The Bienal de Flamenco is an international festival dedicated to
flamenco
Flamenco () is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the Gitanos, gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and Region of Murcia, ...
music and dance, held biennially in
Seville, Spain
Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Seville ...
. Established in 1980, it is the oldest and most prominent festival of its kind in the country, showcasing both traditional and contemporary flamenco. The festival spans several weeks and features concerts, dance performances, and interdisciplinary productions in venues across the city.
History
The first biennale took place in 1980. According to longtime director Antonio Zoido, the festival was conceived as a democratic gesture to return flamenco to the public sphere after years of state appropriation during the Franco era.
At the inaugural edition of the festival,
Calixto Sánchez received the Giraldillo, its top award.
Since its inception, the Bienal has grown into one of the most internationally recognized flamenco festivals, attracting audiences from around the world.
In 2018, the monthlong edition featured over 60 performances and drew approximately 42,000 attendees, according to organizers.
The 2024 program included artists such as
Miguel Poveda
Miguel Ángel Poveda León (born 13 February 1973) is a Spanish flamenco singer.
Poveda has collaborated with artists from various disciplines who were previously unknown to flamenco audiences. He often collaborates with Spanish flamenco guit ...
(returning after 14 years),
Farruquito,
David Peña Dorantes, and
Rafael Riqueni
Rafael Riqueni del Canto (Sevilla, August 16, 1962), is a Spanish guitar player and composer. He is considered as one of the biggest names or “Maestros” in flamenco guitar history. At age fourteen, he won the two main national awards for fl ...
.
References
External links
Official websiteCanal Sur Television, the official TV site of Bienal de Flamenco
{{Culture of Andalusia
Music of Spain
Music of Andalusia
Spanish folk music
Spanish dances