Born: 1949 (Córdoba, Spain)
Biography:
Blanca Ávila Moreno, better known as Blanca del Rey, was born in Córdoba, Spain in 1949. Her passion for flamenco dancing was evident from a very young age. At just six years old, she won several flamenco dance competitions and had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Gran Teatro de Córdoba with great success. This marked the beginning of her remarkable career in dance.
By the age of twelve, Blanca made her professional debut at the renowned Cordoba tablao El Zoco. In the early years of her career, she was known as Blanquita Molina la Platera, a nickname derived from the street where she lived, La Plata. Her talent quickly attracted attention and she soon found herself performing in Madrid at Cuevas de Nemesio and later at El Corral de la Morería, a famous tablao frequented by the most esteemed flamenco artists of the time.
It was at El Corral de la Morería that Blanca met Manuel del Rey, the owner of the establishment and the man who would later become her husband. It was also during this time that she adopted her iconic stage name, Blanca del Rey. Her marriage to Manuel temporarily marked a period of retirement from dance, during which she dedicated herself to studying the evolution of flamenco. This deep dive into the art form allowed her to internalize the dance and revolutionize her approach to it.
After approximately ten years, once her two children were grown, Blanca made a definitive return to the world of flamenco. She showcased her most evolved choreographies, capturing the essence of flamenco in all its purity, particularly in her personal interpretation of the alegrías of Córdoba, the caña, and her distinctive guajira. However, it was her unique choreography of the shawl soleá that truly set her apart and established her as a groundbreaking figure in flamenco history.
Blanca del Rey has taken her artistry all over the world, showcasing her talent in numerous prestigious venues. She has collaborated and performed with acclaimed artists such as Maya Plisetskaya, Pete Schauffuss, Silvia Guillén, and Trinidad Sevillano. Her contributions to the art of flamenco have been recognized by writer Rafaela Sánchez Cano, who included her in her work Mujeres de Córdoba.
Awards and Honours:
– Tribute at the Cata Flamenca de Montilla in 2019
– Dedication of the Flamenco Research Award in Jerez de la Frontera in 2020
– National Award for Flamenco (Premio Nacional de Flamenco) laureate
– Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Art from the King and Queen of Spain