The Pearl was filled with Spanish rhythm and moves Friday night when Madrid-based flamenco dancer Primitivo Daza and his dance company, Pure Flamenco, performed at the former brewery as part of the Olé San Antonio festival.
The three-month-long festival, which opened June 15 and runs through Sept. 16, features events centered on culinary traditions, music, dance, performances, art, and architecture celebrating San Antonio’s Spanish heritage and the city’s Tricentennial.
Originally scheduled for Thursday, the free event was moved to Friday due to inclement weather. On Friday, the performance was delayed nearly one-an-a-half hours due to “technical difficulties,” according to Pearl Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Fauerso, but drew a crowd of several hundred people nonetheless.
The flamenco performance showcased the Southern Spanish style of music with two guitarists, two singers, and one cajón. Three dancers swayed and spun to the sounds of guitars and clapping, sending colorful dresses billowing upward into the night.
Daza previously performed with The National Dance Company of Spain. He has participated in operas, Spanish cinema, and in theaters across the world, according to a press release.
Daza and his troupe traveled from Madrid for the festival. The Pearl joined the Tricentennial’s “Summer of Spain,” which focuses on the contributions of Spain to San Antonio’s culture.
Each event, including Pure Flamenco’s performance, strives to create situations of exchange between the cultures of Spain and San Antonio, according to a release on the festival.
