Flamenco Concert by La Macarena de Jerez

Direct from Spain, the exceptional Macarena de Jerez visits Atlanta to perform flamenco singing and dance in the style of her hometown of Jerez de la Frontera. She is a festera – one of the only women in this role in the art form. In this role, she uses song and dance to create humor and excitement on stage. She will be accompanied by Paco Fernández on guitar, who learned the many aspects of flamenco while growing up in a family of artists in Seville, Spain. The two will be joined by participants of the APERTURE residency, a program to amplify flamenco arts in Georgia. Together, they present flamenco in its tradition of improvisation, building on the action and reaction by those on stage and in the audience.

About the Artists:

Flamenco singer and dancer La Macarena de Jerez is one of the most well-respected artists in flamenco across Spain. She is known for singing the grand songs of the flamenco canon, as well as for being one of the few females in the role of festera – a character who uses song and dance to create humor and excitement on stage. She debuted on stage at age 10 at the famous Villamarta Theater in her hometown of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. At 15, she performed her first solo concert at la Peña Los Cernícalos in the same city, and she was on stage in the important festival named the Bienal de Sevilla when she was 18 years old. She has since performed in major theaters and festivals across Spain and around the world. In addition, she has been recorded on flamenco albums, including Concierto Flamenco de Navidad (1995), Jerez Joven por bulerías (1996), and La Mujer y el cante en compás de origen (1999).

Flamenco guitarist Paco Fernández is part of a famous and important flamenco family in Seville, Spain. He began playing guitar when he was eight years old. His career as a performing artist developed alongside his sister, brother, and parents, all of whom are accomplished artists. Paco debuted on stage at age 12, and he toured Spain performing with his family at theaters and music halls. After that, he spent nearly a decade touring Europe, the United States of America, Japan, and India. He has performed with Camarón de la Isla, Antonio Núñez ’Chocolate’, Farruco, and other legendary and iconic artists of his time. He published his first album, entitled Sastipén Talí in 2005, collaborating with Dorantes, Diego de Morao, Potito y Antonio Fernández Montoya “El Farru”, as well as his siblings.