Events

Every year, as usual, since 2010, Cervantes Institute in Bucharest and Spanish Embassy in Romania, have observed the tradition and presented flamenco-goers, a dance performance. In 2014, the guests are Mercedes Ruiz's dance group, founded by the same dancer, who in the dance performance Baile de palabra features with the guitarist Santiago Lara and the singer-songwriter David Lagos, directed by Francisco López.

In collaboration with Bucharest National Theatre and the support of Cervantes Institute Group of Sponsors.                      

May 16, 8:00 p.m., Studio Hall

About the performance

“Baile de palabra” is a dance performance which has grown on me over the years and which is already part and parcel of my artistic creation. A dance performance that as my artistic career has developed, it has improved. Moreover, my flamenco artistic creation, understanding and expressiveness have grown; also, the way in which I have learned to showcase my flamenco understanding and style, without recourse to the usual style of dancing. By way of my grasp of flamenco, I can get closer to its essence and its use of guitar so that my flamenco style be original, be closer to its roots.

Both in “Baile de palabra” and in my previous dance performances I have integrated a new flamenco style of dancing and new choreography, the upshot of which has been showcased in a performance and a style of dancing that is very personal and up-to-date and in which I convey my deference to the flamenco tradition.

In this performance that I have envisioned as a “flamenco indoor perfornamce” I wish to be able to send the message of an authentic flamenco dance, “my dance of honour” - “Baile de palabra”. Mercedes Ruiz

A few facts about Mercedes Ruiz

Antonio Gades Prize, Córdoba national contest

Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla Prize, 2002

Critics Prize for Juncá, Festival de Jerez

Movimientos International Prize in Wolzburg, Germany

Critics Prize at the XV^th edition of Festival de Jerez for the Perspectivas performance

El Flamenco Hoy Prize for the best flamenco dancer in 2013

Mercedes Ruiz (1980, Jerez de Frontera, Cádiz) started her dancing career at the age of 7 in Manuel Morao's dance troupe and following the performances staged in Jerez, they went on the Madrid tour then, a few months later to New York (Town Hall Theater, Plymouth Theater) then, in Canada (El León de Oro Theater).

In 1998 she joined in the Antonio el Pipa Dance Groupe and performed, dancing at Festival de Jerez, Opera de Graft (Austria), Centro Cultural de la Villa (Madrid) and in the most famous flamenco festival for professionals, Festival de La Unión (Murcia).

In 2000 she collaborated, for a year, with the well-known Eva Yerbabuena's dance group, in the 5 Mujeres 5 performance together with whom she went on a national and interantional tour.

In 2001, together with the singer-songwriter Miguel Poveda, she took part in World Music Festival (Italy) then, in 2002 she started the career of dancer vocalist together with Andrés Peña or Belén Maya and in Andrés Marín Dance Groupe, together with whom she took part in New Flamenco Festival in Los Angeles, then in Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla in 2002.

Mercedes Ruiz Company took shape in 2003

The first performance, Dibujos en el aire (Drawings in the air), had its opening night in 2003 at Festival de Jerez, then in the same year she went on a tour in France, Holland and Japan and in 2004 they took the performance to Paris and Helsinki and took part as a guest in Migues Poveda's performance at Teatro Central de Sevilla. In the same year 2004, she showcased the same performance in the well-known festival Madrid en Danza, then in september she took part in Bienal de Flamenco in Lyon as a stand-alone artist with the performance Gestos de mujer (Woman gestures) and she would take the performance on a tour throughout France then back to Paris and London. In November she went on tour with Antonio Canales in South America

In 2006 – besides the two performances in her acting portofolio showcased in worldwide tours, she staged at Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla a new performance Juncá for which she would be awarded Critics Prize at Festival de Jerez the following year.

In 2008 she performed for a season at the Teatro Gran Vía de Madrid, where tickets for the performance were sold out for months in advance.

In March 2009, she showcased the performance Mi último secreto (My last secret) at Festival de Jerez, which she would perform as well at the prestigious dance festival “Montpellier Danse”, then she went on tours in Luxemburg, Italy and Russia.

In February 2011 she danced at the Sadler's Wells Theater, in London Flamenco Festival showcasing the performance Baile de palabra, then she danced in the festivals of Rovereto, Poznam, Milano Danza Expo 2011, Festival “Muzique Ibérique” de Colomiers, Teatro Cervantes de Málaga, Festival de Guitar de Córdoba, Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla in 2012 and at Teatro Compac Gran Vía de Madrid (Original Flamenco Festival).
In 2013 the performance was staged at the theatre Fígaro in Madrid and went on tours in Moscow at “International House of Music” and “Mont de Marsan” festival, Milán, Niza, Roma Flamenco Festival and Berlin.

Translated by: Coșoianu Mircea

MTTLC, University of Bucharest