Film poster Symphony of the Body — Design: Studio THO

Film poster Symphony of the Body — Design: Studio THO

Symphony of the Body is a short dance film about architecture, with flamenco dancer Eduardo Guerrero and flamenco singer and saxophonist Antonio Lizana. It is an ode to the body's ability to claim space in the overwhelming architecture of Rotterdam.

Symphony of the Body is a short dance film about architecture, with flamenco dancer Eduardo Guerrero and flamenco singer and saxophonist Antonio Lizana. It is an ode to the body's ability to claim space in the overwhelming architecture of Rotterdam.

In the modern architecture of Central Station in Rotterdam, two Mediterranean man front the cold efficiency of this industrial area. The building seems impenetrable for the vulnerable desire to meet a stranger. Till their shadow breaks through a light dome and they become aware of each other’s desire. Can a body, with the softness of dance and music, break the incantation of steel and stone? With flamenco dancer Eduardo Guerrero and saxophonist and singer Antonio Lizana.

In the modern architecture of Central Station in Rotterdam, two Mediterranean man front the cold efficiency of this industrial area. The building seems impenetrable for the vulnerable desire to meet a stranger. Till their shadow breaks through a light dome and they become aware of each other’s desire. Can a body, with the softness of dance and music, break the incantation of steel and stone? With flamenco dancer Eduardo Guerrero and saxophonist and singer Antonio Lizana.

How can a person contact the built environment? Filmmaker Monica Ruiz researches the balance between ratio and feeling while experiencing architecture, especially in Rotterdam, where functionality, efficiency and modern architecture dominate. Does the massive and impressive Central Station give way to the individual will?

The Central Station is designed by Team CS: West 8, MVSA Meyer, van Schooten Architecten and Benthem Crouwel Architects. 
Architect Jan Benthem: “I wanted to create allure of a global city directly at the platform. As if directly from the train you enter the city.”

Filmmaker Monica Ruiz is impressed by the beauty and grandeur of the station, but beauty does not make her feel at ease here. She wonders if allure is the most appropriate ambiance to build up intimate memories at a station, memories about traveling and meeting people.

How can a person contact the built environment? Filmmaker Monica Ruiz researches the balance between ratio and feeling while experiencing architecture, especially in Rotterdam, where functionality, efficiency and modern architecture dominate. Does the massive and impressive Central Station give way to the individual will?

The Central Station is designed by Team CS: West 8, MVSA Meyer, van Schooten Architecten and Benthem Crouwel Architects. 
Architect Jan Benthem: “I wanted to create allure of a global city directly at the platform. As if directly from the train you enter the city.”

Filmmaker Monica Ruiz is impressed by the beauty and grandeur of the station, but beauty does not make her feel at ease here. She wonders if allure is the most appropriate ambiance to build up intimate memories at a station, memories about traveling and meeting people.

Jan Benthem at Rotterdam Centraal Foto: Monica Ruiz

Jan Benthem in het Centraal Station Rotterdam Foto: Monica Ruiz

“La música no llena el espacio, lo crea.”

“Muziek vult niet de ruimte, ze creëert juist ruimte.”

“Music doesn't fill space, it creates it."

“La música no llena el espacio, lo crea.”

R. Andrés

R. Andrés

Eduardo Guerrero, from Cádiz (Spain), studied Spanish dance, modern dance and flamenco. He is a great connoisseur of the essence of flamenco. He currently has 5 dance shows. His latest is Sombra Efímera. Guerrero is the great prodigy of flamenco.

Eduardo Guerrero, from Cádiz (Spain), studied Spanish dance, modern dance and flamenco. He is a great connoisseur of the essence of flamenco. He currently has 5 dance shows. His latest is Sombra Efímera. Guerrero is the great prodigy of flamenco.

Flamenco has a very strict regime of rhythms and dance styles. The purists prefer to conserve flamenco the way it is: dancers who do not adhere to this principle do not dance flamenco. Some even go further and say that you can only dance and sing flamenco when you are born in the clan, like the gitanos (gypsies). This puts a lot of pressure on maintaining the styles and forms.

Flamenco has a very strict regime of rhythms and dance styles. The purists prefer to conserve flamenco the way it is: dancers who do not adhere to this principle do not dance flamenco. Some even go further and say that you can only dance and sing flamenco when you are born in the clan, like the gitanos (gypsies). This puts a lot of pressure on maintaining the styles and forms.

“Entonces el Flamenco es un muro con el que chocas y una y otra vez, pero ante el que yo no me paro, choco e intento escalarlo para ver que hay detrás de ese muro. No me importa seguir hacia adelante, saltar ese muro y volver a el cada vez que sea necesario.”

 
“Flamenco is like a wall that you come up against time and time again, but I won't let it stop me. I bump into it and try to climb that wall to see what lies behind it. I think it's great to step over it, go straight on and always return to it when needed.”

“Entonces el Flamenco es un muro con el que chocas y una y otra vez, pero ante el que yo no me paro, choco e intento escalarlo para ver que hay detrás de ese muro. No me importa seguir hacia adelante, saltar ese muro y volver a el cada vez que sea necesario.”

 
“Flamenco is like a wall that you come up against time and time again, but I won't let it stop me. I bump into it and try to climb that wall to see what lies behind it. I think it's great to step over it, go straight on and always return to it when needed.”

Eduardo Guerrero is always trying to conquer the limits and walls that flamenco builds: "It is the only way to grow for us, as artists and the art of flamenco itself."

Eduardo Guerrero is always trying to conquer the limits and walls that flamenco builds: "It is the only way to grow for us, as artists and the art of flamenco itself."

The saxophonist, singer and composer from Cádiz experiments with rhythms and melodies in his organic sounding flamenco-jazz mix. In the energetic improvisations he "sings" flamenco with his sax and makes his flamenco voice swing over modern jazz harmonies.
 
His music not only transcend the limits of flamenco tradition, but also the limits of what is possible in music. He sings and plays saxophone with incredible energy and a endless breath.

The saxophonist, singer and composer from Cádiz experiments with rhythms and melodies in his organic sounding flamenco-jazz mix. In the energetic improvisations he "sings" flamenco with his sax and makes his flamenco voice swing over modern jazz harmonies.
 
His music not only transcend the limits of flamenco tradition, but also the limits of what is possible in music. He sings and plays saxophone with incredible energy and a endless breath.

Flamenco Divino is a full color, international flamenco magazine, written in three languages: German, Engligh and Spanish, to do justice to the scope of this intangible Cultural World Heritage of Humanity: flamenco!
Susanne Zellinger, specialized journalist and cultural manager, is the initiator of the year-book.

Flamenco Divino: "Meeting of souls in compas"

Espanje

Dansmagazine

Open Rotterdam

Flamencoagenda

Espanje

Dansmagazine

Open Rotterdam

Flamencoagenda