Cristina Hoyos in the Alhambra gardens in Granada

Every summer, Granada celebrates its poet Federico Garcia Lorca with a flamenco show in relation to his work.

I was so excited last monday to see the Cristina Hoyos flamenco ballet performing
Poema del Cante Jondo in the magnificent gardens of the Alhambra.

El Cante Jondo means the genuine art of gypsy singing which Lorca endeavored to revive.

I can't speak well of things which really move me and flamenco is one them.
As soon as one of the cantaores began his wailing,
I had this knot in my throat and I actually watched the whole show half crying !

It was a superb choreography and scenography accompanied by guitarists, percussionists and flamenco singers on stage and when Cristina Hoyos made her entrance, it was sheer excitement in the audience.
At sixty something, she still has her joie de vivre and her joy of dancing was so beautiful to watch.

Now, as for photos.....so sorry but at each end of every row, assistants were placed to watch the audience. I tried to take one pic during the show and as soon as I lit my camera, the assistant was right next to me to stop me, so the only picture I could take was at the final salute (and of course i'ts blurred, Cristina is in red in the center)

and I found this one of Cristina Hoyos on Internet

and this other one too

I hope to write more about flamenco one of these days and my own experience of it but in the meantime I invite you to visit dear blogging friend Catherine of A Thousand Clapping Hands and read her beautiful post about classical Spanish dances, here