Mexican hat

part of a display of Mexican costumes at the Instituto Cervantes in Manchester, where we heard two interesting talks on the history of flamenco with a focus on the art form in the years immediately following the end of Franco.Under Franco the gitano way of life was ruthlessly suppressed as longstanding communities were moved from their traditional barrios like Triana in Sevilla to soulless housing projects outside the city. Meanwhile  a synthetic flamenco was later encouraged to promote tourism on the costas. After the return to democracy the two opposing forces in Spanish life remained: rigid authoritarianism on the right countered by a revival of the strong radical and republican s spirit so vigorous before Franco and never extinguished. You can see these currents tn today's   Andalucia , still strongly Catholic and culturally conservative, but mixed with exuberance and free political expression particularly in the young. The 23rd Flamenco Festival is in full swing in Jerez de la Frontera right now. Sadly we can't be there this year.

https://youtu.be/2XpFBrb12sQ