Creators in search of the sweet sound of the fronds
I Meeting of technicians of sound for flamenco dance

Aimed at dance professionals, sound technicians, musicians, students of universities, conservatories, programmers, students, institutional leaders, theater and specialized press. The I National Meeting of sound technicians for dance, entitled Creators in search of the sweet sound of the fronds, inspired by Lorca’s poem Meditation in the rain, aims to bring together the various professionals involved in the choreographic fact analyzing it from the perspective of sound.

Aware of the essential importance of sound, this meeting brings together choreographers, dancers, technicians, singers and musicians in a transversal interaction with the aim of generating the need to analyze the issue of sound in contemporary flamenco choreography, which, on the one hand, has the constant particularity of having live music, which affects the synchronized handling of the different musical instruments, which can be besides the guitars, the voices and the cajón, the flute, sax, violin, cello, piano, double bass, the zapateado, the clapping, the use of the sticks and palillos, and on the other hand, often influenced by the theatrical paradigms, the musicians tend more and more to move on stage and interact with the dancers and the voices. Added to this is the balance that has to be achieved between the sound on stage and the sound that reaches the audience.

The analysis will focus on the expertise of conventional and wireless microphones, sound consoles, monitor systems for dance, the amplification of footwork and its adaptation to different types of floors, including the search for solutions for when there are no suitable floors, and, finally, the issue of sound design, which is worked on together with the direction. One of the fundamental functional objectives of this meeting is its dialectical transversality. From the real knowledge of how stages work, we wish to promote the creation of spaces where sound professionals, choreographers, singers and musicians can exchange ideas and opinions from different points of view and interests. The intention is to promote the rationalization of an essential professional relationship and collaboration that is not always easy in practice.

The María Pagés Choreographic Center and the Fuenlabrada City Council are convinced that the organization of these meetings, in addition to allowing the objective development of their ethical commitment to professionals, recognizing and dignifying their work, is also necessary for the systematization of the technical knowledge of dance, as part of the Spanish cultural heritage and whose source is undoubtedly the technicians and sound designers.

El Arbi El Harti
Director of the CCMP of Fuenlabrada