R.I.P., Antonio Gades

[Guest]

I am still waiting for the region-1 DVD of Gades' "Carmen", a flamenco version of the opera/novel danced and choreographed by Gades in the early 80s. I hope someone here recognizes him, or his work; he was truly an artist of the body. - Perdita

July 20, 2004 - Noted Spanish Flamenco Dancer Dies - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer Antonio Gades died Tuesday in Madrid after a long illness, a hospital spokesman said. He was 67.

"He was a great artist, unique. ... It's a tremendous loss for dance,'' said the director of the National Ballet of Spain, Jose Antonio Ruiz.

Gades was born Antonio Esteve Rodenas on Nov. 14, 1936, in Elda, near the Mediterranean city of Valencia. He was a lead dancer for a Spanish troupe in his 20s, set up his own company and became world famous as choreographer for works like "Blood Wedding'' and "Carmen,'' performed on the world's best-known stages. Those two works and "Bewitched Love'' were filmed by Carlos Saura and became classics.

A spokesman for Madrid's Gregorio Maranon Hospital did not elaborate on the cause of death. Spain's Efe news agency reported he died of cancer.

Gades will be cremated, his widow and daughters told the news agency in a statement. The funeral will be private. The family's statement said that Gades had asked his wife Eugenia Eiriz to convey, upon his death, "his most sincere thanks to all those who admired and supported his work and especially to those who accompanied him during the final stage of his life.''

 

[cloudy]

I'd heard of him, although admittedly, I didn't know that much about him.

Strange tidbit here - I studied flamenco for around a year. Very tough discipline. Growing up in Santa Barbara makes you very concious of that type of thing. There's a festival every year at the end of August there - Old Spanish Days - and the flamenco dancers are incredible to watch. The festival shuts down the whole downtown area for more than a week. Great time.

 

[Guest]

Cloudy, you'd love Gades' films. Many people don't know that flamenco is a classical art (as rigorous as ballet or bel canto) and really takes a good 10 or so years to get the basics down, then a lifetime (and a special gift) to be truly great. Gades' "Carmen" also features Christina Hoyos, the flamenco reina for me (she's also in "Blood Wedding"). P.

 

[cloudy]

Cloudy, you'd love Gades' films. Many people don't know that flamenco is a classical art (as rigorous as ballet or bel canto) and really takes a good 10 or so years to get the basics down, then a lifetime (and a special gift) to be truly great. Gades' "Carmen" also features Christina Hoyos, the flamenco reina for me (she's also in "Blood Wedding"). P.

I'll have to watch them, thanks!

Flamenco, to me, is the most sensuous of the dance disciplines....it screams sex. I took ballet for 6 years, but never had a passion for it. However, I wish I had continued the flamenco studies.

 

[Guest]

Speaking of sex, ahem; you reminded me of something, Cloud. I like skinny-arsed men (not into big glutes here), and some of the finest are on male flamenco dancers.

So, not all of art is meant to be mentally uplifting . P.

 

[cloudy]

Speaking of sex, ahem; you reminded me of something, Cloud. I like skinny-arsed men (not into big glutes here), and some of the finest are on male flamenco dancers.

So, not all of art is meant to be mentally uplifting . P.

and don't forget their legs!!! They have such wonderful leg strength, and those nice shapely.....yes, ahem.

 

[Guest]

and don't forget their legs!!!

Awk! I'm getting aroused. My fave fave male body part (not including organs here) are the upper thighs, and on dancers... aye aye aye! I must get back to Abby's place and something cold to spill on myself. P.

 

[cloudy]

Awk! I'm getting aroused. My fave fave male body part (not including organs here) are the upper thighs, and on dancers... aye aye aye! I must get back to Abby's place and something cold to spill on myself. P.

My favorite body part too! And, yep, dancers are the best.

Spill some for me as well.

 

[Remec]

Awk! I'm getting aroused. My fave fave male body part (not including organs here) are the upper thighs, and on dancers... aye aye aye! I must get back to Abby's place and something cold to spill on myself. P.

<taking notes on a cocktail napkin lifted from Abby's set against a broad, firm thigh>
Speaking most to self..."Guess I need to take up dancing again."

<g>

 

[Guest]

<taking notes on a cocktail napkin lifted from Abby's set against a broad, firm thigh>

Broad? Firm? Thigh? You've got penance to do at Abby's, but the thighs will help you out. P.

 

[Remec]

Broad? Firm? Thigh? You've got penance to do at Abby's, but the thighs will help you out. P.

<crossing self>
<genuflecting>
Forgive me, 'Dita for I have sinned. It has been...<glancing at status bar> about 20 minutes since my last transgression...

<smile>

 

[Guest]

Forgive me, 'Dita for I have sinned. ...

Ok, get up, hombre. Use of the word genuflect gets you another chance. I'll see you after I make Colly swoon to unconsciousness with either my potatoes or my tomatoes.

P. (Gawd, I crack myself up.)

 

[Remec]

Ok, get up, hombre. Use of the word genuflect gets you another chance. I'll see you after I make Colly swoon to unconsciousness with either my potatoes or my tomatoes.

Coolness...<hopping up><smiling> Need any kitchen help? Video crew? hehehe Just checking...<wink><g>

 

[Guest]

Coolness...

I'll never learn, I always give men too many clues. What am I talking about? I love when you call me "coolness" (even if you're not really doing that). <sigh>

Perdita

 

[Remec]

Why, yes, this *is* a threadjacking...<g>

I'll never learn, I always give men too many clues. What am I talking about? I love when you call me "coolness" (even if you're not really doing that). <sigh>

I could be doing that if you want...<smile>

But, you can talk about anything you like...The time of day...the way the sun looks reflected off San Francisco Bay...the smell of fresh cut grass in Golden Gate Park...is really worthwhile for me to rent (if not own) a copy of Ethan Hawke's or Branagh's versions of "Hamlet"? Or just what other things you would love me to call you? (We'll discuss things to do with/to you another time. <smile> )

 

[Guest]

Re: Why, yes, this *is* a threadjacking...<g>

I could be doing that if you want...<smile>

Remediocito, you really can say the most perfect thing. (You'd better not be tricking me with a Shakespeare interest ploy.)

The Hawke "Hamlet" is worth renting, or even buying if less than 10 bucks. I like the concept of it well enough and Bill Murray is a good Polonius and Sam Shepherd a Hamlet Sr. Branagh's is worth owning if only cos it's the full play (4 hours or so), and KB is very good. Bonham-Carter is a dopey Ophelia though (I still can't believe Ken left Emma for her.)

P.

 

[Remec]

Re: Re: Why, yes, this *is* a threadjacking...<g>

Remediocito, you really can say the most perfect thing. (You'd better not be tricking me with a Shakespeare interest ploy.)

The Hawke "Hamlet" is worth renting, or even buying if less than 10 bucks. I like the concept of it well enough and Bill Murray is a good Polonius and Sam Shepherd a Hamlet Sr. Branagh's is worth owning if only cos it's the full play (4 hours or so), and KB is very good. Bonham-Carter is a dopey Ophelia though (I still can't believe Ken left Emma for her.)

P.

Really...and now she's with Tim Burton...

Good...I had heard much of the same about the Hawke version, but hadn't seen it yet 'cause I've never been particularly impressed by him as an actor...Branagh's I had wanted to catch, but so many of his Shakespeare after Henry V seemed sort of hit-or-miss to me...<shrug> Dunno, might just be me...after all, if given the choice, my favorite version of "Hamlet" is "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead". hehehe <wink>

(And, while I tend to fall more into the Absurdist school of philosophy, Shakespeare is and has always been the main thing that drew me to a degree in theatre. I would never use him as a ploy...well, maybe if it worked, but only with at least one clown, two cases of mistaken identity, and, possibly, a set of twins...or someone in drag<g>)

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Why, yes, this *is* a threadjacking...<g>

Really...and now she's with Tim Burton...

NOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo! WTF?! I loved Burton's girl (the model for Sally in Nightmare/Xmas). Crap on him.

Yeah, I think Hawke is no actor but there are directors who "use" actors well; Hawke as a persona was a good choice here. I've said it a few times, but Branagh is not a filmaker. He knows the texts well but I think he must be a like a kid in a candy shop on set (overdoes special effects and montage in Hamlet).

I love "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" too! Oldman and Roth in the film were perfect, haven't seen it on stage though.

I would never use him as a ploy...well, maybe if it worked, but only with at least one clown, two cases of mistaken identity, and, possibly, a set of twins...or someone in drag<g>)

Ha ha ha. See you in Illyria. P.

 

[Remec]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Why, yes, this *is* a threadjacking...<g>

I love "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" too! Oldman and Roth in the film were perfect, haven't seen it on stage though.

Ha ha ha. See you in Illyria. P.

I've yet to see it on stage myself. Although have performed and directed enough scenes for this or that class while in college, that I think I've done almost all of it. <g> Well, not the shipboard bit with the barrels...hehehe

Ahh, Illyria...lovely country...I never seem to find myself there unless I've gotten lost though...<wink>