Difficulty: Intermediate
Peru
Federico Kauffman Doig has received the highest title the Peruvian government gives in honor of cultural achievment, Amauta. Sweden and Austria have also bestowed him with awards and titles. So is he ready to join the ranks of jubilados? No way! He still explores cliffs 4000 meters high and has far too many unfinished essays to even consider it for un momentito.
Difficulty: Newbie
Mexico
The trio Fase is hailed as a pioneer in “tropical electronica”. The wonderfully sweet voice of Alma Velasco helped make this plaintive song a favorite among pop fans on both hemispheres. Excellent electro-pop with simple and very clear lyrics that repeat many key words, super for beginners.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
Meet Joaquín Pérez, an award-winning Andalusian Nativity Scene sculptor.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
Meet Alejandro Hermann, a fascinating, world-renowned artist born of an Austrian father and French mother who studied in the best Parisian art schools and resides in Marbella, Spain.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
One of the most fun ways to visit Wales is on board an antique steam locomotive. One of the oldest railroad companies in the world has recently opened a new line which, thanks to an army of volunteers, is delighting both tourists and its devoted employees.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
The town of Olivares in Seville, Spain, has launched a set design workshop with the goal of teaching unemployed residents to create period decorations as a fun way to get to know their rich artistic heritage.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
When 20-year-old Jassin Gaudi arrived in Sevilla to get in touch with his Moroccan roots, he thought he wanted to be a bullfighter, but instead found his passion in flamenco, an art which sometimes emulates it.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Ecuador
Henry Gomez, owner of the "MS Records" recording studio, shares his memories and what a lifetime spent as a music producer in Imbabura, Ecuador means to him.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Dominican Republic
Annya shares a bit about her background in flamenco and what she feels makes it unique among other art forms.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
Araceli Garcia, a flamenco student in London, England, explains a bit about her history with this enticing dance and what it means to her.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
Vela, a word often used for “candle,” or “sail,” can also mean “wakefulness,” as in “vigilance.” It’s related to the verb velar, “to stand watch.” The name of the port city of La Vela de Coro refers not to the “sails” of merchant ships (as many assume) but rather to this town’s role as a “lookout” point for marauding pirates. One-eyed peg-legs are now less common, but the carnivalesque annual festival of Los Locos continues on.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
Most English speakers have at some time in their lives heard Donovan sing “The Hurdy Gurdy Man,” but how many knew what such a man did? The woman in this video talks about a musical family that used to play the sinfonía, and indeed this is the Spanish name for the hand-crank organ known as a “hurdy gurdy.”
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
It’s quite possible that El Día de Los Locos, as celebrated in La Vela de Coro, has its roots as far back as the Roman Empire, which celebrated Saturnalia at the same time of year. Both festivals, historically, involve turning the social order on its head, with slaves dressing like their masters.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Venezuela
La Vela is a small town in the state of Falcón, on the northwest coast of Venezuela, where every December 28th Los Locos [“The Crazy Ones”] arrive wearing colorful and elaborated costumes. The whole town becomes a party, with businesses closing and people dancing in the streets. It’s a tradition that could be in any magical realism novel and that desperately struggles to not fall into oblivion.
Difficulty: Beginner
Puerto Rico
Italian pop star Eros Ramazzotti teams up with Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin in this duet, “No Estamos Solos” (“We are not alone”—or, “Non Siamo Soli” in its Italian version). Born in Rome, the 44-year-old Ramazzotti is no duet virgin: He’s recorded songs with the late Luciano Pavarotti, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Cher and Carlos Santana, to name a few.
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