The Manila shawl is a highly valued garment for over two centuries, used as a shawl or to decorate balconies on important days of the year. In this illustrated lecture we will reconstruct part of its history and use, where the bailaoras of the cafés cantantes made this garment essential for dancing up to the present day. Aspects such as its history, handling and expressiveness across different eras, the most relevant influences on its use for dance, the most influential bailaoras, the language of the Manila shawl according to flamenco palos, and “La Lupi's” personal approach to the Manila shawl on stage will be explained.
Susana Lupiañez Pinto (Málaga, 1971), known in the world of flamenco as “La Lupi”, is a flamenco bailaora and choreographer. She is characterized by a deeply flamenco style of dance and a very personal artistic signature, which has led her to receive prominent commissions such as the choreography of some Tangos for the show “Zaguán” by the Ballet Nacional de España, titled “La Fonda de Carmencita”. The great cantaor Miguel Poveda included her in the tour for his album arteSano, with which they toured Spain and part of the world for two years.
She has also choreographed Rondeñas titled El viaje del Poeta for the Conservatorio de Danza de Murcia, as well as the dance by Caña Pasos Largos, the Guajira Compases de seda, and Bulerías for the state dance company “Ensemble Español” at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. She also created the piece Diálogos for the Conservatorio de Danza de Valladolid.
Among her most notable shows are: Retorno; Cartas a Pastora (Homenaje a Pastora Imperio), with artistic direction by Ángel Rojas; La Paula; Mudanza; Lenguaje Oculto, with stage direction by Juan Dolores Caballero; Épicus; and Lo Inédito, with stage direction and dramaturgy by Alberto Velasco.
Winner of the first and second national flamenco dance awards at La Perla de Cádiz in 2007, she currently continues to tour and choreograph all over the world with her flamenco company, as well as teaching training courses.