Matilde Coral began a new cycle at the Jerez Festival: Con Nombre Propio/Vivencias. This cycle, which is open to the public and free, presents interviews with flamenco legends.

This event is similar to when maestro Juan de la Plata interviewed Matilde Coral at La Compañía on the 50th anniversary of the Cátedra de Flamencología, but this time, the legendary dancer from Seville and the “godmother” of the festival was interviewed by Jesús Vigorra...

The singer from Jerez Jesús Méndez began the Palace Concerts cycle on the fourth day of the Jerez Festival. This young yet consecrated singer sang without microphones at the Villavicencio Palace within the walls of the Jerez Alcázar. Accompanied by Manuel Moreno Moraíto, the nephew of Francisca Méndez Garrido Paquera de Jerez, made the walls reverberate with his strong voice. At this concert, Méndez had the opportunity to sing songs from his new record “Jerez sin fronteras”.

“Farruquito Esencial” was performed at the Villamarta Theatre. Farruquito took part in the 2004 festival with the successful performance “Alma vieja,” but Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya returns this year with a more intimate and minimalist piece. He dances - without plot lines and less accompaniment on stage - some of the most representative styles of flamenco. Four phenomenal singers accompanied him: Encarna Anillo, La Tana, el Rubio de Pruna and Antonio Villar.

The third night of the Jerez Festival launched the Los Novismos cycle, presenting two young dancers. The first, María Canea, is hurricane on the stage. She dominates the stage with her prominent presence and strong personality. Her furious footwork and clean, quick turns define her dance, and her overpowering desplante commands respect.

Canea may require some refinement in order to add a touch of elegance to her dance, but with a very solid technique and an unmistakable charm, there is no doubt that with some more professional experience and further encounters with established flamenco dancers, she’ll mature and perfect her style.

Contrasting completely with Canea’s dance was that of the dancer from Jerez Carmen Herrera. Although her arm and hand movements exude elegance, Herrera lacks spontaneity and vigor. With fairly soft footwork and an almost non-existent energetic impulse, Herrera did not hold my interest, although the applause made evident that Jerez feels a fond affection for her.

The second night of the XIV Jerez Festival began at the Sala Compañía with the kick off to the Con Nombre Propio cycle, which debuted this year with the excellent dancer and flamenco teacher from Madrid, La Truco. The daughter of the singer José Truco, presented “Pa mis adentros” a suite of dances that she created at the Madrid tablao Casa Patas and that demonstrates, in her own words, “what it feels like to dance flamenco from the inside.”

Despite being a mature woman, La Truco moves with the quickness, energy and charm of a young dancer. With all of these attributes, it is completely incomprehensible why she would invite the dancer Joaquín Ruiz to share the stage with her on this occasion. Despite having a long career in flamenco dance, Ruiz is a dancer that severely lacks both style and fluidity and who adds absolutely nothing to the show.