1os, will present its third production, Flamencolorquiano<\/i>, \u201cSpain\u2019s most-watched scenic show this summer\u201d. For Miguel \u00c1ngel V\u00e1zquez, the festival of Jerez invites people to be more than mere spectators, as it enables the visitors to \u201cimmerse themselves in the flamenco culture\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 23rd Festival de Jerez, whose tickets will be on sale on November 13th, will have the public sponsorship of the Culture Council, through the Instituto Andaluz del Flamenco; the Ministry of Culture, through Inaem; the private sponsorship of Fundaci\u00f3n Cajasol and Bodegas Gonz\u00e1lez-Byass; and the collaboration of CajaSur and the Consejo Regulador del Jerez<\/i>. Among the collaborating media there are Diario de Jerez, Canal Sur Radio, Radio Jerez Cadena Ser<\/i> and globalflamenco.com. The first municipal authority thanked all of them for their involvement in this project.<\/p>\n
Jerez, November 5th, 2018<\/i><\/p>\n