By The Instituto Cervantes of Chicago
Flamenco masters return to Instituto Cervantes of Chicago for its 16th Chicago Flamenco Festival, a multi-week festival celebrating flamenco music and dance, running February 23 – March 21. This festival offers the best international celebration of flamenco outside of Spain.
The festival continues its annual tradition of kicking off with a special preview performance from Las Guitarras de España, at City Winery Chicago. This year’s preview concert, titled “The Chicago-Andalusian Music Project,” will take place on Monday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Sample: Las Guitarras de España in 2013:
During the festival, Instituto Cervantes of Chicago will also show the Chicago premiere of three flamenco-inspired films starting with the award-winning documentary from anthropologist Miguel Ángel Rosales, Gurumbé: Afro-Andalusian Memories.
The trailer:
The film explores the contribution of Afro-Andalusians to flamenco as the art form developed. The screening is on Wednesday, February 28, at 6 p.m.
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The documentary Tocaoras explores the past, present and future of flamenco.
The trailer:
The screening is on Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m.
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Screening on Wednesday, March 14, at 6 p.m. is No, un cuento flamenco (NO, A Flamenco Tale) about a fictional musical film – an urban, contemporary flamenco opera – in which the action is expressed through dance and the original text is narrated through song.
The trailer:
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A beginning level bilingual family Spanish guitar class – the only course of its kind in Chicago – will be offered Saturdays, February 10 – March 31 from 11 a.m. – noon.
Taught by Rafael Vivanco from KANTUZ, the class is designed for children to take alongside their parents in addition to being taught in both English and Spanish. Students need not have previously studied music or guitar.
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A ton of performances are on tap, of course. Here’s the full festival lineup and ticket information.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on February 15, 2018