Flamenco Revolutions: Joaquin Grilo

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Express contributor Katherine Silkaitis caught up with renowned flamenco dancer Joaquin Grilo on the eve of his appearance at D.C.'s annual flamenco festival.

NOW IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR, the eight-day "Flamenco Festival, Washington, D.C." commenced last Friday and concludes Feb. 17. Tuesday's performance, "Gala 2007: Bienal de Sevilla," brings together six of Spain's prominent and rising flamenco dancers. In addition to veterans Joaquin Grilo and Isabel Bayon, the additional four performers are making their U.S. debut: La Moneta, Manuel Linan, Olga Pericet and Marco Flores.

While all are talented, the 38-year-old Grilo is the star of the night. He first toured abroad when he was only 13 and has since appeared everywhere from Israel to Taiwan. He has also held posts in Spanish dance companies and recently has been choreographing and touring with his own company.

» EXPRESS: When did you begin to dance and at what moment did you decide to make flamenco dancing your career?
» GRILO: I began to dance at six years old in the annual festivals of my homeland, and when I was about nine, I began taking classes from Cristobal "El Jerezando," which I did until I was about 12 or 13. When I was 15, I took part in "Ballet Albariquela" with Primer Bailarin. It was at this age I decided that dance was to be my profession.

» EXPRESS: Why did you choose to focus on flamenco particularly?
» GRILO: I didn't choose flamenco — it had been in my life since I was born. My parents and others in my family were very fond of flamenco, including a brother of my mother's who sang very well. It was the way we lived in Jerez [Grilo's birthplace in Spain] since I was young.

» EXPRESS: What sort of reactions do you get from foreign audiences when you perform abroad?
» GRILO: I love to tour, travel and know other cultures, other forms of life and, above all, I like to present my dance to all the corners of the earth. Fortunately, the public reaction [in the United States] has always been very good and filled with respect. For me, it has been an unforgettable experience, though the great majority of the public knows me for my tours with maestro [guitarist] Paco de Lucia, where I learned a lot. It was a very important part in my life.

» GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW; 8 p.m., $20-$65; 202-994-6800. (Foggy Bottom-GWU)

Photo courtesy GW Lisner Auditorium