Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
The Director of the Cervantes Institute in London talks about its role in promoting not only the renowned Spanish author's work but also the Spanish language and culture throughout the world.
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: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina, Venezuela
Let's visit the Ateneo Grand Splendid, a bookstore in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that was formerly a theater and was declared by National Geographic the most beautiful bookstore in the world.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina, Venezuela
Let's hear some anecdotes and learn a bit more about the history of the Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires' most breathtaking and famous bookstore.
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
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
Spain
Meet Joaquín Pérez, an award-winning Andalusian Nativity Scene sculptor.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
Produced with a combination of tradition and innovation, the first Andalusian brut, Barbadillo Beta, was born in Andalusia's Barbadillo bodegas.
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
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.
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