Beyond Studying Flamenco in Spain: Nobue Kurosu and Hideko Yamamoto at the Festival de Jerez
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Beyond Studying Flamenco in Spain: What Nobue Kurosu and Hideko Yamamoto Discovered at the Festival de Jerez
Jerez, Spain, is one of flamenco’s great cultural centres. Studying flamenco here means more than developing technique: it involves accepting the challenge of placing your artistic expression before the discerning eyes of those who know this art deeply in its place of origin.
This article follows the journey of BG Flamenco Academy’s Nobue Kurosu and Hideko Yamamoto, who performed at a long-established tablao during the Festival de Jerez, one of flamenco’s major international gatherings.
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Performance video
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Performing During the Festival de Jerez: The Professional Discipline Behind Improvisation
According to the account of this performance in Jerez, there was no predetermined script. After a brief discussion with maestro Enrique El Extremeño, the artists had to respond immediately and seek the “truth” of their expression on stage.
Hideko Yamamoto was returning to Jerez after three years, while Nobue Kurosu approached this experience after further study in Madrid and Seville. Both encountered the “weight” of flamenco beyond the barriers of language. As they danced, they felt that their own life journeys were also being put to the test.
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Where Their Teacher, Benito García, Saw Them in Their Development
After the intensity of the performance “From Japan to Jerez,” I offered them a demanding assessment: “Insufficient practice.” This was my professional judgement of what I had just witnessed, expressed with the greatest respect for their talent and potential for growth. For me, the true value of studying flamenco in Spain lies not only in performing there, but in returning with a clear understanding of the areas that need further work and turning that learning into concrete goals for daily practice. In our current educational approach, the AL ANDALUS 2.0 system provides the framework for that continuity.
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Conclusion: A Journey of Continued Growth
Their experience during the Festival de Jerez kindled a lasting fire within them. Although the road towards perfection is long, we return to the studio mirror and continue moving forward in search of a new artistic truth.
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