Yjastros is the American Flamenco Repertory Company and is associated with the National Institute of Flamenco. I have cribbed a few words about Yjastros from their webpage.
“In 1999, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company set forth on an artistic journey that would become America’s most distinctive flamenco project. This revolutionary performance entity combined the mosaic quality of the American repertory company with the authentic idiom of flamenco, creating a living archive of choreographic masterworks.
Yjastros is the flamenco dance company in residence in the University of New Mexico’s Department of Theatre and Dance.”
Visit the Yjastros web page. [Opens in a new browser tab.]
Visit the Festival de Jerez page about Yjastro’s performance on February 28th. [Opens in a new browser tab.]
Click to see helpful travel notes about Jerez de la Frontera
It is a great honor that Yjastros was invited to perform at the Festival de Jerez. We think this is the first time a group from the United States has been invited. Better still, the Festival is covering some of the costs.
In celebration of this major accomplishment, a group of people from the United States are traveling to Jerez to support and encourage Yjastros. These are people in addition to the compañia itself and several people from the National Institute of Flamenco (NIF) staff. Several NIF board members are also going to Jerez-paying our own way, of course.
We have a number of activities planned to help people enjoy what may be their first trip to Jerez and / or the Festival.
Here is a sample of what we have planned.
Friday, February 24
12:30 pm – Group welcome, orientation to Jerez and the Festival, and walking tour
· Walking tour to include Calle Larga, Plaza del Arenal and the Plaza de la Asunción and Festival de Jerez venues Teatro Villamarta, Sala Compania, Museos de la Atalaya, and Gonzalez Byass
Meeting place: In front of El Gallo Azul, Calle Larga 2, next to Plaza Esteve
2:30 pm – Lunch at Albores
Saturday, February 25
10:30 am – Walking tour of the Barrio San Miguel to include the large statues of Lola Flores and La Paquera, and a visit to an unexpected bakery. In addition to Lola Flores and La Paquera, Barrio San Miguel was the home of many legendary flamenco singers, including Antonio Chacón, Agujetas, Manuel Molina, La Serneta and El Marrurro. The Barrio is also the home of “La Plazuela” referenced in many flamenco letras!
Meeting place: In front of El Gallo Azul, Calle Larga 2, next to Plaza Esteve
Noon – Wine tasting at Bodega Lustau
2:30 pm – Lunch at Taberna Jerez
Sunday, February 26
11:00 am – Noon – Walking tour of the Alcázar de Jerez and the Catedral de Jerez in the Barrio El Salvador
Meeting place: In front of the Hotel Bodega Tio Pepe, 1 Plaza Encarnación
1:00 pm – Lunch at Bar Juanito
Monday, February 27
12:30 pm – Walking tour of the Barrio Santiago, including a stop at the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco. The Barrio Santiago is another important flamenco neighborhood in Jerez, and some of its legendary flamenco sons and daughters, past and present, include Tío José de Paula, Tía Anica la Piriñaca, Terremoto de Jerez, Fernando de Terremoto, La Macanita, Juana la del Pipa, and Manuel Morao. For more information, watch this episode of “Rito y Geografia del Cante Flamenco” that focuses on the Barrio Santigao
Meeting place: In front of El Gallo Azul, Calle Larga 2, next to Plaza Esteve
2:30 pm – Lunch at La Cruz Blanca
Tuesday, February 28 – Holiday in Spain – “Dia del Andalucia”
1:00 pm – Yjastros performance at Museos de la Atalaya
3:30 pm – Group meal, celebration, and conversation with Yjastros at Casa Sanchez Jerez
Below is a map of the performance venues and other points of interest created by the National Institute of Flamenco.