• the217
• Stage
• One-on-one with José Porcel

Fall is here, and so is flamenco! Krannert kicks off October with an explosive performance by Compañia Flamenco José Porcel, an evocative and exciting dance group that blends traditional flamenco — the kinetic Spanish folk style — with contemporary music, moves and looks. José Porcel, born in Seville, Spain, began dancing Andalucian folkloric dances and flamenco in cultural centers in Valencia as a child. He has since appeared on the international stage as a soloist with the Compañia Española de Antonio Márquez. Porcel shared the story of how his passion led him to create a company with irresistible erotic appeal and irrepressible energy.

buzz: When did you start dancing?

Procel: I began dancing when I was six years old. I have always loved flamenco, even from such an early age.

buzz: What inspired you to pursue dancing?

Procel: I have watched the great maestros dance, I have been taught by brilliant flamenco teachers; they helped me take the passion that I felt in my heart and express that through dancing. It is really my love of flamenco that inspired me.

buzz: What were your goals as a dancer when you first started?

Procel: When I was very young, my goals were to work with the great flamenco maestros, to learn from them, to spend my life pursing my passion and share that with the world.

buzz: What are your goals now?

Procel: Actually very similar to my goals long ago, only I suppose my greatest goal is to give the audiences around the world a great appreciation of flamenco and the heart of the Spanish people, which is so reflected in the music and the dance of flamenco.

buzz: What do you want audiences to know about your dances?

Procel: The audience should know that the dances come from my heart, my soul; they are part of me. It is not necessary to know anything about flamenco before you come to a show. Flamenco is all about passion, about expressing feelings and emotions, about sharing these feelings with the audience.

buzz: What have been your greatest experiences with the company?

Procel: Touring around the world has been my greatest experience, I think, because it allows me to touch so many people, to share my passion with them, and, really, there is not much better than the feeling of being onstage in front of an audience that responds to the music and dance.

buzz: What is unique about this company?

Procel: Each dancer and musician is unique in his or her own way, and because of this, they each bring their own passion and their own feelings to the stage. We interact with one another and react to one another; this allows for creativity, both in dancing and musically. This group of dancers and musicians works so well together; at times, we move as one. It is this closeness and our unified love of flamenco that make the company so unique.

buzz: Why do you love flamenco dancing?

Procel: Flamenco is my soul. It is the soul of the Spanish people. It allows me to express my creativity, my art, and it allows me to love what I do.