Spanish dancer promises to bring the 'olé' in flamenco

One of Spain's leading gypsy flamenco dancers, Amador Rojas, will be performing in Puerto Flamenco 2005 at Pinto Wharf this weekend.

Mr Rojas started dancing at the age of seven under the tuition of the legendary El Farruco and has since toured the five continents, captivating audiences with his temperamental and raw gypsy style of dance.

He forms part of today's leading flamenco company, Eva La Yerbabuena, with which he participated at the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla. He has also performed in theatres in London, New York and Japan.

Mr Rojas was invited to Malta by one of the island's flamenco exponents in Seville, Francesca Grima, and percussionist Andrej Vujicic - the brains behind and the talent at the forefront of the dance spectacle that is featuring some of Seville's award-winning young artists.

Together with singer José "El Tremendo" and gypsy guitarist Joselito Acedo, the group is also taking its performance to Croatia, Belgrade, Greece and Australia later on in the year.

"I look forward to performing in Malta and finding out more about where Cikka (Francesca) is from. We have performed together many times in Spain but it will be different performing with her in Malta," Mr Rojas said.

"I wish that a Spanish, Sevillian or even Triana (a famous flamenco suburb of Seville) girl would have the same talent as Cikka and that level of understanding and communication that we share on stage! In general, yes you do need to be Spanish to have flamenco running through your veins but in Cikka's case it's different."

Speaking about the worldwide appeal and popularity of flamenco, Mr Rojas believes it has "something special... I don't know how to explain but it reaches inside and moves people, regardless of where they are from. It is a profound art form. A flamenco artist gives himself fully to the crowd and the crowd responds".

On the commercialisation of flamenco, or whether the authentic form is being exported, he believes "there are many experiments today in flamenco and a lot of them lack the true flamenco essence. There is no 'olé' in them!

"The pure art still survives and will always survive but it is becoming harder to see it in shows and especially outside Spain."

The situation for music and arts in general is in a slight crisis, according to Mr Rojas. Flamenco is suffering too, but there are countries that have not yet witnessed the real thing and these are starting to open up. A flamenco artist still makes a living with the help of his performances and tours abroad, he said.

Flamenco has been used a lot to promote Spanish culture abroad. "This is both good and bad: good because, internationally, people know about it and bad because it has become a bit like a postcard, a cliché, and people mistake flitting, frilly skirts and castanets for the real art.

"It is our duty to change this false perception and really move the international audiences with the depth of our expression. Only in this way can art cross barriers."

In Malta, Mr Rojas intend "to express the particular way I feel about flamenco and offer all my art, as well as a glimpse into my soul and what I truly carry inside. I hope that the Maltese relate to what we do, connect with us and enjoy the show".

The open air event is being held tomorrow and on Sunday at 8.30 p.m. Tickets cost Lm7 and are available from St James Cavalier, in Valletta or at the door.