the essential
The Spanish cultural center is 45 years old and is renewing itself: this year, the emphasis is on diversity. However, the “Center” intends to remain faithful to its roots.
Saturday July 6, the Caillou district in Auch will live to the rhythm of Spain. The traditional annual festival attracts each edition hundreds of onlookers, curious people or lovers of Iberian culture around concerts, dance shows or famous tapas.
“We have prepared the most beautiful event possible, the most varied too,” announces the president of the Cultural Center, Jean-François Berdah. Everything starts from 7:30 p.m. until midnight, and we hope the weather will be on our side!” He also hopes that spectators will appreciate the new features. Because the 2024 edition will be a little different.
Renewal
The association is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2024, and it has undergone many changes this year, changes that are reflected in the celebration itself. “We now have a board of directors, about fifteen people strong, and this has been an influx of new blood. We have lots of initiatives that are emerging, such as the Bulletin, a newsletter for our members, for example.”
The program expresses this renewal which seeks to preserve the original spirit of the “Centre”. At 7:30 p.m., MP danse Magali presents a salsa bachata show, but it is followed at 7:45 p.m. by oriental dance with Justine Copin, before a show by Team Afro danse Auch, at 8 p.m. “We want to open the festival to other cultures, to other perspectives,” confides the president. For example, there will be a flamenco fashion show, with a Spanish designer, Melina Cruz. » Behind this renovated program, Daniel Maggi, the main organizer of the Spanish Cultural Center festival for years. “He’s the one who finds the ideas, the artists, etc. He takes care of everything from A to Z,” assures Jean-François Berdah.
And Daniel Maggi knows that the members and more broadly the public of the festival also appreciate the tradition: the students of Sevillian dance will perform at 8:15 p.m., and the 5 musicians of Alma Flamenca will set the evening alight from 10:15 p.m. “We want to expand our programming to Latin countries, Portugal, or Brazil, why not? The Choro was very popular, for example.”
Finally, the Spanish cultural center will be back on August 4 for the big garage sale on the Allée de Lagarrasic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., without reservation, at €3 per linear meter.
Construction site pending
No change on the square: the Regar construction project, “which raises a lot of questions for us”, has not evolved, and the site seems to be on hold. “But this year, we have no difficulty organizing the Caillou festival. However, answers will be needed. Discussing the project is one thing. Having it accepted is another. » The president of the Center judges that the problems raised have not been answered.
