Flamenco without Borders Festival

Instituto Cervantes announces Flamenco without Borders, a 5-week festival that features internationally acclaimed musicians and dancers from all corners of the world performing Flamenco.

Instituto Cervantes in collaboration with the Old Town School of Folk Music and Flamenco Arts Center present the festival Flamenco without Borders in celebration of the multi-ethnic cultural roots of flamenco.

The festival will feature internationally acclaimed musicians and dancers from all corners of the world performing the art form of Flamenco that emerged from the heart of Spain. Be part of the festival and enjoy a wide variety of local Hispanic, Indian, Jewish, and Arab composers, performers, and filmmakers. Discover and explore the origins of the entrancing, globally inclusive art of Flamenco.

Esencia (Concert)

• On Thursday, October 13 at 7 pm. Inaugural performance program.
• On Friday October 14 at 7 pm. Opening night.

The three pillars that make up the foundation and strength of flamenco are song, guitar and dance. This show highlights these pillars and represents a pure example of the art of flamenco.

The show Esencia combines the prodigious voice of Amparo Heredia, winner of the 2016 Cante de las Minas prize for her interpretation of Siguiriyas; the guitarist Ángel Ruíz from Córdoba; and the palmas and song of the well-known Manolo de Córdoba, along with dance by Raquel Heredia, known for her strong foot skills, and unexpected geometries in her movements.

• Raquel Heredia “La Repompilla”, flamenco dancer
• Amparo Heredia “La Repompilla”, flamenco singer
• Ángel Ruíz, flamenco guitar
• Manolo de Córdoba, palmero (hand-clapper)

Tribute to Paco de Lucía (Concert)

• On Saturday, October 15 at 7 pm.

Celebrate the music of Paco de Lucía with three of the best musicians that played with him in the final years of his career. These three artists master the harmonica, the guitar and the percussions mixing traditional with new musical forms. This concert offers a new vision of Spanish music by great flamenco artists.

• Antonio Serrano, flamenco harmonic
• Antonio Sánchez, flamenco guitar
• Poti Trujillo, flamenco percussionist

Las guitarras de España (Concert)

• On Friday, October 21 at 7:30 pm: Jaipur To Granada. The Andalusian Trail. The Flamenco Roots. Part I.
• On Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm: Baghdad to Cordoba. ZIryab’s Journey. The Andalusian Trail. The Flamenco Roots. Part II.

From Rajasthan to the Middle East to North Africa and across the Mediterranean into Andalusia, musical ideas and instruments were exchanged and have contributed to the foundation of flamenco music. Over the course of two evenings, Las Guitarras de España, founded by guitarist Carlo Basile, will present an ensemble of international guest artists celebrating music from the shared cultural history of medieval Andalusia to the present.

The performances will feature original and traditional repertoire with Spanish guitar, Arabo-Andalusian poetry and music by Ronnie Malley on oud and harmonium, as well as Rajasthani folk dance by Kinnari Vora and flamenco and Mid-Eastern dance by Marisela Tapia.

Ensemble Español (Concert)

• On Saturday, October 29 at 7 pm.

The Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, under the leadership of founder Dame Libby Komaiko, artistic director Irma Suarez Ruiz, and executive director Jorge Perez, is the premier Spanish dance company and center in the United States to have in-residence status at a university, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. The Ensemble’s mission is the preservation, presentation and promotion of the classical, folkloric, Flamenco and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain.

Experience what the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times newspapers call “Sensual, exciting, and breathtaking ensemble dancing… Global Phenomenon… the stage sizzled in celebration.” Ensemble Español presents its fiery Flamenco dances and music from Andalucía, the southern part of Spain with choreographies from international artists from Madrid to Sevilla to Jerez.

Sacromonte, The Wise Of The Tribe (Film screening)

• On Thursday, November 3 at 6 pm.
• Directed by Chus Gutiérrez, Spain, 2013, 94 minutes. Watch trailer.
• Original title: Sacromonte, los labios de la tribu.

Sacromonte and its caves have been a source of inspiration for artists such as Debussy, Glinka and Lorca. It continues to be a sight that attracts visitors for different kinds of tourism. We will travel back through the stories of survivors to the origin and identity of flamenco. Sacramento received the prize for Best Documentary film from 59 SEMINCI, the International Week of Film in Valladolid.

Tic tac Toe (Concert)

• On Friday November 4 at 7 pm.

Tic Tac Toe is a flamenco spectacle, where the objective is the win the match. The audience witness styles of dance known as soleá, caña, seguiriya, tango, and fandango, among others. Each match in the game comprises song, guitar, and dance, parts spread between a dancer, guitarist, and two singers. The musical composition is the realization of Daniel Yagüe, with the voices of Desiree Paredes and Pablo Oliva.

• Juan Carlos Avecilla, bailaor
• Daniel Yagüe, flamenco guitar
• Desiree Paredes, cantaora
• Pablo Oliva, cantaor

Flamenco Root (Film screening)

• On Friday, November 11 at 6 pm.
• Directed by Vicente Pérez Herrero, 2011, Spain, 85 minutes. Watch trailer.
• Original title: Flamenco de Raíz.

A documentary about the anthropological roots of flamenco. A look at the feel and be flamenco in all its manifestations, both personal and professional. Flamenco moving in the cultural industry as it is done in the home environment. A documentary about flamenco arises in the streets and private parties. An approach to flamenco cante those living and those who sing to live it; and the dancers who dance, musicians and those who musican day.