The first Semana Internacional del Flamenco will be held in Jerez de la Frontera from 10–16 November 2012. The festival will open with a performance by flamenco guitarist Paco Cepero on Saturday 10 November 2012 at Los Claustros de Santos Domingo.

Paco Cepero (Francisco López Cepero García) has always commanded respect for his playing in the flamenco world, but as he is almost the last remaining Jerez link with the flamenco guitarist Javier Molina (1868–1956), who also taught Rafael del Águila (1900–1976) and Parrilla de Jerez (1945–2009) and in turn Moraíto Chico (1955–2011) – all from Jerez de la Frontera – one prays for the longevity of Paco Cepero’s life even more so.

The Semana Internacional del Flamenco offers performances each evening featuring: singers Tío José de Paula de Joaquín El Zambo and Abraham El Zambo, accompanied by David Peña on guitar; singer José Méndez, accompanied by Domingo Rubichi on guitar; and singer Tamara Tañé, accompanied by Miguel Salado on guitar; as well as related exhibitions, activities for children and the investure of the dancer Angelita Gómez to the Real Academia de San Dionisio, in recognition of her contribution to flamenco dance.

The Semana Internacional del Flamenco ends on 16 November 2012, the second día mundial del flamenco marking the acceptance of flamenco by UNESCO on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

© 2012 Thérèse Wassily Saba