·:[ Dos Lunares ]:·
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Arabella, denim-clad dance sensation of the mahala is mocked by her family and neighbors for her modern “disco” Romani style of dance. While her father entertains with hoots and jeers, the mahala laughs but also watches. Perhaps in a few years, the children circling her now will dance as she does, learning, much the way she did: village gatherings, impromptu parties, adults twirling, swaying and shimmying around them. Little gestures caught by the eyes and heart. Arabella is the descendant of master interpreters; her legacy, to create new languages of movement. A lineage stretching from Rajasthan to Romania made up of bits and pieces of everywhere.

Traditional Romanes mixes with the bumps, grinds and pops of the video vixens Arabella watches on satellite TV. The result is a fusion of old and new, rooted, looking back and moving forward and infused with the swing of her ancestors. Called forth by two polyrhythmic violins and a syncopated bass doubling as a drum, Arabella’s hips offer tiny kisses to the wind. Around her, the Rajasthani/Romanian sands rise and warm her body, preparing it for the long night of revelry.

Beyonce and Shakira have nothing on her.

Tangos Portugueses ciganos antigos

World Cup has been my obsession these past few weeks at the expense of all my other interests. I can’t help thinking though about the respective Romani communities of the countries I’m watching playing on the field. For instance, this morning, Portugal, made me think of Ramón el Portugués (who is actually from Spain) and while searching for one of his famous tangos, I came across this excellent clip of Portuguese Gitanos. Amazingly distinct from their cousins across the border in Spain, their music sounds more ancient, more North African. The Moorish influence is very apparent.

Juana Cruz “Madre Juana” (1972)

Thanks to Juana Cruz, la madre de Camaron, for passing on her arte to her son and to all the mothers who share their gifts and beauty with the world.

Manuela Carrasco

A beautiful clip, a perfect setting. One of the best eras for flamenco. ‘La Diosa’ in all her flamenco puro glory!

This clip seems to appear and reappear on Youtube. It’s originally from the Ritmo y Geografía del Cante DVD series.

From the DVD description, courtesy of Flamenco World:

Cantaor Children
The earliest steps taken by artists such as Moraíto, La Macanita, Remedios Amaya, Carmelilla Montoya, Antonio de la Malena and Carlos Heredia, who fascinated their relatives, friends and neighbours with their gracefulness and self-assurance from a very young age. They are unique performances that provide some of the keys for understanding the transmisssion of the heritage of flamenco culture.

El Torta-Dos Lunares

Are you in the mood yet? We are! Hope to see you this Friday and Sunday for some communal Flamenco festivity!

Dolores Agujetas con sus hijos cantando por buleria

I once read an interview with Dolores Agujetas where she said I don’t sing Flamenco, I sing Cante Gitano. I wouldn’t disagree.
Watch the video until the end to see los hijos do their thing.

Django Reinhardt – J’attendrai Swing 1939

Los Angeles Times article got me thinking about Django:

Django Reinhardt: The original Guitar Hero?

Saturday marks what would have been the 100th birthday of guitarist Django Reinhardt, and one thing the Gypsy jazz innovator is often credited with is helping elevate the guitar from a supporting role to a lead player in his vibrant take on early American jazz.

Read more here.

Peret-Borriquito

I’m in the midst of reading Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France, a nice little book on French Catalan Gitanos. It mostly focuses on the popular group Tekameli. But whenever I hear ‘Catalan rumbas’ my mind automatically goes to Peret and his charming rumbas. He is the master of the style.

I have a special fondness for children who develop arte at an early age. Considering how distracted kids are these days by computer and TV screens, it’s inspiring to see youngins so adeptly demonstrate compas and sentimiento in their baile and cante. The following are two clips that have blown me away!

Battle between El Piky y El Banana recorded in Algemesi (Andalucia)

Lole y Manuel accompany a film clip of Gitanos in the country