Dance, a wise man once said, is a terribly inefficient way of getting from A to B. Around and about we go, not aiming for any particular point in the room we sway; in dance, we play. Once this is properly appreciated, you will more fully enjoy the dance, and life, itself. In Spain’s south, they have a wonderfully inefficient way of striding around in circles, a dance they call the sevillanas. Continue reading “Dancing Sevillanas Face-to-Face: The Southern Sound”
Scenes & Shots from Jezez: Mucho Mosto, Mucho Arte – Alotta Mosto, Alotta Art
If fino wine – crisp, dry, elegant – is Jerez’s summer time drink of choice, then mosto – duller and flatter it is true, but fruity and flavoursome it is is also a fact – is perfect for a mid-winter Sunday session amongst the vines and amidst flowing flamenco rhymes. Continue reading “Scenes & Shots from Jezez: Mucho Mosto, Mucho Arte – Alotta Mosto, Alotta Art”
Flamenca Fashion of Jerez de la Frontera (Photo Gallery)
The aroma of Jerez’s famous sherry wines that lingers through the Gonzalez Byass bodega mixes with the floral perfumes and colognes of the crowd that congregates in an old wine cellar to watch some of the most beautiful Andaluzas model the latest in flamenca fashion…
Continue reading “Flamenca Fashion of Jerez de la Frontera (Photo Gallery)”
¡Zambomba! Celebrating Christmas in Jerez
Hidden from my sight behind the column of smoke bellowing out from an old fifty-five gallon drum sit the heroes of the night: two big round men with two big round zambombas secured between their two big round thighs. Continue reading “¡Zambomba! Celebrating Christmas in Jerez”
Learning Flamenco with Juan Parra, Maestro and Caballero
When I was looking for a good dance teacher to train me up in time for Jerez’s Feria – a week long fair of horse-riding, drinking and dancing – someone said to me “Ahhh! Juan Parra! Yes, you must go see him, he is the best!”, while another declared “Ahh! Si! Juan Parra! There is no other!”. Continue reading “Learning Flamenco with Juan Parra, Maestro and Caballero”
Scenes from Jerez #6: Day of Rest
Sunday night at the Guitarron is always a daydream. A glass of cream sherry warms you up after strolling through the air-tunnel alleyways, and a saludo from the team of veteran barwomen welcomes you while the slow strum of a guitar greets you Continue reading “Scenes from Jerez #6: Day of Rest”
Scenes from Jerez #5: La Pasarela Flamenca 2016
The aroma of Jerez’s famous flor wines that lingers through the Gonzalez Byass bodega mixes with the floral perfumes and colognes of the crowd of people congregating in an old wine cellar to watch some of the most beautiful Andaluzas model the latest in flamenco fashion. Continue reading “Scenes from Jerez #5: La Pasarela Flamenca 2016”
Scenes from Jerez #2: Alegría (Happiness)
In the back streets of Jerez, in the barrio of San Miguel, we found a cave-sized bar filled with cathedral-sized hearts. Continue reading “Scenes from Jerez #2: Alegría (Happiness)”