ctrican

I've received so much advice on this forum so far - thank you!

I am going to be in Madrid in April and want to see a flamenco performance. I'd prefer that the venue is not too touristy. Price is not as much of a concern as is authenticity, and I'd rather see an earlier show (10 p.m. or so) rather than a later one.

annesherrod

I dont beleive it is that prevelent in Madrid as it might be in other cities south. I could be wrong. Dont be surprized if you get some not so positive answers with regard to this question.

People have varied opinions about this it seems... if I recall past threads .... Have fun in Madrid! I have been several times and enjoy it a lot!!

kimhe

Most of the world's greatest flamenco artists now live in Madrid and perform here on a regular basis.

Casa Patas and the new Cardamomo (both close to Pza Santa Ana) are among the top venues.

At Cardamomo the program is now set until the end of March: http://www.cardamomo.es/
The brilliant Belén López often dances here (every second/third week this spring), and if she's on you should definitely go here. She has been dancing in New York this week under New York flamenco festival and is now going on to Miami and London. Hailed as one of the absolute greatest promises in female flamenco dance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1aHoufqeBw
http://esflamenco.com/scripts/news/e...rmIdPagina=691

At Casa Patas the program is now set until the end of Feb. http://www.casapatas.com/
Olga Pericet and Marco Flores, who dances from 22nd to 27th, are both fabolous (Flores won the dance award at the prestigious Concurso de Córdoba in 2007). A couple of clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWRRa7mWJp0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRTXgOMtfTg

In addition, here's a listing of flamenco performances in Madrid theaters; local and knowledgable crowds and the best artists. The program will fill up as we get closer to April.
http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=1

Nikki

Flamenco performances at Casa Patas have been the highlights of my two visits to Madrid. There are two shows on weekends, and I was told the later show is the more intense one. I did go to the late show on a weekend the first time, and the second time I went during the week, so there was only one show. They were both wonderful.

While I have heard that the food is not always good at the flamenco venues, my experience at Casa Patas was that dinner there was very good. It is served in the restaurant area, and after dinner we saw the show in the theater. By having dinner there we were seated close to the stage, although the entire venue is pretty small and intimate.

Flame123

Agree wholeheartedly with Nikki above. We saw our very first (and only so far) flamenco performance at Casa Patas less than a year ago when visiting Madrid. It was spectacular and I could not stop re-living it in my mind. We chose not to eat at the restaurant and had no trouble getting very good up-front seats for the show. We were just there a bit early and so we were one of the first let in. Very moving and recommended.

Revulgo

You can be interested in this link: Flamenco events around the world
http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?accion=p

kimhe

The performances at Caradamomo (Tuesday to Saturday) starts at about 11 pm and lasts for about one hour. After that, anything might happen.

From NYT: "There is nothing fancy about the small flamenco club called Cardamomo (Calle Echegaray, 15; 34-91-369-0757; www.cardamomo.es). The dancing here is raw, sweaty and fun; the costumes, working class; the crowd, younger and cooler than the other clubs in town... Reservations a must."

Reviews on tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...mo-Madrid.html

This site gives a good overview of the flamenco-scene in Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=397

Just note that Corral de la Morería is so famous that it is often crammed with tourists, not seldom brought in by bus-loads.

kimhe

The program at Cardamomo is now set for April. Belén López is dancing 1-4, 13-18 and 27-30. She is just now finishing a tour of US and Great Britain where she has been dancing with perhaps the greatest female flamenco dancer in the world right now, Rocío Molina. This week-end they are dancing in Sadler's Wells in London. Financial Times was seriously taken by their performance in New York two weeks ago:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f3a38bd4-1...44feab49a.html

kimhe

Also, brilliant Concha Jareño is dancing all April in Corral de la Morería in Madrid. She won two first prices at the latest edition of the prestigious national flamenco competition in Córdoba in 2007. I saw her last August in Madrid in the famous Spanish director Carlos Saura's staging Flamenco Hoy/Flamenco Today. Here she dances from 1 min 30 sek (white dress) in a rehearsal to the performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIpVunenY-A

http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/ingles/flamenco.html

amsdon

OMG!! Are you kidding me?

I sure wish I could go!
I hope the Fodorites read this they are always asking when to go where etc etc. This is a good one!

One thing about her is that she still get out there in the tablaos. I read she likes to work out and refine her stuff in from of the publico.. great!

Thanks Kimhe!

kimhe

amsdon,

he-he, think I will have to go to Madrid for a week-end in April...

amsdon

Of course you will!! Claro!