“I start from the very rich heritage of flamenco for a current creation.” Meeting with Paula Comitre at the Nîmes Flamenco festival

“I start from the very rich heritage of flamenco for a current creation.” Meeting with Paula Comitre at the Nîmes Flamenco festival

Paula Comitre, who has come to the festival several times, is on stage for the first time. – Mikaël Anisset

The dancer Paula Comitre is back at the Nîmes Flamenco festival, with two shows at the Odéon, one in homage to La Argentina, the other the result of a meeting with the dancer Lorena Nogal. 

How was this project born "after you, madam", dedicated to La Argentina ? 

I was selected for a six-month creative residency at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris, which welcomed a choreographer for the first time. I wanted to take a trip to the sources of Antonia Mercé La Argentina and her stay in Paris. 

What does she mean to you ? 

It represents an era in Spain, the Second Republic which was an explosion of art and freedom. It’s also a wonderful time in France. She is a woman who embodies freedom, creation, independence. This is a historic moment, which must not be forgotten at this moment when it is difficult to claim freedom. 

How did you investigate his background ? 

In Paris, there are many places where you can find books and programs from the period. I went to the National Dance Center in Pantin, which has a library with lots of archives and original documents. The library of the Paris Opera has a La Argentina collection, with scores, correspondence with Manuel de Falla, Joaquin Nin, Ernesto Halffter, with the creators of his costumes…&nbsp ;In Paris, I also met an antique dealer who has original letters that I own, books, programs. In Spain, at the Filmoteca, there are 10 minutes of videos, original recordings.

“I start from the very rich heritage of flamenco for a current creation.” Meeting with Paula Comitre at the Nîmes Flamenco festival

Paula Comitre, who has come to the festival several times, is on stage for the first time.

From there, how did you build the show ? 

I took inspiration from this heritage, from photos, from costume designs. In Paris, during the residency, other artists from all over the world lived, each with their own project. We decided to work together, with Orlando Bass who is a pianist and composer and María Alcaide, a Spanish visual artist based in Paris who signs a textile creation, inspired by the avant-garde wardrobe of La Argentina. Orlando was inspired by the real repertoire performed by Antonia Mercé to create a new creation. 

For my part, I was inspired by his movements, but especially by his energy. I start from tradition, from this very rich heritage for a current creation. 

It's a political show ? 

It is the symbol of the Spanish Republic, after which Spain experienced 40 years of dictatorship and repression, which were a horror. It's a way of remembering this time, this past of freedom so as not to make the same mistakes today.

She was an avant-garde artist. Is flamenco still an avant-garde art ? 

One of the riches of flamenco is that it is constantly evolving. It has always drawn from the roots, but with the passage of time, it incorporates scenic, aesthetic, musical innovations… This makes flamenco grow. 

On Wednesday, you present a second show "Alegorías", with Lorena Nogal. How did the meeting go ? 

The driving force, the intention was to bring together two totally different worlds. It was a very enriching process, we sought a common path, we sought to express it on stage. Lorena has adapted very well to flamenco while remaining in her contemporary universe.

The show is crossed by the theme of the perception of reality… 

It is the duality that is represented by the myth of Plato's cave, with the world that we can see and the world of ideas. We represent it through dance. Throughout the piece, we play with appearance and reality. At times, we think we only see one body when we are two different bodies. 

Lorena draws her inspiration from many other areas. This is also something you are interested in ? 

The will of "Alegorías" is to create a union between several disciplines, so that it is as rich as possible. 

You are accompanied by singer Tomás de Perrate. What did you ask him ? 

What I like is that two worlds live in him. In the color of his voice, there is tradition, a very pure flamenco. But his mind, his vision of flamenco is very open. He wasn't afraid to play with us and enter an unknown world. 

This meeting changed the way you dance ? 

The process was quite long, a little over a year. We had time to meet, to get to know each other, to play, to improvise. Something certainly remained from this experience. 

You have already played in Nîmes with other companies. This is the first time that you are on the front stage. What does this festival mean to you ? 

It's an honor to be able to premiere my show at the festival. I came for the first time in 2013 with the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, my first professional company. I came back with Rafaela Carrasco, last year David Coria… But this is the first time that I am presenting a creation. It's very special, very important to me.

"after you, madam", Tuesday January 16, 6 p.m. The Odéon, rue Pierre-Semard, Nîmes. From 9 € at 17 €. "Alegorías", Wednesday January 17, 8 p.m. The Odéon, rue Pierre-Semard, Nîmes. From 9 € at 23 €. 04 66 36 65 10. I subscribe to read more

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