World Flamenco Congress inaugurates its 5th edition with a photographic exhibition in Rabat

Rabat – The 5th edition of the World Flamenco Congress, organized by the Spanish Embassy in Morocco and the Cervantes Institute, opened Tuesday in Rabat with a photographic exhibition entitled “El duende flamenco” (The Magic of Flamenco) by Moroccan photographer Meriem Naciri.

This event, which runs until October 30, will offer a total of 14 performances in eight cities across the Kingdom, as well as film screenings, a photographic exhibition, and workshops, while also strengthening the Congress’s presence in Morocco with the addition of Nador as a new host city.

The exhibition “El duende flamenco” (The Flamenco Spirit), which will run until January 31, 2027, at the Cervantes Institute in Rabat, presents a selection of black and white and color photographs by Meriem Naciri, representing more than a decade of flamenco performances.

In a statement to MAP, the director of the Cervantes Institute in Rabat, Anastasio Sanchez Zamorano, indicated that the organization of this Congress marks the launch of the Institute’s cultural season, which also includes a jazz festival, as well as a series of cultural activities, readings, film screenings, and a book fair.

He emphasized that this cultural exchange serves as a link between Morocco and Spain, noting the growing interest of the Moroccan public in Spanish arts in their various forms.

For her part, photographer Meriem Naciri explained that “El duende flamenco” is her second exhibition of this art form at the Cervantes Institute, following the one held in 2017. She noted that her work focuses on documenting cultural and artistic events, such as the Tbourida (a traditional equestrian display), contemporary dance, theater, and flamenco music and performances.

She explained that her interest in flamenco began after attending a performance at the Mohammed V National Theater. Since then, she has continuously captured these performances in photographs, emphasizing movement, emotion, and the present moment.

She further emphasized that this exhibition represents the culmination of more than a decade of photographic documentation of flamenco performances presented in Rabat.

According to Olvido Salazar-Alonso Revuelta, head of cultural activities at the Cervantes Institute in Rabat, the program has evolved in recent years from a festival format to that of a World Flamenco Congress, held in several countries around the world. He noted that this edition highlights new forms of flamenco as well as emerging talents, particularly women.

The program includes four performances at the Mohammed V National Theatre, beginning Wednesday with “A la luz del 27 – De Lorca a Clara Campoamor” by Lourdes Pastor, followed by “Aurora” by Irene Morales on October 14, “Rayuela” by Marco Flores on October 21, and “Variación a tempo” by Sara Jiménez on October 28, he indicated, adding that these performances will then tour several Moroccan cities.

The program also includes three film screenings at the Cervantes Institute, including the documentary “La Singla” by director Paloma Zapata, which retraces the journey of an exceptional flamenco dancer, alongside the film “Fandango” and a film dedicated to the Spanish dancer Farruquito.

This 5th edition of the World Flamenco Congress thus celebrates the presence of this art form in Morocco as a space for creation, dialogue, and cultural exchange between Morocco and Spain, with the support of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication. Flamenco is inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.