Festival de Jerez
 

My husband and I will be in Andalucia at the time of Festival de Jerez. Our hotel is in Seville. Has anyone been to the festival? Would it be worth it to take a day trip down to Jerez to see the festival? Also, I'm worried that it doesn't really get going until night, but we would have to catch a train back to Seville around 9:00. Thanks!!!

It would be very much worthwhile to take a trip down to Jerez during the Festival, the most important flamenco dance festival of the season as well as some fabulous singers and guitarists.

The main events are staged every night at 9pm in the Teatro Villamarta. This is the reason to go, and if you are interested, things go on in local bars into the night after the theater performances. You will not regret staying over in Jerez. Info and tickets: http://www.flamenco-world.com/notici...z26112011.html

I'll hold these performances as this years absolute highlights:

Rocío Molina, Premio Nacional de Danza 2010, on March 4th. Voted best female flamenco dancer 2007 and 2008 by Spanish critics. Have seen her nine times since 2007. Saw the performance she will do in Jerez in Córdoba last summer. Will never forget.

"...one of the finest soloists in the world today"
New York Times, 2009

"Molina has genius: irresistible, all-consuming, all-powerful"
Financial Times, 2011

Molina on Andalusian TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYaY4zZgTas

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Israel Galván on the 27th of February. As cutting edge as possible: http://www.flamencotv.es/en/current-...his-dance.html

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Pastora Galván on March 1st. Brillant, voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics. Got her definitive breakthrough during the Bienal in Sevilla in 2010: http://www.flamencotv.es/en/componen...e-pastora.html

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"Viva Jeréz" on March 3rd. Expect the full package, song, guitar and dance from many of the finest artists.

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Fuensanta la Moneta dances at Sala de Companía on March 7 at 7PM!!!!. Haven't seen her live yet, but her reputation is huge. Voted best female flamenco dancer 2009 by Spanish critics: http://www.flamencotv.es/en/componen...for-japan.html

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María Pagés on March 9: The "dancer with endless arms" has been among the two three most spectacular flamenco dancers since she started her own company in 1990. Here, during the festival in Jeréz in 2009: http://www.flamencotv.es/en/componen...erez-2009.html

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Joaquin Grilo ends it all on the 10th of March. My absolute highlight at the last Bienal in Sevilla. Just amazing. Here with the brilliant piano player Dorantes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjtXiPl8Rk

I assume you mean the Fera de Caballo (Horse Fair)from May 7-13 which tributes Flamenco this year.

There will be plenty to do during the day. The attached link has a schedule of events (all in Spanish). But things will get started mid-day. My friend from Sevilla that lived in Jerez for a few years actually liked the Jerez Feria better than the Sevilla Feria - she felt it had a more casual and local feel.

I think you're in for a treat!

http://www.jerez.es/especiales/feria/

CathyM,

Could be, but the annual two weeks long flamenco festival in February/March is usually called Festival de Jerez: http://www.jerez.es/index.php?id=festival-jerez

thanks, kimhe. I think I was confused as the OP was originally planning the trip for April which is actually between the Festival and the Feria!

Thanks so much for the help! Yes, our trip is in March, but an earlier post did say April.