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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
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?
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..
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