Jose Greco - Farruca

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Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

Jose Greco - Farruca

Here is Jose Greco doing a Farruca. It's very flashy, and not danced the way I think Farruca should be danced, but there is no denying he was a terrific dancer.

By way of contrast, here is a totally different interpretation of Farruca, which in my opinion is danced the way Farruca should be, danced by the great Antonio Gades.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 16:15:58

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

for additional contrast, and with cante, Mario Maya;

Joaquin Cortes;

Sara Baras;

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 18:45:19

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

I especially liked the scene in Saura's "Carmen" where Antonio Gades dances farruca for Cristina Hoyos...and things get a bit out of hand.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 19:57:17

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

OK...I'm being completely honest here...

I've often been wowed out by the footwork and choreography of some male Flamenco dancers, be it live or on film/video.

But somehow I still see it as being a little bit (maybe even a big bit) sorta "camp-gay" somehow.

Anyone else think that?

Maybe I'm just a dinosaur living in a past time? ...I dunno..?

(I DO know that you would never have caught big John Wayne doing that sort of stuff!

)

2010 thoughts on this to re-educate me?

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 20:55:15

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Mark –

Thanks for these videos – Farruca is one my favorite palos, so it's nice to see all kinds of different renditions. I have watched that Mario Maya Farruca many times – he was a very fine dancer. He used to occasionally dance with El Guito.

Cortes certainly has plenty of technique. I could more easily watch him if he put on a shirt and danced to one or two guitars only.

Sara Baras – Well, we know she is a good dancer, but there is nothing on earth that could ever convince me that Farruca can be successfully danced by a woman. With the possible exception of Carmen Amaya.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 21:04:45

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Here is another interesting Farruca. Try to ignore the singer, who is slaughtering the cante for Farruca, which I feel is one of the most beautiful cantes in all of flamenco.

Now listen to this Farruca cante – the best version I have ever heard, and sung exactly the way I personally feel Farruca should be sung. Try to listen to the cante while laughing at the video.

The cantaor is Jacinto Almaden, and the guitarist is Antonio Arenas.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 21:44:52

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

But somehow I still see it as being a little bit (big bit) sorta "gay" somehow.

Anyone else think that?

Me. I'm not homophobic in the least, but I've never cared for male flamenco dancing. It just doesn't look right to me. But like the old adage goes, different strokes for different folks.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 22:18:59

por medio

Posts: 289
Joined: Nov. 15 2009

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M

But somehow I still see it as being a little bit (maybe even a big bit) sorta "camp-gay" somehow.

Anyone else think that?

Maybe I'm just a dinosaur living in a past time? ...I dunno..?

(I DO know that you would never have caught big John Wayne doing that sort of stuff! )

2010 thoughts on this to re-educate me?

Well I would've thought that most male dancers in whatever form look at least a bit camp. Be it Irish, Ballroom, Highland, Jazz...

Just comes with the territory I think

Mind you I love Israel Galvan, even though he is the "campest" of all. He wasn't used to be always like that but I don't know what happened.

Doesn't matter... Let me have a look at Youtube again.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2010 23:39:57

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

Farruca, which I feel is one of the most beautiful cantes in all of flamenco.

And yet many purists insist that Farruca should never be sung. Only danced.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 0:33:27

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

And yet many purists insist that Farruca should never be sung. Only danced.

Well, just because they're purists, doesn't make them right. The cante for Farruca goes back a long way. Furthermore, the baile for Farruca has been directly influenced by the cante. Farruca is danced to guitar accompaniment that itself is taken straight from the cante. The harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic structure of Farruca cante accompaniment mimics the cante itself, and clearly the cante accompaniment evolved into Farruca baile accompaniment. So the cante preceded the baile. All that being the case, I hardly see how anyone can make an argument on purist or any other grounds that Farruca should not be sung.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 3:10:30

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

I especially liked the scene in Saura's "Carmen" where Antonio Gades dances farruca for Cristina Hoyos...and things get a bit out of hand.

RNJ

I've forgotten her name, but that's not Christina Hoyos in that video.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 4:29:25

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Jernigan

I especially liked the scene in Saura's "Carmen" where Antonio Gades dances farruca for Cristina Hoyos...and things get a bit out of hand.

that was the dumbest kiss scene i have ever seen

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 11:11:24

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to por medio)

quote:

Well I would've thought that most male dancers in whatever form look at least a bit camp. Be it Irish, Ballroom, Highland, Jazz...

Huh?

So what's camp about this then?

(Sorry to be so uncultured here...but from 1:19 it sorta looks like he's trying to avoid an imaginary mouse from running up his kilt..)

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 13:59:31

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

I've forgotten her name, but that's not Christina Hoyos in that video.

I think you're right. Laura del Sol played Carmen in that film.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 16:24:21

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to XXX)

quote:

that was the dumbest kiss scene i have ever seen

At least as often as not, falling in love is one of the dumbest things you can do, especially in this story.

But when it lasts...

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 16:29:36

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

I've often been wowed out by the footwork and choreography of some male Flamenco dancers, be it live or on film/video.

But somehow I still see it as being a little bit (maybe even a big bit) sorta "camp-gay" somehow.

the dancers are camp, the guitarists hit their guitars, the singers shout and wail, i'd avoid that awful flamingo if i were you...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2010 17:04:28

por medio

Posts: 289
Joined: Nov. 15 2009

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to Ron.M)

Haha Ron I was waiting for your call

Forgive me if I'm wrong, that guy on the video, he's quite shocking as far as Highland dancing is concerned isn't it?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2010 3:59:21

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to por medio)

quote:

Forgive me if I'm wrong, that guy on the video, he's quite shocking as far as Highland dancing is concerned isn't it?

I dunno, por medio...
Maybe it was a good bit of simple entertainment in the Highlands 300 years ago as a challenge in a whisky drinking contest to see who could still do the footwork without touching the swords whilst absolutely rat-arsed?

But these days I think it just looks silly.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2010 8:44:48

akatune

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2010 9:26:48

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Jose Greco - Farruca (in reply to akatune)

quote:

Yeah, if the guy over-dresses and try to be cool, I agree. But male dancing seems more natural to me when it's some old guy in realistic clothes doing some bulerieas. Especially if it's humorous.

I would agree 100%.

It can look really cool when say a male singer bursts into a few spontaneous moments of dance during a Bulerias...or as you say, when someone just casually gets up to do a bit of dance.

It's just this choreographed stuff with the tight pants and monkey-jacket and holding certain dramatic poses for a long time etc that I find a bit camp.

I'm not against male dance in general...I don't find say..Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly camp...or the antics of Mick Jagger or Michael Jackson etc..

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2010 13:28:56