Joel Zamora, a creator with a lot of charisma and an open and transparent way of welcoming, supporting and protecting those who come to him, is celebrating 40 years of artistic life in 2021; traits that are evident in his Flamenco Company, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on December 6. Both dates coincide with this time of pandemic, so Joel and his wife Ivet C. Pacareu, who is also a visual arts exponent  in the province, have had to restructure their plans and projects. However, Joel and Ivet, like the incredible team they are, both in life and in art, have put all their efforts into making the most of this new challenge.

The artist couple, focused on the possibilities of technology, have found a way to stay in touch with their audience. According to Joel, Ivet's perseverance was decisive in designing a Web site and different pages to promote the work of both the company and the Academy. In addition to the YouTube channel, accounts were opened on Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud and Flickr. They have rescued audiovisual and phonographic materials, including documents, photos, digitalization of live performances, theater shows, television and radio programs, now available to everyone on the networks.

Another success is the program Con Inspiración Flamenca, which they upload every Sunday to their Youtube channel and in which, from "El Patio Andalú", they make an invitation to the cuisine, regional and Spanish culture. Interviews are presented to several artists from different branches, both from Cienfuegos and Spain. Each one is presented in a twelve-minute chapter; it is monothematic, with a structure and script that leaves us with the desire to follow them every Sunday. At this moment the necessary arrangements are being made with the Perlavisión channel, so that this first season will reach every southern house next summer.

It is another way to celebrate the career of an artist like Joel, who began 40 years ago, when he was only eight years old and was already on stage. Zamora shows his versatility and pleases us with his coplas, the interpretation of the flamenco style guitar and the cajón, his songs with a troubadour and Moorish stamp, where Ivet has also accompanied him. And now he surprises us as the host of his own program, evidencing his histrionic qualities.

I have seen him develop as a teacher of Spanish dances, choreographer, dancer, composer, arranger, singer, troubadour, at the head of his group, his company and his Academy. I have also experienced his shows, in which he is sometimes even in charge of the lighting design, and he is in charge of almost a hundred children and teenagers to whom he has given a new opportunity in their aesthetic development.

Many of the members of his company grew up with him, such as Nayara Hernández, who joined when she was only nine years old, and Soteris Roldán, who also started as a child in 1996 and still accompanies him, along with so many other names. They are a great family, safeguarding the values of our ancestors and keeping these dreamers, who one day wanted to show that it was possible, united by bonds of fellowship.

Another of his laurels is in the personal, in that human growth that should always accompany an artist, in the values that start from the family that he now forms. He proudly tells me that they have been able to dedicate even more time to his son Calé. Together they have carried out many activities at home, including general and artistic education and also a day dedicated to the yard to cultivate, beautify, take care of plants and learn to live in harmony with nature. The day ended with a small barbecue to enjoy the atmosphere created by parents and son.

Taken from 5 de septiembre digital

English version Hector Hdez.