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May
2004 + Concha
Vargas
The Flamenco Society of San Jose presents
Raices
del Flamenco
Concha
Vargas & Paco Fernandez
Thursday May 27 7:30pm
Friday, May 28 7:30pm
World-reknowned flamenco dancer
Concha Vargas to perform
By Amit Barson
Before being seated for the interview in her studio, Concha Vargas went
to retrieve a shawl from her purse to wrap herself. The translator who
I used for assistance whispered to me that this shawl puts her in a mood
and gives her inspiration.
Concha Vargas is a Gypsy flamenco dancer from Seville, Spain, whose life
as on stage is tulmultuous, wild, hypnotic, and embodies a charismatic
presence that is difficult to ignore. Her career as a dancer began at
the age of 12, when she was called to go onstage at one of the festivals,
and was presented as the daughter of Quintin Vargas, a well-known horse
trader from Lebrija. The day after that first appearance the local newspapers
splashed headlines that a new star had been born. And as they say, the
rest is history.
Since then, her career has skyrocketed, so that she performed along side
of elite flamenco performers, such as Mario Maya, Chocolate, Farruco,
and many others who no longer live but are immortalized in flamenco history.
Her career includes a performance before the Pope at the Vatican, and
a performance in India for former Prime Minister Indira Ghandi. One astonishing
detail that she divulged to me was that she gave Mrs. Ghandi private flamenco
lessons while there.
Concha Vargas continued to perform worldwide with the famous guitarist
Pedro Bacan and other members of the illustrious Pinni family. In the
States we were honored with her tour of shows during 2000 with the singer
Curro Fernandez and Macanita. She staged shows and workshops in New York,
Chicago and Albuquerque.
In contrast to most other Gypsy artists, who scorn any flamenco that doesn’t
sprout directly from their culture, Concha is supportive and sympathetic
to foreign dancers. She states that there are among them those who dance
with the same passion, emotional bond, and professionalism which doesn’t
fall short of the gypsy artists. In reply to my query about the language
barrier, Concha says “It’s true that an understanding of the
language is required in order to connect with the song’s content,
but I’ve seen dancers, for example from Japan and the U.S., who even
without knowing Spanish have the ability to immerse themselves in the
music, and to draw from them forceful emotion and tears. It’s true
that if you understand the lyrics, you’ll shed even more tears.”
Which is good news for the rest of us aficionados: we too can obtain this
goal.
When I asked Concha how she perceives modern flamenco (“flamenco
nuevo”), immediately her expression went serious and with restrained
anger replied that “Modern flamenco is fusion: it’s nice, but
don’t call it flamenco, rather jazz. Traditional Gypsy flamenco-or
as we call it ‘puro’ (pure)-is eternal. Even after I die, it
will live on, as opposed to the modern flamenco, which is pretty now,
but will pass quickly from this world.”
Concha comes from one of the old Spanish Gypsy families, and tells how
she often faced discrimination because of her heritage. One of the particularly
offensive occurances was when parents of the pupils of the school attended
by her children demanded that all Gypsy children be expelled. Her struggle
against the parents council succeeded only when she introduced herself
as Concha Vargas. Her fame and distinction did the trick, but the biting
pain and feeling of rejection from that incident lingers on.
As a career woman with many demands, which calls on her to be away from
home and family often, Concha doesn’t play the part of the feminist
heroine. “I’ve paid a high price for this with my health”,
she conceded.
In conclusion, I include a small anecdote: As most artists have numerous
experiences in their satchel of stories, and some of them humorous, Concha
still recalls how as a young child dancing at the Tablao, and executing
one of those famous turns, she found herself the next minute lying on
one of the tables next to the stage, to the wondering eyes of the audience.
Of course, she doesn’t forget the little girl standing in front of
the audience, bursting out in tears in embarrassment.
Concha Vargas, a traditional gypsy flamenco dancer, arrives in the Bay
area with her entourage for two shows, on May 27 and 28, and we await
with bated breath for an uplifting and authentic experience.
For additional information about show tickets and dance workshops, go
to the San Jose Flamenco Society’s website at www.flamencosociety.org,
or call (408) 971-8468.
+
+ +
The Flamenco Society of San Jose presents:
Raices
del Flamenco
Concha
Vargas
&
Paco Fernandez
Thursday
May 27 7:30pm
Friday, May 28 7:30pm
Thursday
May 27 7:30pm
Montalvo’s Carriage House
15400 Montalvo Rd. Saratoga
Tickets: $30* 408-961-5656
Friday,
May 28 7:30pm
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro St. – Mountain View
Tickets:” $25, $28, $30 * 650-903-6000
+ + +
WORKSHOPS
AND CLASSES
with CONCHA VARGAS AND PACO FERNANDEZ throughout the Bay Area.
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MONTHLY
LETRA
Ay,
How you make me feel
full moon in the sky
whenever you go
may the heavens guide you
may God give you good fortune
you make me cry
full moon in the sky.
I'd sell the shirt off my back
Ay, who wants to buy it
it's going cheap
for your freedom
I'd sell the shirt off my back
who wants to buy it.
- Siguiriya
Song
by Enrique Morente from
"Flamenco", a film by Carlos Saura
+
+ +
UPCOMING
SHOWS
Click
on the show for calendar with full details. Check show information with
venue.
+
April 30 - May 1 YAELISA & CAMINOS FLAMENCOS featuring Monica Bermudez
and Virginia Iglesias. CAFE DE LA PAZ
+
May 1 ZANGRIA presents FLAMENCO! LIVE! With LA FIBI FLAMENCO Dancers:
La Fibi, Monica; Singer: Felix de Lola; Guitarist: Ben Woods
+
May 2 ARTE Y COMPAS At Timo's Dancer – Monica, Dancer - La Fibi,
Dancer - Marina Elana, Singer/Dancer - Roberto Zamora, Guitarist - Jason
McGuire, 7:30 and 9:00 p.m No cover
+May
2nd ThirstyBear in association with Toque Flamenco present THE FLAMENCO
ROOM
Felix de Lola, Ricardo Diaz, Carola Zertuche, Kerensa
DeMars Two cuadro-style flamenco shows 7 & 8:30pm No cover.
+
May 8 3 - 3:30 pm LA FIBI FLAMENCO with
Jaime del Rio, Benjamin Woods, La Fibi, Drea Pacot, and more! at THE 8TH
ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HERDELJEZI FESTIVAL SATURDAY, MAY 8th , 1:00 -9:00 pm
Ives Park in Downtown Sepastopol, Sonoma County COME RAIN or SHINE!
+ May 8 ARTE
Y COMPAS AT LA TASCA Dancer - Fani Ara, Dancer – Monica, Singer -
Nina Menendez, Guitarist - David Gutierrez, 8:00 & 9:30 p.m.
+
May 8 ZANGRIA presents FLAMENCO! LIVE! With LA FIBI FLAMENCO Dancers:
La Fibi, Drea Pacot; Singer: Jaime del Rio; Guitarist: Ben Woods
+ May 9 ARTE
Y COMPAS At Timo's Dancer – Yaelisa, Dancer – Monica, Singer
- El Moreno, Guitarist - Jason McGuire; 7:30 and 9:00 p.m, No cover
+
May 9th ThirstyBear in association with Toque Flamenco present THE FLAMENCO
ROOM David Gutierrez, Felix de Lola, Danica Sena "La Mora" Two
cuadro-style flamenco shows 7 & 8:30pm No cover.
+ May 15 Encuentro
Transatlántico Chus Alonso and his ensemble Potaje, Chus Alonso,
Carola Zertuche, Mark Taylor, Tregar Otton, El Moreno and more; Sponsored
by the Zellerbach Family Fund. FREE
+May
15 ZANGRIA presents FLAMENCO! LIVE! With LA FIBI FLAMENCO Dancers: La
Fibi, Yaelisa; Singer: Roberto Zamora; Guitarist: Jason McGuire
+ May 16 ARTE
Y COMPAS At Timo's Dancer – Monica, Dancer - La Fibi, Singer - Nina
Menendez, Guitarist - Ben Woods, No cover
+
May 16th ThirstyBear in association with Toque Flamenco present THE FLAMENCO
ROOM Patricia Velasquez, El Espigote, Melissa Cruz, Kerensa DeMars Two
cuadro-style flamenco shows 7 & 8:30pm No cover.
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May 22 ZANGRIA presents FLAMENCO! LIVE! With LA FIBI FLAMENCO Dancers:
La Fibi, Monica; Singer: Azriel “El Moreno” and "The Mystery
Guitarist"
+May 23 ARTE Y COMPAS At Timo's Dancer – Monica,
Dancer -
Melissa Cruz , Singer
- Nina Menendez, Guitarist - Jason McGuire, No cover
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May
28-29 YAELISA
& CAMINOS FLAMENCOS
Cafe de la Paz Felix de Lola, singer from Spain; Roberto Zamora, Yaelisa,
Jason McGuire El Rubio,
Monica Bermudez, Melissa Cruz, Benjamin Woods
+May
29 ZANGRIA presents FLAMENCO! LIVE! With LA FIBI FLAMENCO Dancers: Carola
Zertuche, Amanda Pineda; Singer: Nina Menendez; Guitarist: David Gutierrez
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May 30 ARTE Y COMPAS At Timo's Dancer - Fani
Ara,
Dancer – Monica, Singer/Dancer - Roberto Zamora,
Guitarist - Jason McGuire, No cover
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May 30th ThirstyBear in association with Toque Flamenco present THE FLAMENCO
ROOM Keni "El Lebrijano", Nina Menendez, Melissa Cruz, Danica
Sena Two cuadro-style flamenco shows 7 & 8:30pm No cover.
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June 3 Flamenco Sur at La Pena Cultural Center Singer Felix De Lola Singer
from Sevilla, Dancer Manuel Gutierrez from Cordoba, Percussionist Juan
Cortes from Marseille, Dancer Mercedes Metal, Guitarist Ricardo Diaz,
NIGHTLIFE
Flamenco
every night! Check the Nightlife page for cuadro shows at a variety
of restaurants throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Please
confirm information with venues.
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