Farruquito and Juana Amaya are two of the greatest living flamenco dancers in the world right now and to miss them this Friday at the Kimo Theatre would be a betrayal to the Force.
In attempting to describe Farruquito's abilities as a flamenco dancer, one cannot help but use an extended metaphor comparing him to a Jedi Master. If his technical skill and footwork were translated into a light-saber battle, Master Yoda would find his spinning light-saber attack wholly inadequate to penetrate Farruquito's blazing defense.
But Farruquito doesn't travel alone. His stop this Friday is part of a month-long tour of the United States and Canada called "Por Derecho" with acclaimed dancer Juana Amaya.
Amaya's abilities are easily placed in the Jedi range as well, but a more suitable metaphor may be one of electricity -- pure energy ungrounded and placed into the human form. The Independent of London says, "If you see only one flamenco dancer in your lifetime, Amaya is the one."
In an interview at www.flamenco-world.com, Farruquito explains por derecho as "to go back to your roots and dance in a pure style, following the path down which authentic baile leads you, with no script to follow, with no need to act or put on any kind of persona, with no frills and no adornments."
Gypsies believe that talent is handed down through the blood and Farruquito's grandfather was one of the greatest flamenco dancers who ever lived.
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Farruquito has appeared in the film "Flamenco," by Carlos Saura, dancing head-to-head with his grandfather and later took part in the Canal film "Bodas de Gloria."
The death of Farruco in '97 meant Farruquito had to take the reins and at the age of 15, he was given the responsibility of continuing the family tradition. The sudden death of his father made him head of the family at just 19.
The young patriarch, who the New York Times elected best artist to set foot in the Big Apple in 2001, has taken charge of the coordination of his own shows.
Juana Amaya is a disciple of Pepe R°os and became partners with his cousin Ram¢n Barrull, with whom she won the prize for Buer°as in 1981 in her hometown Seville. Hailing from the famed Mor¢n de la Frontera district, her talent for dancing was noticed at the age of six and the acclaim hasn't stopped since.
She appeared in the Second Bienal of Seville where she danced in, "El Nuevo Comp†s." She then became the leading dancer in the company of Mario Maya. Up until 1986, she worked in the tablao, "Los Gallos," and two years later, she traveled throughout Europe with Cordoba-based concert musician Paco Pe§a. She then returned to Seville to give classes and start her own dance company.
She is one of the most powerful and charismatic dancers in modern day flamenco.
The show is being sponsored in part by the National Institute of Flamenco, headed by UNM professor Eva Encinas-Sandoval.
"It's a real honor to have flamencos of this caliber and we hope the Albuquerque audience will enjoy this." Eva said.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the National Institute of Flamenco at 242-7600.
