Hanukkah flamenco master classes
Currently on international tour with her flamenco show Emotions — that received standing ovations at venues in Israel last summer — the legendary Maria Juncal will be back Friday, November 30 to lead eight master classes in various parts of the country.
Scion of a distinguished Spanish flamenco family, Maria Juncal is a sixth generation dancer, carrying the art in her blood. She is returning to Israel for her annual round of master classes and workshops, always hosted in different places, spreading the art of her heritage, just in time for Hanukka.
“I am dedicated to the idea of helping flamenco reach those who are looking for it,” said Juncal.
From Madrid, in addition to dancing, and teaching flamenco at the prestigious Amor de Dios academy, known as “a temple of Flamenco,” Juncal works to bring culture and art to deprived areas internationally. Her work has received recognition from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development; and the Cuban Culture Ministry.
Juncal’s aptly named flamenco show, Emotions (still on tour), sweeps audiences along on a magical 75-minute carpet of emotions, expressed through guitar, dance and song, and a Spanish chair.
In her dance, she follows flamenco’s formal lines, embellishing them with shows of strength led superbly by her inner spark, her duende. In tandem with the effect each of her movements has on the atmosphere in the theater, her lines become starker and her muscles tighten to contain the passion of her work; finally her arms flutter like butterflies.
“My aim on stage is to be free to express from my heart and to reach people so that they can get in touch with their own emotions,” said Juncal.
This year, Juncal’s events will take place in Haifa, Pardes Hanna, Ra’anana, Tel Aviv and Ramat Hasharon.
To sign up for one of Maria Juncals’s master class workshops, November 30-December 6, contact Silvia Baro at 050.548.2850 or silviayrafael@gmail. com