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Juan Sánchez Valencia, el Estampío, un bailaor en la historia

Born into the gypsy quarter of Santiago in Jerez de la Frontera, he became one of the outstanding bailaores and until his death in 1957, one of the few conservers of the old style of dance. After some years dancing in companies and the cafes cantantes he settled down to teach in an academy in Madrid.

Like many young dancers he learnt his art in the street until he took classes as a teenager with Salud Rodriguez. For a while he even tried to become a bullfighter under the name of El Feo (the ugly one).

"...el mejor de los maestros, el más profundo."

In 1948 a Mexican dancer Roberto Ximénez arrived in Madrid and sought out El Estampio, having been told by all that he was the best flamenco dance teacher available. For 8 years he studied with him until his death and learnt virtually all his repertoire. Rosa Duran was also a former pupil and she believed him to be a "fenómeno, un fuera de serie" (exceptional).

He lived alone, modestly and generally in poverty, but his simple dedication to transmit his art is not forgotten by his students and the public.

quotes....

"La colocación y el movimiento de brazos de Estampío, asi como su baile de cintura para arriba - el baile más gitano-, fue quintaesencia del arte coreográfico." Augusto Butler

"Los pinreles de El Estampio, calzados con botitas enterizas, son en los escobilleos mazos y leznas; castañuelas u palillos de tambor; gorriones y ardillas, panderos, triquitraques, cuerdas de guitarra, rabizas de tralla, chairas en que afila el viento, y cascabeles que suenan a encuadre calesero." José Carlos de Luna

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