The weekend of Jondo Flamenco Festival in Vancouver (Includes interview and first-hand account)
By
Joseph Boltrukiewicz
Published
Three events, “Las Perlas del Pacifico”, “Persian and Flamenco Fusion”, and “Una Nota Flamenca” are collection of music, collaboration and experiences between Persian, Chinese and Latin American music.
Flamenco dancers during 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival, Vancouver.
The two opening events on Friday night, under one name “Las Perlas del Pacifico”, featured two concerts, “Quadro Flamenco & Café de Chinitas” by Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre and “Romeo and Juliet” by Karen Flamenco. There were also guest artists who accompanied these two concerts. The Friday night concert was prepared by the flamenco artists based on the west coast of Canada.
Karen Pitkethly (Juliet) and Nicola Tucakov (Romeo) on stage of 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival, Vancouver.
Romeo and Juliet show, prepared and performed by Karen Flamenco group was set in the environment of a Mexican village and was another approach to the world famous tragic love story that was converted into flamenco dance and music. Karen Pitkethly as Juliet was both a dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Karen Flamenco. The role of Romeo was performed by Nikola Tucakov. The show included a story teller (Gerardo Avila), singer (Maria Avila), violinist (Patrick Ernst), guitarist (Peter Mole), singer (Pirouz Ebadypour “de Caspio”) and a group of Gypsies.
Kassandra “La China”, artistic director of Café de Chinitas and Jafelin Helton (vocal) on stage of 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival in Vancouver.
The idea of Café de Chinitas goes back to poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca and the city of Malaga in the turn of the 20th century where there was a café visited by people from many walks of life, Chinese women included. The performers entertaining people were influenced by rich mosaic of cultures and traditions in the atmosphere where “anything could happen”.
Pirouz “de Caspio” Ebadypour (vocal) and Gareth Owen (guitar) in duo performance in Café de Chinitas, 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival in Vancouver.
Cuadro Flamenco relates much to the environment of the old day café that provided great atmosphere where the musicians interacted with each other by improvising, supporting and generally exchanging their artistic experiences that were brought with them to the café’s stage.
The parts of Café de Chinitas program were “En Silencio” by Miguel Poveda, with Andrea Williams as a solo flamenco dancer, “Gallardo” by Kassandra “La China” who is the artistic director of Café de Chinitas and Tangos de Chinitas, choreographed by Kassandra who was also a solo performer. Solo singers were Oscar Nieto and Pirouz Ebadypour “de Caspio”. Guitar solo part was performed by Gareth Owen.
Romeo and Juliet part of Las Perlas de Pacifico, 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival in Vancouver.
The event was sponsored by Oajnet Systems Ltd. as the main sponsor. The media sponsors were OMNI Television, Georgia Straight, CBC Radio Canada, Mundo Flamenco (Co-op Radio), Farhange Ma, Shahrvand, and Paivand Media Group.
One of many fiery moves during flamenco performances during 7th Annual Jondo Flamenco Festival in Vancouver.
