Juergas are not formal performances but rather casual, social occasions where people can connect through flamenco. (Photo courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa)
Ilisa Rosal, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa’s artistic director, talks about her latest production “Juerga Flamenca” with dancers and musicians coming directly from Spain along with dancers from the United States.
"Juerga Flamenca" refers to a lively, informal gathering where people come together to celebrate and enjoy flamenco music and dance. (Photo courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa)
The production at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31, at The Moss Center, features original choreography, live music and improvisation by some of the most important Flamenco artists of our era, according to Rosal.
Rosal explains that a "juerga flamenca" refers to a lively, informal gathering where people come together to celebrate and enjoy flamenco music and dance. It's a social event, often described as a "jam session" or "freestyle" celebration of flamenco, where participants can sing, dance, play instruments, and express themselves through the art form.
“Juergas are not formal performances but rather casual, social occasions where people can connect through flamenco,” she explains. “In Spain, beginners and experienced flamenco enthusiasts alike are welcome to participate and share their passion for the art form.”
According to Rosal, participants can improvise dances and palos (like the "patada"), share flamenco pieces they've been working on, and engage in the lively exchange of music and movement.
“Juergas are filled with clapping, singing, shouts of encouragement ("¡olé!"), and a general atmosphere of joy and passion for flamenco. Beyond the music and dance, juergas also provide a space for flamenco enthusiasts to socialize, share food and drinks, and enjoy the company of fellow lovers of the art.”
'Juerga Flamenca" by Ballet Flamenco La Rosa at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31, at The Moss Center, features original choreography, live music and improvisation. (Photo courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa)
This year, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa celebrates its 40th anniversary and Rosal says she wants the audience to feel like they are in a Flamenco party.
Ballet Flamenco La Rosa is dedicated to preserving Flamenco's rich legacy while creating original, innovative work to develop the art form further.
The company maintains and celebrates the complex and deep tradition of Flamenco's roots, which are multi-cultural and interdisciplinary, having been born in the multicultural society of Medieval Andalusia, Southern Spain, where Europeans, Arabs, Jews, Africans, and Gypsies co-existed in a Golden Age of learning and culture which has become known as the "Golden age"
What: Ballet Flamenco La Rosa presents "Juerga Flamenca"
Where: Dennis C. Moss Center Black Box theater, Dennis C Moss Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St., Miami
When: 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31
Information: (786-573-5300) www.mosscenter.org
