TAMPERE FLAMENCO WEEK
PROGRAMME 27.6.-1.7.2023

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SPIRITUAL FLAMENCO CONCERT

Los Girasoles and healing, spiritual flamenco
TUE 27.6. at 7 pm
G Livelab

Los Girasoles (Sunflowers in English) is a group that studies flamenco from its earliest forms to the latest currents and develops it based on its own vision. The group focuses on the spiritual side of flamenco, its universal nature and its ability to transform a person who seeks health through flamenco dance and music.

The group is about a project that was born in 1998 at the Neijing school, which is an educational center based on Chinese medicine in Pozoamargo, in the province of Cuenca, Spain. The group consists of dancers and musicians from different countries and is led by José Luis Padilla Corral, MD.

The group’s activities mainly aim at strengthening the spiritual and healing side of flamenco and conveying this perspective through various concerts and meetings. The goal is to awaken the idea that flamenco can also act as a health promoter.

LOS GIRASOLES

JOSE LUÍS PADILLA CORRAL, flamenco singer
Director and founder of the group Los Girasoles. He learned flamenco singing as a child in his Roma family. Has led several groups of different music genres and produced numerous records for over 30 years. Doctor of medicine by education. Currently runs the Neijing School, which has 55 locations around the world.

ANTONIO FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍN, flamenco guitarist
Born in Pozo Blanco, Córdoba province, lived in Seville since the 1980s. Started learning about flamenco in the 1990s in the city’s flamenco circles. Worked as a guitarist at the Flamencotaverna La Carbonería from the late 1990s until 2002, accompanying singers such as Luís Agüjetas and dancers such as Maribel La Carcelera, as well as performing as a soloist. Began to explore a different way of understanding flamenco in 2021 in the Los Girasoles group.

DIESA SOUMAYA, flamenco singer
Soumaya got excited about flamenco singing at a young age. She joined Los Girasoles as a singer in 2000. She has done courses and concerts with the group Los Girasoles in Spain, Paris, Estonia, Colombia and Venezuela. Also visited Finland once before. Performed with Antonio Fernández a series of mystical flamenco concerts in the historic temples of Seville, Úbeda and Ávila as part of the Congress of Mysticism held in Seville.

ANNA MATTILA, flamenco dancer
Born in Helsinki, lived in Spain since 1997. Studied political science, visual arts and traditional Chinese medicine. Has danced contemporary dance and sacred dances, and worked as a Qi Gong teacher. Mattila has been studying flamenco under different teachers since 1997 and has been a member of Los Girasoles since the beginning of the group.

LILIANA ACOSTA BERMÚDEZ, flamenco dancer
Born in Colombia, lived in Spain for 27 years. A doctor and surgeon by training, who currently works with acupuncture. Teacher of the Sacred Dance. Her experience with flamenco began with the spiritual flamenco course at the Neijing school, after which she began studying to become a dancer. Has been part of the Los Girasoles group since 2014.

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TONY DE MARÍA: CON AMIGOS FLAMENCO CONCERT

FRI 30.6. at 7 pm
G Livelab
The duration of the gig is approx. 70 minutes, no intermission.

G Livelab’s Friday night host is Pirkanmaa’s own flamenco guitarist Tony de María (Toni Jokiniitty). To share the stage with him, Tony has invited two of his long-time flamenco friends, flamenco dancer Marja Rautakorpi and percussionist Samuli ”Trélta” Rounioja, who also have a strong connection to Pirkanmaa. The concert will feature Tony de María’s own songs, famous works of flamenco guitar and more traditional flamenco guitar playing – without forgetting the singing! An important part of the concert is the sparkle, rhythmic splashes and flow of movement brought by Marja’s dance, as well as the rhythmic backbone and cool groove provided by Samuli.

TONY DE MARÍA
Flamenco guitarist Tony de María (Toni Jokiniitty) is one of the most respected in his field in Finland. He has been performing since the 1990s, and works both as a soloist and as an accompanist for flamenco singing and dancing. In addition to Finland, Tony’s playing has been heard in Germany, Sweden and the Baltic countries, as well as in Spain, where the guitarist has lived, studied and performed. Tony has released 14 songs of his own music, and the digital singles released in recent years have received hundreds of thousands of listenings from different parts of the world. Tony’s playing follows a strong Andalusian guitar tradition, but also the new winds of flamenco and influences from jazz and classical music.

MARJA RAUTAKORPI
Flamenco dancer Marja Rautakorpi (Master of Arts, Dance) is a flamenco graduate from Tampere who works with flamenco, looking for new connections both physically and musically. Marja has worked as a dancer-choreographer in numerous ensembles and productions around Finland, including the contemporary flamenco group Batácora, the Camino Flamenco collective and the Souvenirs concert series in collaboration with Duo IhanUus. She started her flamenco dance studies at the age of 7 and later continued her education in Spain, e.g. as an exchange student at the high-class Conservatory of Maria de Ávila in Madrid. Marja has been cooperating with Tony since 2009, and the cooperation continues rich in nuances.

SAMULI TRÉLTA
Originally from Oulu but currently active in Tampere, Samuli ”Trélta” Rounioja is one of the trusted accompanists of Finnish flamenco artists and enthusiasts. For example Iván Mellén, Pablo Martin and Karo Sampela have been his teachers. Samuli’s playing has been heard in concerts, student shows and recordings. Samuli and Tony have been playing together for twenty years, and some years ago they found out that they are also relatives!

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TABLAO OF DREAMS – Tablao de los Sueños

SAT 1.7.2023 from 7 pm to 10 pm
Tullikamari Pakkahuone

The Tablao club of Dreams is the culmination of Flamenco week at Pakkahuone, where we get to enjoy the dance of flamenco dancer Ingrid Mugu, who is visiting Finland for the first time. The evening full of flamenco dreams culminates in the TABLAO performance, which belongs to the flamenco tradition, with Otso Krunasta, the guitarist of the Brindamos Flamenco collective, as the guitarist and Suski Lahtinen as the singer.

Note! The event is K18, as there is alcohol in the premises. Minors can participate accompanied by a guardian.

Tablao is a place focused on flamenco performances and is a colloquial expression for the Spanish word ”tablado”, which means the floor on which a flamenco dancer dances. Tablaos were born in the 1960s in Spain. There are tablaos everywhere in Spain, especially in Andalusia, and they are usually decorated with, for example, embroidered silk scarves, bullfighting props and photos of famous people.

Drinks and tapas are served at Tablao, and Unelmien Tablao also takes care of that.

Tablaos were born from the Café Cantante singing cafés, which were night bars that offered flamenco performances in addition to drinks. With these singing cafes, flamenco’s popularity grew and flamenco professionalism was born.

The popularity of singing cafes was at its peak from the middle of the 19th century to the second decade of the 20th century. With its popularity, flamenco spread to wider areas and new flamenco styles developed.

Tablao focuses on the interaction between artists and the art form is strongly based on improvisation. In 2010, flamenco was accepted into the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Welcome to Tablao of Dreams!

PROGRAM

6 pm the restaurant opens and Janne Pesonen’s art exhibition ”Harvest of Light Painting Workshops” can be seen in the space. The photos are taken by people who participated in the Light Painting workshops in 2022 – 2023.

7 pm Tablao of Dreams – Tablao de los Sueños begins with the performance One of them. One of them was born in Katja Lundén’s mentoring project and represents the more modern side of flamenco. In addition to dance and guitar, the ensemble also includes the playing of the didgeridoo and the vibration of the sound bowl.

Choreography and dance: Kaisa Hirvaskoski-Leinonen
Guitar: Janne Pesonen
Sound bowl and didgeridoo: Osmo Liikanen
Palmas: Enni Hietavala

I look but see only one,
one loner dancing her existence.
One who dances her necessity,
her only dance.
So precisely sets its form,
so precisely
just for existing.

Then, we will see performances by the students of Brindamos Flamenco. Performing: Jaana Ollila (dance, palmas), Marjo Somari (dance, palmas), Niina Putkonen (singing, palmas), Ilona Kallio (palmas) and Liisa Pekonen (palmas)

Intermission – restaurant open

8 pm Tablao – performance I:
Guitar: Otso from Kruna,
Vocals: Suski Lahtinen
Dance: Ingrid Mugu

Intermission – restaurant open

9 pm Tablao – performance II:
Guitar: Otso from Kruna
Vocals: Suski Lahtinen
Dance: Ingrid Mugu

INGRID MUGU

Ingrid Mugu is a flamenco dancer and choreographer from Estonia currently living in Seville, Spain. She has completed a BA degree in choreography at Tallinn University and is studying for the second year at the Fundación de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren and at the Antonio Ruiz Soler Dance Conservatory in Seville. She has previously performed in tablaos in Seville and Warsaw, Poland. Her debut performance ”Burning” premiered in 2021 in Estonia on the Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava PREMIERE’21 program. She is currently working on her second show, which combines traditional and contemporary flamenco: two sides that interest her as a choreographer and dancer.

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FLAMENCO SIN FRONTERAS DOCUMENTARY FILM NIGHT

THU 29.6. from 7 pm to 9.45 pm
Arthouse Cinema Niagara (Kehräsaari B)

Flamenco Week offers a glimpse into the birthplace of flamenco in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia, through the documentary film Flamenco sin Fronteras (in English: Flamenco without borders) by film director Filippo Ciardi. The language of the documentary is Spanish and it is subtitled in English.

After the film, there will be a discussion via zoom together with the film’s director, Filippo Ciardi, where he will also talk about his new project, which has to do with Finnish artists also. The discussion event will be held in English.

The duration of the film is 1 hour 45 minutes and the discussion session is 1 hour.
The duration of the entire evening is 2h 45 min.

The documentary is in three parts and there is a short break between each part. In addition, there will be a break before the discussion session.

More information about the film can be found at: https://flamencosinfronteras.net/es/

The film screening is organized in cooperation with Arthouse Cinema Niagara as part of their 52 Windows to Europe program.

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OPENING CEREMONY – THE BIG FLAMENCO FIESTA OF THE SUMMER!

WED 28.6. at 12 pm
Laikunlava, free entry

The flamenco Week in June starts in the traditional way with a festive and warm-hearted opening on the sunny Laikunlava.

Flamenco Week Opening Ceremony is a traditional event where the audience will be pampered with flamenco shows by flamenco aficionados, i.e. enthusiasts who have lost their hearts to flamenco.

The program includes a greeting from the city, information about the festival program and wonderful performances from flamenco enthusiasts from all over Finland!

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FLAMENCO CARNIVAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

SAT 1.7. from 2 pm to 4 pm
Pakkahuone
free entry

The Flamenco carnival program for the whole family will be published soon!

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RHYTHM WORKSHOP (CANCELLED)

Unfortunately Rhythm workshop is cancelled.

TUE 27.6. from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4:30 pm,
THU 29.6. from 9.30 am to 12 pm
FRI 30.6. from 14.00 to 16.30
SAT 1.7. from 9.30 am to 12 pm
Teacher: Marja Rautakorpi

During Flamenco Week, Marja Rautakorpi leads a workshop where we play together with flamenco rhythms. In addition to the flamenco shoes, the hands and the whole body act as instruments. In the workshop, we accompany each other with rhythm and build small pieces of choreography, from which a playful miniature piece is formed on the stage of The Tablao of Dreams (July 1, 2023/Pakkahuone). The course is suitable for everyone from advanced to beginners who are a little familiar with flamenco rhythms.

The workshop starts with a joint part with Escobilla for everyone – with the workshop on TUE 27.6. from 10 am to 12 pm

NOTE! The workshop has a performance at the Children’s Flamenco Carnival on July 1. from 2pm to 4pm and at The Tablao of Dreams at 7 pm.

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SPIRITUAL FLAMENCO WORKSHOP

WED 28.6. and THU 29.6. from 2 pm to 5 pm
Hepokatti, Mustanlahdenkatu 22

In the workshop, we will start with the basics of flamenco dance and rhythms, on the basis of which we will proceed in the direction of spiritual flamenco and the possibilities it offers for use in everyday life as well. No previous flamenco experience is required to participate in this workshop.

Los Girasoles (Sunflowers in Finnish) and healing, spiritual flamenco

Los Girasoles is a group that studies flamenco from its earliest forms to the latest currents and develops it based on their own vision. The group focuses on the spiritual side of flamenco, its universal nature and its ability to transform a person who seeks health through flamenco dance and music.

The workshop piloted by the group starts with the basics of flamenco dance and rhythms, on the basis of which we start to progress in the direction of spiritual flamenco and the possibilities it offers for use in everyday life as well.

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THE SPIRIT OF FLAMENCO SINGING WORKSHOP

SAT 1.7. from 2 pm to 4 pm
Tampereen flamencoyhdistys (The Flamenco Association of Tampere)
Teacher: Taija Robalta
Guitar accompaniment: Toni Jokiniitty

Flamenco can be sung and has been sung throughout the ages with the most diverse voices. There are hoarse, high, low, rough, nasal, limpid head voices etc. Flamenco singing and different voice types have an attitude in common. What makes my voice sound like flamenco and bend to the needs of flamenco?

The interpretation of the text certainly plays an important role in finding one’s own inner flamenco singing voice. However, in this course we will not delve into flamenco lyrics, but we will explore the style of flamenco singing through the salidas of siguiriya and alegría. Salidas are usually wordless ”warm-up parts” sung at the beginning of a song, with which the singer both warms up his voice and concentrates on the palo he’s singing. The syllables ay ay, tran tran, tiri tiri and le le are often used in salidas.

You do not need previous experience in singing or flamenco. All you need is an open mind, a bottle of water and some device you can use to record (phone dictation works well if there is space on the phone). Some people like to take notes on melodies, so you can also bring note-taking equipment with you!

Welcome to dive into the world of flamenco singing! Those who have already practiced flamenco singing are also welcome to join – they will be given additional challenges in the form of tasks as needed.

TAIJA ROBALTA
Taija Robalta is a flamenco singer and singing teacher from Helsinki and the driving force behind Finnish flamenco singing. She has studied singing for several years in Seville, Spain, with the living legend of flamenco singing, Esperanza Fernández, as her main teacher. In Seville, Taija has also accompanied dance lessons with her song (e.g. Carmen Ledesma, Miguel Vargas) and performed in the city’s tablaos as both a singer and a dancer. In Finland, after the turn of the millennium, she has become known as a singer in tablao gigs and student performances. Taija, who loves teaching and is respected as a teacher, has acted as an ambassador of flamenco singing all the way to the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts, and currently holds regular singing lessons in Helsinki and Tampere.

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ESCOBILLA FOR EVERYBODY WORKSHOP

TUE 27.6. from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm
THU 29.6. from 9.30 to 12pm
FRI 30.6. from 9.30 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm
Tampereen flamencoyhdistys (The Flamenco Association of Tampere)
Teacher: Otso Krunasta

The course opens up the connection between the practical level and the centuries-old deep theoretical basis for those interested in flamenco rhythms. During the twelve-hour research trip, we will play with rhythm and create universal rules for the game. Interactive activities are at the center of the teaching. The starting point is the rhythmic escobilla section, but the content of the course can be applied to other similar type of flamenco rhythms too. The course is suitable for those who have studied flamenco for a long time as well as for beginners, for all genders, dancers and musicians, or those just interested in flamenco.

The workshop starts together with Marja Rautakorpi’s rhythm workshop, after which the course participants divide into their own groups.

”I had practiced flamenco for 15 years without understanding what it was all about rhythmically. Now I’m feeling better, it’s much easier to follow all the lessons and intensive courses.” – Course feedback

”I started practicing flamenco singing with this course. Everything feels logical and natural. I didn’t know how much I dare to play when I understand the rules of the game. You rarely see so many genuinely smiling people after the course.” – Course feedback

Otso Krunasta graduated in 2011 from Fundación Cristina Heeren in Seville. The credited guitarist of the BRINDAMOS FLAMENCO collective has worked for years as an accompanist with numerous top stars and legends of the genre. He is the only Finn to perform regularly with the best flamenco artists of his generation. Considered a pioneer in teaching flamenco communication in Finland, Otso Krunasta also teaches palmas, dance and singing.

More information about Otso and Brindamos Flamenco: www.brindamosflamenco.com

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ABOUT

Every summer, the oldest flamenco festival in the Nordic countries attracts the most prominent Spanish singers, dancers, and musicians as well as flamenco aficionados from all over Finland and beyond. Our festival program consists of world-class performances and courses as well as open events, where you can get to know flamenco culture in various ways. Respect for the flamenco tradition and curiosity about its constant renewal is in the heart of our festival. You are warmly welcome to join our community and celebrate the beauty, expression and passion of flamenco art!

The festival is produced and organized by the Tampere Flamenco Festival association.

More information in English: info@tampereflamenco.com / disa@tampereflamenco.com

TAMPERE FLAMENCO WEEK PROGRAMME 27.6.-1.7.2023