FLAMENCO FESTIVAL "EL CANTE DE LAS MINAS"
The elitarian flamenco festival, that was created in La Unión, a small village next to Cartagena in Southern Spain surrounded by hills and ruins of old mining-industry, called "Festival del Cante de las minas". It has taken place for over fourty years now. The tradition is rooted in the mine-workers, who used to sing and develop a specific style of flamenco, called the: cante de las minas. A very competitive festival emerged from it and today this festival recrutes the proper elite of new stars in flamenco, within the three different flamenco-disciplines: vocals, guitar and dance. The following series shows a japanese flamenco-student, who had been pre-selected to attend the competition. She has been trained by Yoko Komatsubara, a japanese flamenco-teacher, who brought the flamenco to Japan fourty years ago.
The reportage has been realized together with the author Martin Meggle during the festival in 2003, with the intent to show the fusion of these seemingly contrasting cultures.
The reportage has been realized together with the author Martin Meggle during the festival in 2003, with the intent to show the fusion of these seemingly contrasting cultures.
