The International Flamenco Romí Festival Ciudad de La Laguna has established itself as one of the most important flamenco events on a national level. The Teatro Leal de La Laguna hosted its eleventh edition with a double performance. This year more than twenty flamenco stars came to the island in its different aspects of dance, singing and guitar playing, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy and rediscover this musical genre that was born with an anvil and hammer in a forge in Triana or Jeréz, and which, based on emotion and authenticity, has been declared a World Heritage Site.
The councillor of Culture of La Laguna and president of the Autonomous Organisation of Musical Activities (OAAM), Adrián del Castillo, stressed that, for the municipality, this event “is probably one of the best ways to start the new year”. He also praised the great work of the entire festival team, who “have managed to position San Cristóbal de La Laguna as a reference point in the world of flamenco”.
On the other hand, the artistic director of the festival, José Heredia, thanked the Consistory for the opportunity to “dress the Ciudad de los Adelantados and the Teatro Leal with flamenco polka dots”. He also highlighted the great cast of artists who, under the direction of Juan Carmona “El Camborio”, will offer a different show to previous editions, focusing on the migration of the gypsy people and the empowerment of gypsy women.
Finally, the dancer Antonio Canales invited the public to come to the Teatro Leal to enjoy a surprising encounter in which the great flamenco families of Spain, such as the Carmona, the Parrilla and the Amaya families, come together.
The presentation ceremony was also attended by the Councillor for Events, Dailos González; the Councillor for Tourism, Estefanía Díaz; and the Councillor for Social Welfare, María Cruz.
The line-up for this edition is a luxury for the aficionados, with a cast of figures that would be very difficult to bring together in another event without the prestige of the International Romí Flamenco Festival Ciudad de la Laguna.
The dancers were the maestro Antonio Canales, Karime Amaya, Nazaret Reyes and El Torombo, accompanied by the voices of Montse Cortés, Kiki Cortiñas or Juan José Amador “El Perre” and Amparo Velasco “La Negra”, as well as the sisters Estrella and Macarena Fernández, who came from Granada with their unique flamenco singing.
The musical direction was provided by Juan Carmona “El Camborio”, accompanied by the guitar of Yoni Jiménez, recently awarded the Bordón de Oro at the prestigious Festival de la Minas. On stage were the percussion of Tino di Giraldo, the cajón of Antón Suarez on cajón, together with Bernardo Parrilla on violin and Juan Parrilla on flute, the guitar of Manuel Fernández and Noe Santiago, a promising young 9 year old.
As a novelty, the event counted for the first time with the presence of El tío Bobote, dancer, palmero and artist from the 3.000 viviendas neighbourhood of Seville, an authentic virtuoso of compás and flamenco.
In short, the line-up offered the audience a unique opportunity to enjoy an authentic constellation of flamenco stars.
International Romí Flamenco Festival City of La Laguna was created in 2014 by its artistic director, José Heredia, and the courage of the women of the Romí Camela Nakerar Association, to pay tribute to gypsy women and to some of the most prestigious masters who have travelled the world with their singing, dancing and guitar playing.