FLAMENCO BOOK CLUB

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Dive into the world of flamenco with our virtual Book Club! Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious newcomer, this vibrant community will immerse you in stories, history, and cultural insights. Join us twice a month for lively discussions and a chance to connect with fellow flamenco enthusiasts. Hosted by singer and independent scholar, Alfonso Cid. 

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Now's the time to join—We're starting a new book in September!

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_{NEXT MEETING:
Sunday, September 6th at 9am PST | 12pm EST | 18:00 hora de España}

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THIS MONTH'S SELECTION:

The Barefoot Queen
by Falcones Ildefonso

A romantic and thrilling historical adventure, available in English & Spanish!

Spain, 1748. Caridad is a recently freed, former enslaved Cuban, wandering the streets of Sevilla. Her master is dead, and she has nowhere to go. When, by chance, she meets Milagros Carmona—a spellbinding, rebellious gitana. The two women become inseparable. Caridad is swept into a fringe society full of romance and art, passion, and dancing. But their way of life changes instantly, when gitanos are declared outlaws by royal mandate, and their world as a free people becomes perilous. The community is split up—some are imprisoned, some forced into hiding, all fearing for their lives. Caridad and Milagros join in the gitano struggle for sovereignty against the widespread oppression. It's a treacherous battle that cannot, and will not, be easily won. From the bustle of Sevilla to the theaters of Madrid, The Barefoot Queen is an unforgettable historical fresco filled with characters that live, suffer, and fight for the lives of those they love, and for the freedom they can't live without.

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NEW BOOK CLUB SELECTION STARTING SEPTEMBER 6TH:

Border Trespasses: The Gypsy Mask and Carmen Amaya's Flamenco Dance
by K. Meira Goldberg

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Carmen Amaya was one of the most important and influential dancers in Flamenco history. Born in poverty, trained on the streets and on the cart which was the family’s home, Amaya created a style blending the expression and seduction of the feminine dance with the aggressivity, speed, and risk of the masculine. Dressed in male costume, she rose to international stardom in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, raising flamenco to a new level of stature and visibility. This dissertation documents, through primary research, Amaya’s life and dance. It asks why Amaya was an important artist: what was innovative and seminal in her dance? It also asks why Amaya was such a popular artist: what deep nerve did she strike in European and American sensibilities?

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WHERE CAN YOU BUY THE BOOK?

This is a 1995 doctoral dissertation by dance scholar K. Meira Goldberg. Book Club members will receive a PDF version of Meira's dissertation. Sign up, and we will email you with more info.

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**This club will select books in both English and Spanish. We will try to honor language preferences and provide translation whenever possible. We will vote on future book selections!**