Zambomba! 

Enjoy with Me a Traditional Navidad Flamenca Celebration in My Native Spain through a Unique Multimedia Interactive Immersive Online Experience!

¡Hola! I am Puela Lunaris, the founder of Dances of the World Society. I am devoted to rescuing dance and music traditions in danger of extinction.

In the ancient village in Southwestern Spain where I was born, during the long winter nights, neighbors gathered together, around the fireplace, to sing and dance to the rhythms of the tambourines, the zambombas (a Spanish friction drum), and whatever rhythm-producing utensils we could find in our kitchens.

Our elders sang the ancient Romances, which are ballads of breathtaking beauty that narrate soul-stirring stories from the times of our al-Andalus ancestors; we sang Villancicos, Christmas carols with a Flamenco flavor; and we also sang Coplas, traditional songs with sassy and mischievous lyrics.

That was so much fun! As a child, without even having to think about it, I absorbed profound lessons about life transmitted in the lyrics of the traditional songs and I learned to generate life force in my body by the power of the dance. 

But, the first big change in our traditional way of life happened when TV came in. We were all fascinated -almost hypnotized- by this magical box. Then, we all just watched TV and we did not gather to dance and sing any longer. Well… except for Christmas!

However, in most of Spain, neighbors no longer gather to sing and dance during the long winter nights, but there is a special place where the tradition continues… That is Jerez de la Frontera, the Flamenco Capital of the World!

In 2004, I felt the urgency to film and document this tradition before it was gone from the face of the earth because every time ancestral traditions are lost, we as species also lose the wisdom inherent in them.

Since 2004, I have been coming to Jerez to research and saveguard the traditional Navidad Flamenca called Zambomba. Now Jerez is my home! 

In 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity worth safeguarding, validating the  work we have been doing since 1994 preserving Flamenco as a folk art with its social practices, rituals, and festive events. 

Now, I want to share with you what Flamenco as a Living Culture is like through this Fun, Interactive Online Experience. If you can’t come to Spain, let me bring Spain to you! Would you join me?

🌺 By joining us in this online multimedia experience, you are contributing to keeping alive our traditional Navidad Flamenca and expanding it beyond its physical environment into a conversation with the global flamenco community...

🌺 We appreciate your support because when TV came into our lives, this tradition almost disappeared from the face of the earth. Even though it has been recovered, it is no longer what it originally was because our culture and our way of life has changed.

🌺 In this course, we'll explore and bring to light the spellbinding history, culture, and evolution of Navidad Flamenca, known as Zambomba in Jerez

🌺 If you are a flamenco singer, dancer, guitar player or scholar, this program is a priceless source of information and inspiration to expand your research and your repertory

T I M E L I N E

🌟 From December 2nd, until December 18th, by the power of interactive technology, you will enjoy watching & listening selected live celebrations of our Navidad Flamenca direct from Spain in real time! Even if you can't make it live, you still get access to the recordings of this unique and fascinating experiences.

🌟 During the rest of December and January,  I will share with you unique multimedia content never published before from real Navidad Flamenca celebrations in Spain that I have been filming & collecting since 2004. 

🌟 Plus, you might want to chose the paid-in-full bonus to access transcriptions of lyrics, specialized music lists, filmography, and how the stars of flamenco are using this material to enhance their repertoire

🌟 You will also discover little-known facts not only about our villancicos, but also our ancient romances, our sassy coplas (canciones populares), the Bulerías de Jerez in Navidad, and the soul-stirring Campanilleros.

🌟 You gain access to live Q&A sessions to get your questions answered and to create community.

🌟 Beginning in January, our amazing bonuses are released.

🌟 You'll have access to all the recordings and bonuses until November 1st, 2023.

If You Want to Understand Flamenco as a Living Culture,
This Is an Experience NOT to Be Missed!

Bonus 1: What Is Aflamencamiento?

We'll explore one of the most heated and controversial discussions in the Flamenco world:  Can Flamenco be folklore? Can folklore be Flamenco? 
We'll also explore the fascinating process known as AFLAMENCAMIENTO

Bonus 2: The Making of a Zambomba

A Zambomba is both the name of the Navidad Flamenca celebrations in Jerez and the name of the traditional Spanish friction drum, which is made from a ceramic pot, topped with a skin or cotton cloth and a pole in the middle.

Let me take you behind the scenes, so you can take a look at how these very special home-made drums are traditionally put together.

Bonus 3: Bulerías de Jerez en Navidad

Bulerías is one of the most essential styles of Flamenco-Gitano. But what is the difference between the traditional Bulerías and the special Bulerías sung only during Christmas?

We'll explore this fascinating subject and you'll gain access to illuminating examples, including collector's item multimedia material and exclusive videos filmed in the intimate home settings of the great gitano dynasties. Something no outsider has access to.

Bonus 1: Navidad Flamenca & the Stars of Flamenco

Find out how famous dance companies in Spain and internationally are using the Navidad Flamenca tradition to create exciting repertoire and achieve great success.

Bonus 2: Navidad Flamenca Filmography, Discography & Accurate Lyrics

Discover legendary films featuring Navidad Flamenca tradition. Also, listen to magnificent, genuine Flamenco music that perhaps you never heard before. Gain access to well-researched, accurate lyrics. This is a priceless treasure if you are a flamenco professional, as it can enormously enhance your repertory and inspiration to present a genuine Navidad Flamenca!

Bonus 3: Navidad Flamenca & Contemporary Flamenco Fusions

With this Bonus you get a treat if you are intrigued and excited to discover how the styles of flamenco sung and danced during a Zambomba celebration are a source of inspiration for contemporary cultural dancers, guitarists, percussionists, and singers.

We'll catch a glimpse of spellbinding fusions that are expanding on the time-honored traditional forms in flamenco

Special Bonus 1: Navidad Flamenca Performance Direct from Spain 

Enjoy a legendary Navidad Flamenca performance direct from Spain. You will have the opportunity to revel in a show by world-class, internationally acclaimed flamenco performers such as Kini de Jerez, Mara Rey and Ana de los Reyes.

Special Bonus 2: Unique Performance by Coro of Grandma María

The essence of Navidad Flamenca is charmingly expressed by the Coro of Grandma María. They carry the tradition and take us back to the roots of flamenco as a folk art, evoking overtones of primal ancestral memories.

If any other questions come to mind, please email us to [email protected]