XVIII Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba.Awards presentation Gran Teatro – Córdoba 2007

Awards presentation

Text: Estela Zatania
Photos: Paco Sánchez

Sixty-four eager singers, dancers and guitarists made it through the first selection process to compete in the finals of the prestigious Concurso de Córdoba this year.Since it was last celebrated, in 2004, hundreds of people have been preparing for this moment.From young hopefuls anxious to enhance their position with a prize from Córdoba, to veteran flamencos wishing to leave a mark or reaffirm their perspective, all gave their very best, and a few went home carrying a prize or prizes.

Marco Flores

In this edition, which marked a half century since the festival was created, fourteen people were awarded seventeen prizes in the respecive categories.Of three possible guitar prizes, two were left unawarded, and the only winner in guitar was Juan Manuel Muñoz “el Tomate”, who was awarded the “Juan Carmona Habichuela” prize for accompaniment, thanks to his original falsetas and knowledge of cante and dance. Two cante prizes went unawarded.

The unquestionable star of the event was dancer Marco Flores from Arcos de la Frontera. With the swagger of a dandy, the natural elegance of earlier times, a contemporary look, technique always in its place, exquisite good taste and respect for the cante, he managed to convince the panel of judges and carried off three prizes: the “Mario Maya”, the “Carmen Amaya” and the “Antonio Gades”, which in turn earned him the festival’s global prize for dance.His partner, Córdoba dancer Olga Pericet, won the “Pilar López” prize for her petenera with shawl, in the style of Blanca del Rey.

Cádiz made a fine showing thanks to young singer David Palomar who sang soleá and, needless to say, alegrías from his hometown, and won over everyone’s heart with his improvised bulerías song and dance.He won the “Manolo Caracol” and “Camarón” prizes and was brilliantly accompanied by guitarist Rafael Rodríguez.

Olga Pericet

Singer Domingo Herrerías sang tonás to win the “Antonio Mairena” prize, shared with Antonio Ortega.Dancer Concha Jareño, dancing with bata de cola, shared the “Mario Maya” prize with Marco Flores thanks to her intelligent and sensitive style in taranto, and also won the “Matilde Coral” for alegrías de Córdoba.

Fran Espinosa, a young dancer from Córdoba, was another favorite with the crowd.The chubby young man, looking little like a dancer, went home with the “Carmen Amaya” prize shared with Marco Flores.As soon as his guitarists and singers struck up the irresistible sound of laidback bulerías, the flamenco started flowing; with original details, and perfect ease with the compás, there was no obstacle between the thought and the execution.

David Pino

David Pino won the “Pepe Marchena” prize with his vidalita and an old-style guajira, and Fosforito himself presented the prize.Madrid dancer Alfonso Losa won the “Eduardo Serrano el Güito” dance prize with a powerful style inspired in Farruquito, and young María José Pérez tearfully dedicated her “Don Antonio Chacón” cante prize to her parents.Veteran singer Joaquín Garrido managed to sing the “caña” well enough to be worthy of the “Fosforito” prize which he received from the hands of the maestro himself.

• Gala tribute to Córdoba’s National Flamenco Contest
• Photo Gallery Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba (by Paco Sánchez)