The Dancer from Seville: An Inside Look at Israel Galván and “La Curva!”
He has been praised as the “Nijinsky of Flamenco.” He has also been cited as both a “rebel” and a “maverick.” Whatever he is, one thing is for sure, Israel Galván is the most exciting name on the contemporary Flamenco scene. From Spain to Austrailia, dance enthusiasts are buzzing about a new strong hold in dance called Galván. His brand of Flamenco is not for the purists. Rather, Galvan’s Flamenco belongs to an audience searching for something bold and enticing, something thrilling. Those thrill seekers should look no further than the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts this Thursday and Friday March 13th and 14th. Pace Presents is proud to bring the world renowned, flamenco superstar from Seville to the Schimmel stage.
Israel Galvan
Born in the land of Flamenco, it is only appropriate that this Andalusian dancer is the one to take the classic dance form into the present and beyond. Galván was brought up with the dance as both his parents were avid dancers. Through his whole life he saw the dance being performed against the backdrop of the classic Spanish guitar. The rhythms and steps came from him naturally. This was his culture. As the dancer matured, other influences came into his life by way of popular culture. It was the 1970’s and a huge blockbuster by an unknown screenwriter turned movie star had just been released, Rocky. The movie was a cultural phenomenon and it introduced the young Galván to the world of boxing. The ultimate man’s sport introduced him to a new glossary of movements. Uppercuts, right hooks and jabs all became a part of his physical vocabulary.
As Galván grew into an intellectual, he would explore even more physical realms. He trained in classical ballet and explored a mid-century Japanese movement called Butoh. Galván’s form of dance no longer belonged to Seville. It would become a global dance. In a brave departure from tradition, he consistently looks to discover new things about the dance of his ancestors. In “La Curva,” Galván no longer dances to the traditional chords of the Spanish guitar. Instead, the rhythmic dance steps are accompanied by piano, some percussion and sometimes by pure silence. His dance is one that is fascinated by not only rhythm but by reverberation. He explores vibration which, if I can quote my speech professor from undergrad, is “life itself.” Flamenco steps are blended with his vast, diverse physical vocabulary. His art is elevated to a new level.
In a recent article in The Guardian, they said the following of La Curva, “(it) is a joyous, witty collision of sound and image, made riveting by Galván himself. With his long legs and fiercly carved profile, he’s a master of traditional Flamenco; but his mercurial body also flickers through skidding cartoon comedy, ballerina delicacy and exotic stillness. He possesses an almost preternatural poise, yet some of his movements are so fast you can hear the whiplash displacement of air.”
Join us as we welcome a new legend to our stage and be a part of history as the dancer from Seville takes his ancestral dance and propels it into a new era.
See you at the Schimmel!
Michael Scott-Torbet
Pace Presents’ Blogger
LA CURVA Israel Galván
March 13th, 7:30pm | March 14th, 7:30pm
NEW YORK DEBUT
$55 | $40 | $35
Curated by Livesounds.org
This event is part of the NY Flamenco Festival.
