| Biography
TONI EL PELAO
Antonio Manzano Bermúdez (Madrid, 1939). Bailaor
The leading figure of
the flamenco dynasty Los Pelaos. Grandson of El Pelao
Viejo, great nephew of El Gato, son of Juan el Pelao,
nephew of El Fati and Faíco... talent runs in
his veins. He stepped up on a stage for the first time
when he was just two years old. Presented by Pastora
Imperio and Juan el Pelao, he performed a farruca, the
clan's trademark style. His professional debut, at twelve
years of age, came at the well-known Madrid tablao Zambra.
There he performed alongside Perico el del Lunar, Rafael
Romero and Pericón de Cádiz, among others.
He dazzled European audiences together with La Chunga
and performing at the Festival Flamenco Gitano alongside
artists like Paco de Lucía, Camarón and
La Singla. This musical event is immortalized on the
album ‘Festival Flamenco Gitano Berlin 1965’.
He also took part, with other members of his family,
in the 3rd Cumbre Flamenca de Madrid, the so-called
flamenco summit, held at the Alcalá Palace theater
in 1986.
Teaming up with his
wife, Madrid-born bailaora María Luisa Martín
García, La Uchi (b. Madrid, 1943), he's enjoyed
success on stages all over the world, spending lengthy
season in countries like Venezuela, Australia and Japan.
The duo was - and still is at Torres Bermejas - the
main attraction at the Spanish capital's tablaos.
Toni el Pelao also worked
regularly in cinema, taking part in movies like ‘Morena
clara’, ‘La Bella de Cádiz’,
‘Un caballero andaluz’ and ‘Pan, amor
y Andalucía’, alongside artists like Lola
Flores and leading Spanish actors and actresses.
As an independent artist
he recently offered outstanding performances at flamenco
events like Festival Caja Madrid and Festival de Calasparra.
At the same time, he works incessantly giving classes,
side-by-side with La Uchi. The maestros give classes
regularly in Madrid, and on specific occasions in different
spots around the world. Their mission: to continue the
invaluable legacy of the farruca, a family invention
which was taken on board by such notable artists as
Antonio Gades.
LA UCHI
María Luisa Martín García (Madrid,
1943). Bailaora
La Uchi has danced baile
professionally since she was a girl. She began dancing
with Rafael de la Cruz, who took her to work in Paris,
although she also trained with Frasquillo's wife, with
La Quica and with Victoria Piquer in ballet. Later,
she joined flamenco groups in Madrilenian tablaos such
as Las Cuevas de Nemesio, Las Brujas and Torres Bermejas,
sharing the stage with artists of the likes of Camarón
de la Isla, José Mercé and Paco de Lucía.
Next, she joined the troupe of Toni el Pelao - her husband
-, work which she alternated with other contracts like
the Middle East tour with Gracita del Sacromonte.
As partners with Toni
el Pelao, she has successfully toured stages all over
the world, spending prolonged seasons in countries such
as Venezuela, Australia and Japan. The tandem has been
- and currently continues to be at Torres Bermejas -
the main event at tablaos in Spain's capital.
La
Uchi, the sister of also-bailaora La Polilla, carries
out incessant work as an instructor. The maestra teaches
classes regularly in Madrid and periodically in different
places throughout the world.
|
Press
LA REPÚBLICA CULTURAL
February 17th, 2010
El baile de Los Pelaos de Madrid y la voz de Diego el
Cigala en el Festival Flamenco 2010
La tercera jornada arranca con un homenaje a la más
antigua saga flamenca de Madrid
See
full page
EL PAÍS
February 16th, 2010
Carmen Linares: “Toni el Pelao. Un bailaor de
dinastía gitana centenaria al que Linares profesa
un enorme respeto. “Proviene de una generación
anterior y conserva un baile muy puro, intacto. Es una
forma de expresión que le sale de muy dentro”
See
full page
EFE
January 28th, 2010
El Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid se traslada al Teatro
Circo Price
“El miércoles 17 de febrero le tocará
el turno a Toni el Pelao y La Uchi con su espectáculo
"La dinastía centenaria del baile flamenco",
que mostrará "el flamenco de verdad",
según han destacado los artistas”
See
full page + photo
"Puro flamenco"
EL CORREO DE ANDALUCÍA
Manuel Bohórquez (Sevilla, 15 de marzo de
2008)
"Si no me falla la memoria, Toni el Pelao llevaba
24 años sin estar programado en Sevilla. ¿Cómo
es posible? Un cuarto de siglo sin disfrutar de un maestro
que sabe llamar y marcar, que cierra el compás
como lo harían en los cafés cantantes
Raspaó y Miracielos, que flota en las escobillas,
que en cada desplante nos obsequia con una estética
de un lenguaje tan gitano que dan ganas de resucitar
a García Ramos y pedirle prestados sus pinceles.
Verlo en la Sala Joaquín Turina ha sido una experiencia
única"
Read
article
"La hermosura del daguerrotipo"
ABC
Alberto García Reyes (Sevilla, 15 de marzo
de 2008)
"Hombre humilde, gitano hasta las entrañas,
que pisa el escenario como quien pisa el Vaticano, pues
el señorío no se hereda ni es sólo
de sangre azul. El Pelao es el pasado que hace grande
el presente (...). El Pelao se coloca siempre como una
escultura de Miguel Ángel. Pone cuerpo de mármol
a un alma de fuego"
Read
article
"Los clásicos humildes"
DIARIO DE SEVILLA
Juan Vergillos (Sevilla, 14 de marzo de 2008)
"Algunas de las poses del Pelao parecen extraídas
de las láminas en sepia de finales del XIX que
incluye Fernando el de Triana en Arte y artistas flamencos.
Sin embargo, El Pelao encarna esta forma de clasicismo
en un arte vivo"
Read
article
"A dynasty's last link"
FLAMENCO-WORLD.COM
Silvia Calado (Madrid, March 2003)
Interview with Toni el Pelao & La Uchi, dancers
Read
article
"History, art and myth"
FLAMENCO-WORLD.COM
Silvia Calado (Jerez, 7th March 2007)
"Toni el Pelao is here, who since he made his début
at the age of two thanks to Pastora Imperio, hasn’t
neglected to safeguard the family school one bit. And
he has upheld it with exquisite pampering and dignity"
Read
article
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