Flamenco artiste Andre Marin has choreographed a piece combining the Divana ensemble of Rajasthan and the flamenco of Seville. He tells Shrabasti Mallik that once he understands the energy of the genre, it becomes easy for him to bring two forms together
Tell us about your show Yatra.
Yatra is an encounter between the Divana ensemble of Rajasthan and the flamenco of Seville. It’s a journey that unites two departure points in the world. Two artistic forms of expression, flamenco and music from the north of India, whose common origins have been the source of dialogue and fertile exchange.
How did you conceptualise itIJ
Yatra began as a commission by the Paris Philharmonie for its India weekend in January 2015. I invited hip-hop dancer Kader Attou to collaborate on the project. We wanted to make Yatra about progress, about exploring a shared space — an urban space in a world in which, in spite of globalisation, India remains India. What the Divana ensemble and I are presenting at the World Sacred Spirit Festival is the essence of the show Yatra, it’s driving force — flamenco and the music of Rajasthan.
You are one of the best contemporary dancers in the world today. How have you seen flamenco, as a dance form, evolve over the yearsIJ
Flamenco has evolved at a very fast pace over the last 20 years-rhythmically, technically, and theatrically-but not all evolution is good. It is very essential to maintain the origins of flamenco — to preserve the raw material.
You also began dancing at a very young age, given that your parents were artistes themselves. But how much of your own creativity did you apply in the artsIJ
My father taught me the ethics and aesthetics of flamenco and from there I developed my own creative universe.
You have collaborated with Bartabas. What was that experience like, bringing together flamenco and hip hopIJ
Bartabas is the founder and director of the equestrian theater Zingaro in Paris and his creations combine equestrian theater, dance, world music, poetry and many other disciplines. I was invited by Bartabas to dance and co-choreograph the show Golgota with more than 100 performances since 2013. I began working with hip-hip dancer Kader Attou also in 2013 and both experiences were wonderful for me. I am always looking for new ways to take flamenco into unchartered territories. Both Bartabas and Kader Attou are great masters.
How do you bring together flamenco and other genre of dance togetherIJ
It’s all about energy.
What do you perceive of the Indian classical dance formsIJ
There’s a similarity between Indian classical dance forms and Gypsy-style flamenco.
Would you like to collaborate with an Indian artisteIJ
It would be an honor. Many years back, I had the pleasure of performing with the great masters Trilok Gurtu and Zakir Hussain at the Masters of Percussion Festival in Holland. There is such a strong musical tradition in India, rich with rhythmic patterns and master musicians.
Do you think that festivals like the World Sacred Spirit Festival helps introduce artistes to cultures and traditions of a placeIJ
I believe that coming together through music and dance and poetry is a beautiful way for us to integrate ourselves culturally.
Tell us about your future projects.
Next month I will be with Bartabas in Golgota at Sadler’s Wells in london. I am presenting Yatra together with Kader Attou and the Divana ensemble in several theaters in France in May and July. My latest show, Carta Blanca, will be featured in the Bienal de Flamenco de sevilla in September.
Andre Marin will perform at the World Sacred Spirit Festival, to be held at the Mehrangarh Fort from Februar 26 to 28