Almería Flamenco and Dance Festival - 26 June to 19 July 2025
Contemporary music and dance festivals in Andalucia
The Almería Flamenco and Dance Festival, is always one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events, take place each year in different locations at the end of June and beginning of July. This popular festival presents an extensive programme, with a total fifteen dance shows and flamenco recitals, along with workshops and courses.
The 58th edition of the Almería Flamenco and Dance Festival 2025 will take place in several indoor and openair locations in the city: the cloister of the cathedral, the Maestro Padilla municipal auditorium, the Apolo theatre, and plazas Pablo Cazard, Careaga, Granero and San Roque.
About the artistes in Flamenco and Dance Festival 2025
Ana Guerrero - 26 June 2025
Ana Guerrero is flamenco dancer from Estepona who has spent her professional career in the top tablaos of Málaga, Seville and Jerez. Along with running her own dance academy in San Pedro Alcántara, she has performed with flamenco greats such as La Lupi, Pastora Galván, Carmen Ledesma and Antonio El Pipa, among others. Her dance is elegant and traditional and she excels when performing the fiesta styles.
Diego del Cachote - 27 June 2025
Diego Montoya - Diego del Cachote, gained his early flamenco experience from his grandfather, from whom he took his artistic name. He was born in Almería, where, as a youngster, he joined a gospel choir, but it was from his grandfather, and also his father, that he gained his knowledge of flamenco song, especially the soleares. He received considerable attention after performing fandangos de Camarón on the Tierra de Talento television show in 2021, and he is now establishing himself as one of today’s rising young flamenco singers.
Celia - July 2025
Celia Romero is a singer born in Badajoz in 1995 who has since performed at some of the most important clubs and festivals in Spain. She began her artistic career at the age of seven under the guidance of her father, guitarist Félix de Herrera. She would later become the singer of the flamenco group Juncal - Sabor Extremeño, which included her father on guitar and her brother on percussion. As a solo singer she has been recognised with one of the art’s top awards, the Lámpara Minera award at the Festival de Cante de las Minas in La Unión (Murcia)
Ana Mar4 July 2025
Born in Almería 1990, Ana Mar’s musical journey began with the violin, but she later opted for singing. She has performed in countless clubs accompanying numerous flamenco dancers with voice and violin. She began to receive recognition after performing in Manuel de Falla's El Amor Brujo with the Bética Orchestra of Seville in 2013.
Daniel Saltares – 10 July 2025
The young dancer and choreographer from Cádiz, Daniel Saltares, will present his first major solo project, Saltar Es, a fusion of the most traditional flamenco to more avant-garde proposals. He is currently one of the leading artists on the national flamenco dance scene, and his undeniable quality, physical ability, and refined technique led him to be invited to join Sara Baras' ballet flamenco company as principal dancer.
Carmen Moreno – 11 July 2025
Carmen Moreno was born in the old fishing neighbourhood of Almería in 1989. She began her career under the guidance of the Almería-born dancer María la Rabota, and later enrolled at the Almería dance conservatory at the age of 12. She is renowned for what has been described as a “profound interpretive ability”, which has seen her work with various flamenco groups in Almería, Málaga, Seville and Madrid.
Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía – 12 July 2025
The Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía has served as an ambassador for flamenco since its creation in 1994 and has since taken performances of classic flamenco-theme shows to stages around the world. It was the brainchild of the Andalusian flamenco institute of the Andalusian regional government and its main objective was to contribute to the development, creation, production and dissemination of Andalusian dance, with special emphasis on flamenco.
The company was launched under the direction of Córdoba dancer (who spent almost his entire life in Granda) Mario Maya. Maya was choreographer until 1996, after which, a string of established dancers has taken over the reins of the company, including María Pagés, José Antonio Ruiz, Cristina Hoyos, Rubén Olmo, Rafaela Carrasco, Rafael Estévez, Úrsula López, and Patricia Guerrero, today’s choreographer. The company has been a continuous source of talent, producing contemporary dance figures such as Israel Galván, Belén Maya, Fernando Romero and Mercedes Ruiz, among others.
José del Tomate – 17 July 2025
José Fernández, a gypsy guitarist known as José del Tomate, was born in Almería in 1998 into an illustrious dynasty of flamenco guitarists. His father Tomatito, the guitarist who accompanied Camarón de la Isla after Paco de Lucia, and his grandfather, El Tomate (The Tomato), have been his artistic inspiration. Having been surrounded by the Gypsy-flamenco lifestyle since childhood, he began playing the guitar at the age of 13. His career took off at the flamenco biennial in Seville in 2010 and he has since performed at festivals and clubs all over Spain, both as a solo performer and with his flamenco troupe.
Although he has developed his own distinctive style, influences of Sabicas and Paco de Lucía are evident, but above all, the one who has had the greatest impact on him has been his uncle, El Niño Miguel. Hence, he grew up in a flamenco environment, so it was natural for him to follow in the family’s footsteps at the age of 13.
His career began during Seville’s Bienal de Flamenco in 2010, where he performed alongside his father, and he has since gone on to appear at most of the top summer festivals. Along with undertaking an extensive tour in the United States with his father’s sextet, performing in iconic venues such as the Lincoln Centre in New York and the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, the young guitarist has also performed in Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia.
Despite his youth, he is endowed with a sublime technique and a sense of rhythm that sets him apart, which he clearly inherited from his father.
Vicente Soto ‘Sordera’
Son of the mighty El Sordera de Jerez, Vicente Soto Sordera descends from a Gypsy dynasty headed by the 19th century singer, Paco La Luz, and which includes illustrious performers like Sorderito, founder member of the fusion group Ketama, and singer José Mercé. Born in the Santiago district of Jerez in 1954, he combined his guitar studies with his natural inclination toward singing and went on to perform at some of Madrid’s top tablaos, including Manolo Caracol’s Los Canasteros.
Luis Perdiguero
Gypsy singer Luis Perdiguero was born in Málaga in 1979, although his family, which includes his grandmother Tía Anica La Periñaca, have strong ties with Jerez de la Frontera. He made his debut at the age of eight during the Ronda flamenco festival, where he stood out for his bulerías, and he has since performed all over Andalucía, while also participating in festivals in France and Brussels.
Sonia Miranda
Born in Seville in 1974, Sonia Miranda grew up with a special inclination toward music, although her shy character initially distanced her from flamenco: she declared that she felt unable to sing flamenco with the dignity she believed was essential. However, this attitude changed with maturity and today she possesses a voice suited to the cante Andaluz styles (sung with a higher pitched voice), in particular, those of La Niña de los Peines and Don Antonio Chacón.
She developed her own personality within flamenco and her talent has been recognised with numerous awards, including 1st prize for the ‘Most Complete Singer’ at the 2001 National Young Flamenco Competition, and 1st prize at the 2000 Cartagena Santa Lucía competition in the Granada and Málaga singing category.
Antonio García - El Genial – 18 July 2025
Almería-born Antonio García - El Genial is a talented young gypsy singer who possesses one of the most interesting voices on the Almería flamenco scene. His style is orthodox flamenco, although he injects his own personality into his renditions, giving these old songs a fresh, modern take. Brother of singer Edu García, El Genial began singing at an early age, accompanying local dance troupes, and his talent was recognised in 2013 when he picked up first prize in the Certamen Andaluz de Jóvenes Flamencos (young flamencos competition), which launched him onto the Andalusian flamenco circuit.
Michel Camilo & Tomatito – 19 July 2025
Born in the Dominican Republic in 1954, Latin, jazz and classical pianist Michel Camilo began his musical career playing the accordion at a young age and acquired his first piano at the age of ten. After spending three years studying at the National Conservatory in Santo Domingo, he began to develop his unique style influenced by contemporary jazz musicians like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. He has since performed all over the world and is considered one of the masters of jazz, which is why he has collaborated with numerous established musicians from a variety of musical styles. An example of this is his album Spain with flamenco guitarist Tomatito, which was awarded Best Latin Jazz Album at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2000.
Almeria Flamenco and Dance Festival 2024
The program of activities from 26 June to 20 July 2024 will kick off at the Antonio de Torres Guitar Museum with singer Ezequiel Benítez and guitarist Paco León on 26 June 26; followed by Sevillian singer Segundo Falcón accompanied by Manolo Franco on guitar on 29 June. Both recitals have free entry until capacity is reached.
The festival will include the 'Plazeando', a series of performances staged in the historic centre by some Almeria's finest flamenco talent, including dancer Suleima (27 June – Plaza Pablo Cazard), singer Marina Márquez (July 4 – Plaza Granero), and a group consisting of young up-and-coming local performers (July 11 – Plaza San Roque). All with free entry.
Other activities will be held in collaboration with the flamenco clubs (peñas). The Peña El Morato will present the young Almería dancer Inés de Inés (5 July), and a flamenco group from Granada led by Paco Fernández, who will present his latest show, Paco de Andrea (12 July).
On 6 July, the Teatro Apolo will host the first edition of the Jornada de Flamenco de Almeria. Organised by the Provincial Federation of Flamenco Clubs, the series will present coveted performers such as Pedro el Granaíno, one of the most orthodox singers of his generation; along with local artistes Cristo Heredia, Antonio García El Genial and Edu García.
The guitar museum will also host the IX Tomatito summer master course (15 to 17 July), which is run by José del Tomate (son of the world-renowned guitarist from which the course takes its name) and organised in collaboration with the University of Almería and the Peña El Taranto.
The final week of the festival will present 'Tres A Compás', six consecutive evenings in the Parque de la Hoya. This cycle begins with Estela Alonso, a soloist dancer with the National Ballet of Spain, of which she has been a member for nine years (15 July); and the winner of the Zapatillo de Plata 2023, Eduardo Guerrero (16 July).
Wednesday 17 July will present a show with a genuine Almerian touch, with two local names that stand out: veteran singer Alfonso Salmerón, and dancer Rocío Garrido, who was recognised with the award for best dancer at the Festival del Cante de las Minas de La Union in 2023.
The following night will present two undisputed maestros of the guitar - Pepe Habichuela and Niño Josele.
Charismatic Gypsy singers Aurora Vargas and Antonio Reyes will light up the stage on Friday 19 July; while the final instalment on Saturday will present pianist and singer Diego Amador, brother of Raimundo and Rafael Amador; and Lela Soto, from the clan of El Sordera, one of Jerez’s finest flamenco dynasties.
Tickets for these six nights can be obtained from www.almeriaculturaentradas.es and at the Teatro Apolo box office.
About the artistes in Almeria Flamenco and Dance Festival 2024
Ezequiel Benítez
The Gypsy singer was born into a large flamenco dynasty in the Santiago neighbourhood Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) in 1979. He made his first public appearance on stage at the age of 14 and has since performed all over Spain and Europe. He has also picked up numerous awards for his orthodox cante, including first prizes for best younger singer in the concurso de cante in Jerez (1997) and in Puerta Real (1998).
He was also a finalist in the Young Performers competition at the Seville Bienal in 2000. Inspired by singers such as Aguejetas Viejo, Tomás Pavón and Antonio Mairena, his singing is from a pure Jerez school, although he also excels in the alegrías de Cádiz and the fandangos de Málaga.
Manolo Franco
Celebrated for his complete mastery of the instrument and its technique, guitarist Manuel Franco Barón was born in Seville in 1960 and received his early instruction from the age of 12 from his uncle, Manolo Barón, and renowned teacher Antonio de Osuna. Making his debut on the Andalusian flamenco festival circuit at the age of 15 he continued his training at Matilde Coral's academy in Seville.
A prominent figure of the world of flamenco guitar, he has been described as “very musical and flamenco sensitivity”. As a concert performer, he has participated international festivals such as those in Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, France, Stockholm, Istanbul, Freiburg and Tokyo, among others.
Suleima - Bailaora
Although of humble origins and from a family outside the artistic flamenco world, Suleima developed her love of cante jondo from her maternal grandparents, both aficionados of the art. Starting to dance at the age of five at the Chelo Ruiz school, the Almería-born dancer stands out for her discipline, perseverance and a deep passion for flamenco dance.
She continued her training with renowned dancers such as Pastora Galván, Antonio Canales, El Farru, La Lupi and Juan de Juan.
Inés de Inés
Inés García Hernández is a flamenco dancer who performs under the stage name of Inés de Inés. Born in Huercal de Almería, she demonstrated a great skill and passion from a very early age. She does not descend from a family of flamenco performers, instead learning her art at the Almería Conservatory of Dance.
She has been focused on flamenco dancing since she was eight, and now at sixteen, she is one of the Almeria artists with the most projection for the future.
José del Tomate
José Fernández - José del Tomate was born in Almería in 1998 into a family of artists, which includes his father, Tomatito (who performed alongside Camarón de la Isla until his death in 1992), and his great-grandfather, Miguel Fernández Cortés El Tomate. (See 2025)
Pepe Habichuela
José Antonio Carmona Carmona, or Pepe Habichuela as he is affectionately known, is a Gypsy guitarist that belongs to a dynasty whose patriarch was Habichuela el Viejo, Pepe’s great-grandfather. Together with his brothers, Juan Habichuela (1933-2016), Luis Habichuela (1947-1993) and Carlos Habichuela (1958), he was part of one of the Gypsy families with the greatest impact in the history of the flamenco guitar. All of the Carmonas stand out for their singing accompaniment, but Juan is probably the most well-known.
Born in Granada in 1944, his artistic career took off in Madrid, where he performed at many of the top flamenco tablaos with singers of the stature of Juanito Valderrama, Camarón de la Isla and Enrique Morente.
The saga is continued by Pepe’s son, José Miguel Carmona – Niño Josemi (1971), who, together with his cousins, José Carmona – El Camborio - and Antonio Carmona, made up the successful flamenco fusion group Ketama
Diego Amador
Known as the Gypsy Ray Charles, the pianist, singer and composer Diego Amador was born the Tres Mil Viviendas district in Seville in 1973. Brother of world-renowned guitarists Raimundo and Rafael Amador (founders of the group Pata Negra, famed in the ‘80s for their fusion of flamenco, rock and blues), Diego is known for his free and vigorous style of piano playing, which has made him one of the most outstanding musicians of the flamenco-jazz genre.
He began his career as a soloist with his first album Anticipo Flamenco, which presented a new opening for the piano in flamenco. His pioneering way of interpreting the piano as if it were a guitar has made him a much sought-after musician, performing with legendary figures like Chick Corea, Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny. Of late, he has been experimenting with salsa and Latin rhythms, which he melds perfectly with his traditional Gitano voice. With the release of his sixth album, Scherzo Flamenco, the international press referred to him as “one of the greatest flamenco pianists of all time”.
Pedro El Graniaino
See Festival de la Bulerías de Torremolinos 2024
Aurora Vargas
See Pansequito
Antonio Reyes
See Festival de la Bulerías de Torremolinos 2024
