Sevillanas!
The History of the Feria de Sevilla
…a celebration of life and culture.
The Feria de Sevilla is a festal tradition stretching back to mid-1800s in post-Napoleonic war, Spain. Horse trading was a typical way of life in Sevilla where owners would often gather in the area commonly known as Prado de Sebastian to conduct business. In 1846, two city councilors, respectively, José María Ibarra de Bilbao and Narciso Bonaplata de Barcelona realized that the people of Sevilla desperately needed a cheerful and uplifting distraction. Indeed, the city was not only recovering from the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars but had also suffered a devastating hurricane four years previous, in 1842, where many homes were lost. And so it was, the idea of the Feria (fair)–– a celebration of life and culture – was born.
This April 08 - 29, 2023, Colorado Institute of Flamenco will be hosting its first limited series class focused solely on the Spanish folk dance , Sevillanas! The event coincides with the annual festival in Seville, Spain called, Feria de Sevilla, also known as the Feria de Abril. Click on the link to register now and reserve your spot for classes.
SEVILLANAS! LIMITED SERIES CLASS | APRIL 08-29, 2023, 12 PM - 1:15 PM
This April, join us at the Colorado Institute of Flamenco for time of fun and community gathering. CIF is offering a 4-classes experience at the Denver Dance Center every Saturday, April 08, 15, 22, and 29 from 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM.
All are welcome.
Participants will learn all four dances (coplas) of the Sevillanas. It will be a convergence of disciplines where the dance participants and students/aficionados of guitarist and cante (singing) will join as accompaniment. Group class in guitar is currently in progress click on the link to learn more.
DON’T MISS OUT!
REGISTER YOUR SPOT TODAY!
courtesy of Andalucia.com
The Feria idea came into full realization the following year in 1847 in the Prado de Sebastian. The inaugural event attracted 15,000 visitors and hosted 19 casetas (striped tents), lasting three days from April 18-20.
Since then, the Feria de Sevilla/Feria de Abril has been the most anticipated event of the year attracting visitors all over the world for over 176 years.
The whole city is one incredible fairground.
The entire city comes alive as a microcosm of light, color, dance and music, joy and laughter, gorgeous dresses and smart, traje corto de Andaluz (equestrian suit). Men and women riding horses, with the caballero up front and the flamenca riding in back (see illustration at top), and beautiful horse-drawn carriages are seen trotting through the city streets.
Casetas both large and small are a gathering place belonging to local families, groups of friends, businesses, or political parties. Inside the tents, drinks flow and tapas are served! All the while the Sevillanas is danced, and music played non-stop during the week-long celebration.
The whole city is one incredible fairground.
The Feria begins with alumbrao when the lights are lit and pescaíto frito (Fried Fish) a traditional favorite dish is served. The celebration come to a spectacular finale with fireworks display over the Guadalquivir River.
“¡Olé––Asa!
Andréana
P.S. Reminder no dance class tomorrow we’re on spring break!
Next Article: The origins of the Sevillanas dance; a direct descendent of the Siguidillas, which has the rhythms like jota and fandangos.
¡LA FERIA!