Sara Candela in Chile. June, 30, 2006
Dancer Sara Candela, who got her start in flamenco here in DC, was kind enough to send me some pics and commentary updating us on her life in Chile. Actually I received her email last Friday but didn't get around to downloading the pics until this morning. Anyway, it's good to know that she's getting herself established in the flamenco community in Santiago. Thanks for the update Sara! She'll be visiting the States sometime in mid-July.
The Santiago flamencos plus friends in front of the beautiful theater where we performed last Sunday. [Editor's note: the seasons in Chile are opposite that of the States--hence the winter coats.] June 2006 (photo courtesy of Sara Candela)
She writes:
"I had a few good performances with this group of Santiago flamencos, in Santiago and in 2 other
cities. I finally choreographed the guajiras 'of my dreams,' that I started dreaming of about 2 years. Hence the white dress and seashell jewelry. I admit, I was influenced and enchanted by Rocio Molina's guajiras back in Los 4 Elementos, with the conch shell. There is a high level of flamenco guitar here in Santiago, and 2 very good singers."
The cast! June 2006 (photo courtesy of Sara Candela)
"One guitarist, Jorge 'Chico' Bravo has been living in London, occasionally working in Spain, and just won first prize in a new guitar competition, Concurso Niño Ricardo, in Murcia. He won the category for non-Spaniards. The local guitarists are very proud and excited for him. It's very, very difficult for any flamencos here to even study in Spain because of the low-paying flamenco gigs here, and the exchange of pesos to euros. But they are very studious and search for pureza."
"Another Santiago guitarist, Claudio Villanueva moved to Madrid last year and is working there. Well, Chile has a strong tradition of beautiful guitar music, so there is already a strong consciousness of guitar."
The Andes mountains on the Chile-Argentina border where we drove through a few weeks ago. June 2006 (photo courtesy of Sara Candela)
Me and Jordi camping in mountains of national park in Northern Chile. June 2006 (photo courtesy of Sara Candela)
Camping on beautiful beach of northern Chile. June 2006 (photo courtesy of Sara Candela)
[Editor's note: so much for my mentioning the opposite seasons in Chile. :-) Judging by the above pic, it looks like it's still warm enough to go the beach there this time of the year.]