Roma (Gypsy) Lecture

Apr 1, 2009, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Taylor Auditorium - Marsh Hall

This lecture will highlight various types of art (painting & music) of the Roma (Gypsies) in Europe.

The first half of this Lecture/Demonstration, Lorely French will give a brief overview of the Roma (Gypsies) in Central Europe and a brief introduction to Ceija Stojka's life and artworks that are being exhibited in the Cawein Gallery. Mark Ferguson, along with Stephanie Sánchez & Paul Brady, will talk briefly about the history of Gypsies in Spain and the music, flamenco, for which the Calé (Spanish Gypsies) are renowned. The LecDem on will take place on Wednesday, April 1st from 7pm to 8:30pm in Taylor Auditorium in Marsh Hall.

Posted by Mark Ferguson (mferguson@pacificu.edu) on Mar 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Review: Los Farruco at Royce Hall

6:30 PM, March 4, 2009

Raw and riveting, Los Farruco -- the famed Seville-based Gypsy flamenco family descended from legendary dancer El Farruco (Antonio Montoya Flores), who died in 1997 -- came to Royce Hall on Tuesday night and all but shredded the stage. The patriarch’s lusty daughter La Farruca is a study in stealthy abandon. Her son, Farruco (right), matinee-idol-ready at 21, enthralls with his pounding feet. Then there’s La Faraona, also an El Farruco daughter, and her son, Barullo, who at 19 is the baby -- and bullish to boot.

It must also be said that the clan’s latest superstar (and El Farruco’s oldest grandson), 26-year-old El Farruquito, was, alas, not dancing. Credited with conceiving and directing the show, this performer who’s dazzled audiences since childhood recently served time in a Spanish prison for a hit-and-run killing.

But what would flamenco be without a little drama? Not to worry. Los Farruco, backed by two extraordinary guitarists and four scorching singers, offered more drama than a telenovela in a nearly two-hour intermissionless performance that throbbed with heart, soul and filigreed footwork. From the opening “Alegrías” to the final “Jaleos,” the hotblooded dynasty turned Royce into an intimate tablao.

The cousins, ramrod straight and moving in unison, immediately captivated. Tossing off a jump here, a whipping turn there, they were soon joined by La Farruca, whose rapid stomping accelerated to seismic proportions. Dipping, swirling and swaying, she radiated majesty, her curling fingers irresistible.

In his solo, “Seguiriya,” Barullo skittered about, accenting his machine-gun tapping with fist-pumping and ending with a flourish of dizzying spins.

If anatomy is destiny, La Faraona, with her barrel-shaped body, is fated to be the family’s plus-size clown. Thrusting her chest out and hopping in jagged spurts, she performed a “Bulerias” as a duel with the statuesque singer Mara Rey. Unfortunately, despite beguiling wrist-flicking, La Faraona lost.

Flamboyant, haughty and decidedly swoon-worthy, Farruco let it rip in “Soleá,” proffering an astonishing array of beats. Even when he was tapping unaccompanied with one foot, the sound filled the hall like a monster percussionist’s. Moving as if possessed, shaking his long hair free from its ponytail, Farruco became a quivering, ecstatic pillar of rhythmic marvels. But his drum-rolling footwork proved only a prelude to his tearing across the floor like a bullet train.

In her solo, “Romance,” La Farruca, a slave to passion and pain, did a slow burn before scooting and sashaying as if her life depended on it. Her artistry was matched throughout by the musicians: Guitarists El Tuto and Antonio Rey provided electrifying licks in addition to backup, and the mournful wailings of El Rubio de Pruna, Antonio Zúñiga and Pedro el Granaíno cut to the bone.

In this era of high-tech everything, it’s comforting to know that a handful of performers can still transport an audience to an emotional wonderland where awe and joy -- and fabulous hair -- abound.

-- Victoria Looseleaf

Renowned Flamenco Dancer Mario Maya

By Terence McArdle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 10, 2008; Page B06

Mario Maya, a Spanish-born Gypsy who created memorable works of flamenco dance and as a choreographer broadened the scope of the traditional form by adding elements from modern dance, died Sept. 27 of cancer at his home in Seville, Spain. He was 71.

Mr. Maya toured internationally and performed on Broadway, staging productions that combined flamenco dance and song with poetry and drama. They were programmatic works with a text and theme, often a message of Gypsy pride.

His troupe served as an incubator for flamenco dance talent, including such dancers as Israel Galván and Mr. Maya's daughter, Belén Maya. All three danced in director Carlos Saura's well-received performance film "Flamenco" (1995).

(MORE)

STREET PEOPLE: Flamenco dancer Lakshmi Basile's gypsy spirit

Named after the Hindu goddess of beauty (and nicknamed "La Chimi" by Spaniards who can't wrap their tongues around it), flamenco dancer Lakshmi Basile jetsets between Seville, Spain and her hometown of San Diego to present her vein-blistering-hot work.

Meet the most authentic gypsy-style flamenco dancer in town (or see her Luna Flamenca troupe's "Trois" at the Lyceum this month).

Age: 26

Your artistic motto, in two words: Amor y disfrutar (love and enjoyment)

Care to elaborate? When I dance I feel like I'm connecting to my ancestors, to my great-grandfather who was an Arabic gypsy [from Egypt]. When I dance flamenco...it messes with my soul.

What else can you dance? Ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, breakdancing, Irish dancing...but I've never been able to express myself and get something across to other people like I do with flamenco.

Tell us about your new show: The reason why it's called "Trois," which means three in French is because of the storyline. It's like a love triangle. There are three dancers, including myself, backed by musicians...and it [shows] a woman who has her partner and all of a sudden is swept off her feet by an older man.

How'd you get into Flamenco? I grew up around it...My mom [worked] in Barcelona when she was young as a flamenco dancer. My aunt in Paraguay has a flamenco and folk dance academy.

What's flamenco mean? There are a couple of different takes on the meaning. The song, the dance and the guitar didn't come until the 19th century, when a large contingent of gypsies went through Flanders, the Flemish [region]. The Spanish word for that is "Flemings."

Is there a general theme to the dances? There's not a general theme, there are so many different colors to it. It's just expression overall of a current feeling. We have various styles called "palos." There's "alegria," which literally means happy. "Soledad," which means loneliness.

I'd say the majority of the palos are somber, the older styles are definitely more somber. And as it developed it became happier, when the gypsies got more settled in Spain...the style became more of a party style. If you look at the oldest palos, [they're about] not having food, being a peasant, being a fugitive.

Is it hard getting acceptance as an American flamenco dancer, even though you studied with the legendary Farruco family? Especially being American born, it's not easy being accepted in the flamenco world, and even less so in the gypsy world. But people don't think I'm from there, because of my features. [Editor's note: Basile's family hails largely from South America] But it hasn't all been enjoyable.

The nature of the arts is already very competitive; they already bring a lot of drama. Working in Spain the first year at Tablas I'd go home every night crying, because people were downing me. I've even had moments when my master teacher took me to add me to a list of artists and an agent laughed in my face. It was like, ugh, ouch...I grew up dancing, just like them. I was born in the arts. But when it comes to me dancing, it's been wonderful, and I feel like I'm free.

Where she hangs: I definitely stop by the Turquoise in PB; it's like a little European Bar. The owner Basilio Ceravolo, he's the one who had all the impromptu flamenco parties when I was a little girl. This was my mom's first friend [when she came] from Argentina. On Tuesdays he has flamenco night. And every time I go I get treated like a queen.

Then other than there, my house in Encanto. I have a big family and we're all musicians and artists and the next thing you know the guitar comes out and the piano...

Where she eats: Thai Time over in North Park.

Perfect San Diego weekend: I would say lunch out there in Seaport Village and then a little walk there or anywhere near the beach -- PB or Coronado.

Then in the evening going to some bar like Basilico's, where you get some kind of ethnic music, because I'm not into the typical techno. Then the next day, I'd be happy to have another beach day, then go to the movies. I love the Gaslamp, over the years it's been getting better and better. And definitely being with my family. They're very key to me.

Then to finish up the weekend, just have a flamenco party at my house or someone else's house with wine and friends and by 2 in the morning we start singing and dancing. I live for those. I'm going to do this for my birthday. A flamenco "juerga," [which] means party. I love parties, I grew up at parties, I'll probably die partying.

Favorite Books:
"Maldito Gitano" by Ronald Lee
"Libro de Poemas/Romancero Gitano/Llanto por Sanchez Mejias" etc. by Federico Garcia Lorca
"The Art of Flamenco" by Donn Pohren
"The Dirty Girls Social Club" by Alisa Valdés-Rodríguez
"Tao Of Jeet Kune Do" by Bruce Lee
"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe

Top 10 songs:

1. "Se Nos Rompe el Amor" by Fernanda de Utrera
2. "Ruthenian Rock" by The Electrocarpathians
3. "Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin
4. "El Poeta Lloro" by Bambino
5. "Wish You Where Here" by Pink Floyd
6. "Let´s Stay Together" by Al Green
7. "Rumanian Tune" by The Electrocarpathians
8. "No Ordinary Love" by Sade
9. "Kaya" by Bob Marley
10. "Bulerias" by Manuel Molina

Lakshmi Basile's troupe, Luna Flamenca, will perform "Trois" at the Lyceum March 27-28.