Madrid flamenco venue opens amid covid crisis

MADRID — The passion and drama of live flamenco shows are back on stage in Madrid, but the performers are dancing behind plastic screens and keeping their distance from audiences.

Torres Bermejas, a flamenco show venue in Spain’s capital, opened its Moorish-style front door to customers after spending seven months closed due to the covid-19 pandemic. It was the first “tablao” to resume business.

Lying just off the Gran Via, one of Madrid’s main thoroughfares, the snug venue has burst back to life with its thrilling blend of “baile” (dance), “cante” (singing) and “toque” (guitar-playing.)

The venue checks customers’ body temperatures before they can enter and put a host of other precautions in place, including powerful air filters.

The goal is to lure back people who are wary of mingling in public and becoming infected.

The rectangular stage at Torres Bermejas juts out toward the tables on three sides. Most are set for two, with a candle in the middle. The nearest one is several yards away from the performers.

The hollow wooden stage is essential for dancing the “zapateado” — a rhythmic stomping that makes the platform vibrate.

The artists perform without masks, behind seethrough screens that are suspended from the ceiling and raised about 3 feet from the floor.

In the dressing room, face masks lie amid jewelry, and a guitarist wears a mask as he tunes his instrument.

With multi-colored tiles on the walls and ceiling, the venue is decorated in the style of the famed Alhambra palace in Granada, in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. Flamenco is an Andalusian art form.

Torres Bermejas, which opened 50 years ago, is one of Spain’s most celebrated “tablaos.” Famous names from the flamenco world such as Camaron and Paco de Lucia have played here.

Tourists have in recent times been the main source of business for flamenco venues, but Spain’s tourism sector is reeling from global travel restrictions.

Businesses are trying to make up for the downturn by turning to locals.

But the Madrid region has become Europe’s covid-19 hot spot during the pandemic’s second wave. As of last week, the capital region had a twoweek infection rate of 695 cases per 100,000 people — the highest in Europe.

On top of that, social distancing requirements mean fewer tables, which is another drag on profit. Only 50 people are allowed into each performance at Torres Bermejas. They must wear masks except when they are sitting at their tables.

The Madrid regional government has promised financial help for the “tablaos.” But some have already succumbed to the economic impact of the virus.

Two venues, the famed “Casa Patas” and “Café de Chinitas,” have shut down.

(AP/Manu Fernandez) Flamenco dancer Antonia Estepa performs behind screens next to hand clappers and guitarists during a flamenco show at the Torres Bermejas “tablao,” or live flamenco venue, in Madrid. The passion and drama of live flamenco shows are back on stage in Madrid, but performers are behind Perspex screens and keeping their distance from the audience. Torres Bermejas opened its doors to customers after seven months closed because of the covid-19 pandemic.

A child looks at the Torres Bermejas “tablao,” or live flamenco venue, in Madrid.

A staff worker checks a customer’s body temperature before he enters the Torres Bermeja.

A face mask lies amid jewellery on the dressing room where flamenco dancer Marina Perez prepares to take part in live flamenco in Madrid.

Estepa prepares before taking part in a flamenco show at the Torres Bermejas.

Flamenco guitarist Jose Sison tunes his guitar next to flamenco singer Antonio ‘El Pola’ rehearsing before taking part in a flamenco show at the Torres Bermejas.

Estepa works on her hair before taking part in a flamenco show at the Torres Bermejas.

People applaud at the end of a flamenco show at the Torres Bermejas “tablao” in Madrid. The passion and drama of live flamenco shows are back on stage in Madrid. But now the performers are behind Perspex screens and keeping their distance from the audience.