Spanish guitarist Juan Martin tells Charles Hutchinson why flamenco is an art form

ON the last day of winter next Thursday, flamenco guitarist Juan Martin brings all the heat of summer to York Theatre Royal in his Arte Puro show.

The musician once dubbed Doctor Flamenco by The Times is on tour with his flamenco ensemble of dancers El Tigre and Luisa Chicano and her fellow addition for this tour, husky yet sweet-voiced singer Nuria Martin from Malaga. "She's not a relation!" says Juan.

Explaining the show format, he says: "The aim, if you like, is to present the three elements of flamenco - the guitar, the dancing and the singing- and that's why it has that title of Arte Puro: the pure form of flamenco," says Juan.

"In the first half, Nuria will sing, then the two dancers join the show, and we will build from there. It will be just this quartet, including me, and so it will be intense, and it's nice to bring it down to four people because the show is then so clear."

From the rhythmic dance to the hand claps and the red dresses, this form of music and dance from the Andalucia region of Spain is the essence of passion. "It is an overused word but passion really is something that can be applied to flamenco," says Juan.

"On the other hand, flamenco does represent poetry and the emotions of life. So you will have the quick, upbeat rhythms and then El Tigre will present Solario, which shows flamenco's more profound side, with the words referring to rejection in love."

The Arte Puro show brings together the differing elements of flamenco: Moorish pieces, reflecting the Moors' reign over Spain from 711 to 1492, and the flamenco musical key, with its roots in ecclesiastical scales from Byzantine times. "It's ironic that this music came about via the church, as we are now a long way from that," says Juan.

While the show can serve as an initiation for the flamenco novice, Juan does not play the schoolmaster. "I normally say a few words but I don't like to lecture or educate. I will talk about flamenco's Moorish origins or the people of Cadiz, so that hopefully I can transport people there while we're playing," says Juan. "While you're there, the dancing becomes a carnal experience, the men looking for their Carmen and the women for their Don Jose, while I like to think the guitar is more spiritual."

It is not only spiritual but music of the street too. "Flamenco came from the villages, not from the conservatoires or academies but it's been admired for a long time by classical players...and some people even think it is the ultimate art form," says Juan.

What about flamenco dancing? "It can suggest many different things to different people. It should not be obviously sexy, so Luisa will not show too much, but with the imprisonment of all that emotion, it can be more exciting than the pop videos of today," says Juan, laughing gently at his provocative jibe. "People do find flamenco erotic - and I say let them."

Juan Martin presents Arte Puro, York Theatre Royal, March 20, and Harrogate Theatre, April 1, both at 7.30pm. Tickets: York, £10.50 to £14.50, tel 01904 623568; Harrogate, £8.50 to £12.50; tel 01423 502116.

Updated: 09:45 Friday, March 14, 2003