WRCF fund supports growing local interest in niche art form
Flamenco is a “beautiful, wondrous, captivating, magical art form,” says Claudia Aguirre, one half of Waterloo Region-based performance duo CalúJules.
“It’s a live performance art form and there is a big element of improvisation, so you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen,” added Julian Berg, the duo’s other half.
Those qualities came together to create a moment the Founders and Artistic Directors of the Little KW Flamenco Fest had always hoped might happen at their festival.
Fernando Gallego ‘El Bancalero’ performed a solo and Julian accompanied on guitar as the festival colloquially known as FlamFest drew to a close at Waterloo Public Square.
Storybook setting
“The moon was beaming down and it was a dramatic, deep solo. It was twilight and there were a couple of food trucks and there were nice lights, and there were kids running around, even though it was past bedtime,” Claudia said, describing the vibe that replicated what they had experienced at festivals in the south of Spain.
“We’ve been working our way towards this. I feel like we are finally getting at what we are wanting,” she added.
The husband-and-wife team founded the Little KW Flamenco Fest nearly a decade ago with a mission to cultivate a flamenco community in the region through quality performances and workshops that could be accessible to all.
Flamenco incorporates song, dance, guitar and percussion. Its origins go back to the late 18th century in the south of Spain, with influences from Arabic, Jewish, Caribbean, and Latin American culture to name a few.
The art form is niche in Canada, including Waterloo Region, where the couple arrived, having previously honed their craft in places like Toronto, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The pair first staged the local flamenco festival in 2018. It has moved to various locations across the region and now set up shop in Waterloo Public Square. Vendors, including food and beverage trucks, artisan makers, and more, converge alongside performers.
"Because we had such a small group of students who were very enthusiastic, we felt we needed to nurture the love of flamenco locally, to make it more sustainable here so that the small group of people had more shows to look forward to and people to connect with,” Claudia explained.
Authenticity matters
“And the other thing that's very important to us is that we bring in an authentic act so that it really gives people a taste of what flamenco is. And beyond that, we try to create kind of the feeling of a Spanish fair. Like the warm outdoor family friendly nighttime vibe,” Julian added.
The “very grassroots” festival is free for all to attend. In 2024, the festival received funding from Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF)’s Arts Fund. The fund supports shared arts experiences that take place in Waterloo Region, creating dynamic opportunities for meaningful social connection and interaction; improving social infrastructure in Waterloo Region.
"It's exciting to be recognized (with the funding), and then, apart from the excitement, it's also relieving to have more support because it means we can make the event at the square happen much more comfortably," Claudia said, adding that performers were given their own accommodation and treated to dinner.
Thanks to the funding, artists were paid, and so were crew workers brought in to help with some of the physical labour.
“A lot of times, because we also perform in the festival, we end up doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work, and performing, which is very, very stressful, and it doesn’t always allow you do put your best foot forward,” Julian said.
Funding alleviated some of those pressures and minimized some of the background concerns, allowing the organizers to focus on what they do best: Staging memorable, impactful performances.
"It goes right back into wanting this to be a really authentic, high-quality show to really show people what flamenco can be all about, right?” Julian said.
The couple said they’ve enjoyed the “predictable” element of working with WRCF, never worrying about the process. They called the partnership “absolutely positive.”
Sharing their love for art is key
While the flamenco festival’s next chapter is yet to be written, the couple said their goal is simple; they hope to continue sharing their beloved art with others.
“I feel like I just get this explosive sensation,” Claudia said, describing what flamenco means to her personally. “That I am part of the experience (with the audience) because I am. And I hope that... people who watch it... maybe even stumble upon it, have that moment similar to mine where you just feel this openness in your chest because you’re witnessing this really holistic art form that is just cathartic.”
Added Julian: “Being able to transfer flamenco’s legacy to a community that didn’t have it before, that’s awesome."
For more information on the Little KW Flamenco Fest, visit calujules.com/flamfest.
To learn more about WRCF’s Arts Grants, go to wrcf.ca/artsgrants.