JESUS CARMONA, A TWO-PART STORY. Part 2: Carmona Takes a Giant Leap
Jesús Carmona’s salto uplifts artistically, culturally, socially
by Rose Maramba
Dancer, creator and choreographer, Jesús Carmona was a prodigious pupil at the Professional Dance Conservatory of the prestigious Theatre Institute of Barcelona where he studied Spanish dance and flamenco in 2004. But he was precocious and five years earlier, when he was just 14, he debuted professionally at the Zorilla Theatre with the orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, one of Europe’s leading opera houses, providing the music.
Catalan Actresses in the 21st Century Exhibition, produced by the Theatre Institute de Barcelona
Carmona trained with such demi-gods of flamenco as Antonio Canales, Eva Yerbabuena, Manolete, María Magdalena and Güito. In 2005, after he was done with the Theatre Institute, he joined the Ballet Nacional de España (BNE) where he became a lead dancer just two years later.
He left the BNE in 2010 to produce his own shows. Some fruit of his genius are “Cuna Negra & Blanca” (2011), “7 balcones” (2013), “Ímpetu’s” (2015), “Amator” (2018), “The Game” (2019), and “El Salto” (2020).
Selected Mejor Bailarín Sobresaliente (Best Outstanding Dancer) at the XX Certamen de Danza Española y Flamenco de Madrid (Twentieth Spanish Dance and Flamenco Competition of Madrid) in 2011, his impressive list of awards includes the Premio Desplante at the 52nd Festival Internacional de Cante de las Minas de la Unión (International Festival of Flamenco Song of Las Minas de la Union), 2012; two Latin UK Awards (LUKAS) 2018; El Ojo Crítico de Danza (Critical Eye of Dance) Award from Radio Nacional de España (National Radio of Spain) 2019; the Premio Nacional de Danza (National Dance Award) 2020; and of course the Benois de la Danse 2021.
“‘El salto’ is much more than just a dance. It is how I understand the Spanish culture”
“El salto (The leap)”, premiered on the 19th of December 2020 at the Lope de Vega Theater in Seville. It was to have been earlier, at the XXI Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla (the 21st Flamenco Biennial of Seville) in September, but the pandemic got in the way. It was – and is – one of the most awaited flamenco shows by both the public and the critics after the staggered lifting of the pandemic restrictions. Argentine producer Gachi Pisani loves to point out that “‘El salto’ is not only a renewal of Jesús Carmona’s powerful personality and innovative style; it also represents a leap into a new model for the creation of dance shows in the 21st century.”
As for Carmona, “’El salto’ is much more than just a visión of flamenco or the Spanish dance. It is my way of understanding our [Spanish] culture.” One must remember that the essence of “El salto” is in its anti-machismo. And yet flamenco is, traditionally, an art where gender equality is not exactly a significant ingredient, in a way, a reflection of Spanish society. Thus, “El salto” brings in fresh tastes and experiences, a new way of looking at human relationships: “La concepción de este espectáculo nace del hecho personal que me hizo cuestionarme la relación con la masculinidad en el Siglo XXI, tanto por parte de los hombres como de las mujeres.”
Scene from “El salto”
Spain’s Ministry of Culture, which was jury at the Radio Nacional de España awards, underscores ”the depth of [Carmona’s] creative work” and his “respect for tradition” while he “innovates with discerning skill” so that the “choreographic material” of “El salto” is converted into “a rich repertoire of experiences”.
“El salto”, Carmona’s latest creation, is a co-production of the Bienal de Flamenco, Sadler’s Wells Theater and Flamenco Festival London.
Related post: The UK, A Funny Place to Win Latino Awards! Or is it?
videos
Interview with Jesús Carmona: “The flamenco in the 21st century has no gender”
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“El salto”, Carmona’s outrage against machismo
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Rehearsals, “El salto”
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Images
Videos, supplied by Country Mouse
Featured image/Speedwebs via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA4.0. Frame supplied.
Catalan Actresses Exhibition by the Teatre Institute/Gabinet de Premsa Diputació de Barcelona, CC BY-ND2.0
Carmona in red/supplied by Country Mouse
Carmona in “El salto” supplied
FOR PART 1, click here.
