Manuel Copete, director of Seville’s Bienal presented a new series of flamenco workshops to begin next Monday and lasting until March 26th.
The
Bienal’s project which is being managed by Danza Mobile, a private
firm specializing in theater arts for marginal groups, is intended to
aid the integration of mentally deficient and imprisoned persons, making
use of performing art as a focal point and making it available to as many
people as possible since this is considered a fundamental right to be
universally enjoyed.
The group is made up of marginal individuals, including gypsies, mentally
challenged people, professionals and amateurs, musicians and dancers,
with the goal of working together in the area of dance and music, interchanging
knowledge and experience.
The objective is also to offer a demonstration of the work done to date
in an effort to sensitize the general public to the need to encourage
a tolerant attitude toward groups which may be perceived as physically,
psychologically or culturally different.
Another goal is to demonstrate that in worlds so disparate as those of
prisoners and mentally challenged, dance and music is a universal language
that can be understood and enjoyed by all.
Manuel Copete – Director of Seville Bienal
For Manuel Copete these workshops show that the Bienal is “something
more than just a series of shows every two years, that it is an ongoing
commitment to flamenco”. Additional proof of this is his recent
work with villancicos flamencos.
On March 27th, the Bienal’s 25th anniversary, a commemorative
program and keynote speech are scheduled.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of these workshops is that this is
first time this type of activity has been offered in prisons.
