PRESENTACIÓN

The “Flamenco on the border Festival” aims to become a new and dynamic annual event focussed on Morón de la Frontera and its flamenco legacy. It has been thought to reactivate Morón de la Frontera as a place where get close to, enjoy and share flamenco and Andalusian culture alike

Throughout history Morón has been linked to flamenco thanks to the artists born here. In addition this sevillian town has been the meeting ground for some of the most outstanding flamenco performers who, at certain stages of their careers, lived or spent some time here. From el Fillo, la Andonda, Silverio Franconetti and el Tenazas to Juan de Juan, Pepe Torres, Jairo Barrull, Moisés Cano, David el Galli, Carmen Lozano, Lidia Valle or Dani de Morón, all have contributed, the latest still do, to enrich and broadens the flamenco heritage of the “town of the lime”. Nevertheless, and despite the documents and popular memories that prove that Morón boasts a deeply rooted flamenco tradition, it was during the 1960´s and 1970´s when this town enjoyed its flamenco heyday.

In 1963 the Gazpacho Andaluz de Morón de la Frontera was created becoming one of the classic flamenco festivals in Andalusia -along with Potaje de Utrera, Festival de Arcos and the one in Mairena del Alcor-.

However the great explosion came about with a visionary North-american chap, Don E. Pohren, who fell in love with Flamenco and bought a country house on the outskirts of Morón to set up the grounds of what is nowadays known as active tourism.

Tourists yearning for real flamenco experiences came to Pohren´s country house to take part in courses, performances and private gatherings in which renowned flamenco artists such as Juan Talega, Manolito de María, Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera, Perrate, Joselero, Juan del Gastor y Diego del Gastor acted as masters of ceremony. But as it is said in a seguiriya´s lyric, ”Times changes” and this glorious epoch came to an end.

From then on, flamenco fans and tourists alike claim the privileged place that Morón deserves within the flamenco scene given its importance in the history of this artistic genre.

Upon deep reflexion and debate on this issue, “Flamenco on the border Festival” has been created with the determination of becoming an impulse for cultural tourism and the flamenco scene in both Morón and the entire Seville province. With its view fixed on both roots and new horizons, “Flamenco on the border Festival” will combine tradition and avant-garde, vintage flamenco with forward-looking proposals.

Shows, recitals, talks, presentations, film and documentary screening, exhibitions and late-night gatherings will be the activities that shape this bordering meeting that counts on Morón de la Frontera to provide it with the environment and atmosphere necessary to celebrate those moments that, thanks to art, make ourselves happier and better people..

Additionally, this new and stimulating proposal offers visits to heritage sites, monuments, natural reserves, traditional oil presses, wine cellars, country houses, grasslands scattered with evergreen and cork oaks where bulls are peacefully bred, along with the rich gastronomy of the area and the singularity of cultural and flamenco associations that will allow visitors to experience and enjoy to its full our most international cultural hallmark, flamenco music. In fact, laws and administrative measures taken at different levels have officially recognized the true meaning of flamenco in Andalusian culture – Andalusian Heritage Law, July 1991, and the article 68 of the new Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia- as well as its international dimension – Inscription of Flamenco on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of the UNESCO in 2010-.

Flamenco singing, dance and guitar playing courses, talks and presentations, film screening, exhibitions and shows will encompass this festival that will hold its first edition between the 7th and the 10th of September 2011. We are convinced that, as it happened with long established events such as Festival de Jerez, Mont de Marsan and the Bienal of Seville, “Flamenco on the border” will return to Morón the natural place in the flamenco geography it is worthy of, promoting at the same time the town as a tourist destination that will appeal to flamenco aficionados and students from all over the world.