Jaén celebrates its eighth Flamenco Festival from November 19 to 22

Flamenco returns to Jaén with four days of performances, classes and dancing in the street. The 8th International Flamenco Festival is held from Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22, organised by the Asociación Cultural Flamenca Ciudad de Jaén with the sponsorship of the Patronato municipal de Cultura. The event opens on Thursday, November 19 at 20.30 hours at Teatro Darymelia with the show Flamencos del Ronquío, featuring the Ensemble de Vientos de Raíz of the Conservatorio Superior de Música Andrés de Vandelvira alongside young flamenco artists. At that event the Silla Flamenca is awarded, which this year goes to the singer Ángeles Toledano. On Friday, November 20, Maestros a Escena takes the stage at Darymelia, with Mara Rey from Jerez, Claudia la Debla and Daniel Ramos, principal dancer of Antonio Najarro's company. The three artists also take part in the training part of the weekend.

On Saturday, November 21 there is a bulerías masterclass with Mara Rey and a dance masterclass with Claudia la Debla at Escuela de Arte El Tabanco. That same day, the assembly hall of Hermanos Maristas hosts at 18 hours Maren & Quito, by the Úbeda company Almazarte Danza, a flamenco show for children and family audiences nominated for the Andalusian Dance Awards in the best breakthrough show category. On Sunday, Daniel Ramos teaches the last masterclass. On Sunday, November 22 the festival closes at Plaza de Santa María. At 14 hours the Flor de Cerezo de Verónica Cerezo flamenco fashion parade is held, with a newly launched collection, and at 14.30 hours comes the traditional flamenco dance flashmob, open to the whole population. The choreography will be announced next week on social media. The councillor for Culture and Tourism, María Espejo, has said that the festival seeks to «position Jaén as a flamenco city». The president of the Asociación Cultural Flamenca Ciudad de Jaén, Antonio El Tabanco, has explained that the intention is for flamenco to «be enjoyed in the Theatre, learned in the classrooms and shared in the street». For the president of the Fundación Caja Rural de Jaén, Patricio Lupiáñez, the event is «open to all citizens» and opens «the doors to Jaén talent».