XIV Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid. Antonio El Pipa – ' De Tablao'

Text: Sonia Martínez
Photos : Paco Manzano

A charming tablao

With his show “De Tablao” Antonio el
Pipa offers us a theatrical version of a night at a tablao.
It’s a simple show, with no more pretenion than presenting
a series of dancers by the various artists in his company.
Packaged in a suggestive, colorful wrapping, the show begins
with a bulerías presentation by the whole company which
spans generations: from the most veteran artists to the child,
introduced as Cristian, who is quite on top of the situation.
Subtle suggestions are made of backstage bickering, adding
a certain dimension.

The solo dances come one by one: María José
Franco with seguiriyas, elegant and rich in movement, Angelita
Vargas with a very classic and sober soleá with the
timeless cante of Juana la del Pipa and the alegrías
of Antonio el Pipa, danced in his customary style, very flamenco,
seductive and provocative. At the halfway point is when the
show offers the livliest and most attractive scenes, such
as when Pipa dances with his four women dancers por bulerías,
each of them wearing a bata de cola creating visual harmony.
Throughout the show el Pipa has an eye for detail as evidenced
by the moment when he picks up a peineta from the floor and
places it on his first dancer, evoking the romances that might
exist in a tablao. With the appearance on stage of Mariana
Cornejo, Cádiz takes over. With those special tanguillos
that are like rap, Mariana makes the most of her famous charm.
All the while the various members of the company illustrate
their cante in a captivating mix full of good humor. Mariana
also sings alegrías and includes songs of Los Panchos
in her bulerías without blinking an eye.

With his soleá Pipa starts out with feelings contained,
but then with his bulerías he lets loose with a dance
full of life. He ends up inviting each of his dancers to join
in, one by one: Angelita, Mariana and his aunt Juana, turning
into a colorful group number. At the audience’s request,
el Pipa danced bulerías with the company’s child
dancer in a show of technique and Jerez art.

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