Translation

ALMA CIEN
Madrid 2002

SILVIA DURAN - Spanish Dance and Culture in Israel

by JAVIER PRIMO

Silvia Maghen, Silvia Duran, is the most important figure of Flamenco in Israel.
Born in South Africa, she studied the piano and dance from an early age
(Classical Ballet, Spanish Dance and Flamenco).

Soon after, she left for Spain and her interest in the Spanish dance knew no
boundaries.  She studied Clasico Espanol (Theatre dance) with Victoria
Eugenia and Paco Fernandez, Regional dances with Juanjo Linares, Jota
with Pedro Azorin and Flamenco with "La Quica", Mercedes and Albano,
Manolete, Manolo Marin, Tomas de Madrid, "La Tati" and Carmela Greco,
among others.

In 1966 she was already dancing in the Zarzuela Theatre in Madrid with Antonio
and later joined Luisillo and His Spanish Dance Theatre with which she toured
the world.
In 1967 she is the leading dancer in Danzas Espanolas de Paco Ruiz; she
partners Jose Antonio and is incorporated in 1971 in the Ballet of Fernando
Belmonte.  Let us not forget the Tablaos!
In 1972 and 1973 she forms part of the Cuadro and appears as an Attraction
in the "Cafe de Chinitas" in Madrid.  A few years later, from 1978 to 1981 she
returns to the same Tablao as Guest Artiste.

She creates her own group in 1972 ( with Enrique Soto, Jose Ortega"Manzanita"
and Sebastian Pelao Chico) and tours with Eartha Kitt in South Africa and Rhodesia.
She has worked with many stars of the dance (from Carmen Mora to Manolete) the
guitar from Ramon de Algeciras to Pepe Habichuela and the Cante from Manuel
Soto "Sordera" to Ramon "El Portugues"

As Pioneer of the Spanish dance in Israel, Silvia Duran founded her School of Spanish
Dance in Tel-Aviv receiving visits from Gades, Cristina Hoyos, Paco de Lucia with her
own Programme of Studies approved by Antonio "El Bailarin".

In 1984 she founded her own Ballet Espanol.  Through her School and the Ballet have
passed two generations of dancers, all, today, well known in Spanish dance in Israel.

Television, prizes and performances!

In 1995 collaboration with the Royal Opera of Covent Garden in the Opera "Carmen"
with choreography of Cristina Hoyos for the International Festival of Jerusalem.

The Association of Dance "La Argentinita" of Sanlucar de Barrameda invites her to
lecture and give Master Classes 2000 and 2001.

Silvia tells me that she enjoys the evolution of Flamenco dance although sometimes,
the students who visit Spain are caught up in the style of the fashion of the moment
without understanding that the dance is in continual evolution and follows a circular
pattern.

At the moment she is working on the choreography with Antonio Marquez of
"Carmen" for the Teatro Real and the Israel Opera.