What scares flamenco dancer Manuel Liñan?
Watch the documentary, Flamenco Queer, below and find out.
It offers you a peek inside Manuel Liñan's mind as he “comes out to challenge convention by pursuing his love of performing flamenco - dressed as a woman - in a conservative society with rigid cultural traditions,” imbd.com
You’ll hear from his mother who supported his self expression from the time he was young and his father, a former bullfighter, who did not.
With his show Viva, Manuel did exactly what he wanted to do, expressed himself publicly as he desired making the decision not to care about what others might think.
So, did that bring tears to your eyes or what?
Several years ago I asked Manuel Liñan how he keeps going under difficult circumstances. This is what he replied,
“With hope. I believe hope is what you should never lose. With hope you can go from one place to another, and things don’t affect you.”
Side Note: I had the privilege of seeing Viva live at the 2019 Festival Flamenco Albuquerque. It was an incredibly moving work of art, full of emotion, humor, beauty, variety, and so much talent. And, yes, it made me, and many others, cry. I hope to see it again live one day, and I hope you can too!
In the meantime, check out the trailer:
What spoke to you?
Share your favorite part from the documentary in the comments below.
Want More?
Here’s an article from the New York Times where he talks about Viva and his experiences.
Learn more about the making of Flamenco Queer in this New Yorker article.
Check out this interview by ExpoFlamenco.
And here’s the short interview I did with him back in 2014.
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How I Keep Fear From Getting In The Way
I’ve Already Learned Something…And I Wasn’t Expecting This
*I took the cover photo at Tablao Villa Rosa which unfortunately closed its doors this year due to financial struggles from the Coronavirus pandemic.