SELECTED guests were given a taste of the Spanish art form of ‘Barraca’ by Miguel Sahid, director and acting coach of the Hispanic Acting Society of Miami (SAH), in Norbrook, St Andrew, on Thursday night.

Barraca refers to the work of the 19th century poet and dramatist, Federico García Lorca — considered one of Spain’s greatest — and his travelling theatre, whose objective was to introduce theatre to marginalised groups and areas.

Sahid was part of a week-long theatre workshop put on by the Embassy of Spain to support the ambitions of drama students at the Alpha Institute and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Andres Mejia, fellow SAH member, joined Sahid on the teaching project.

“It was totally amazing,” Sahid told the Jamaica Observer after his performance.

The night made the easy transition from the background sounds of ska and mento, provided by students of Alpha Institute, into Sahid’s emotive reading of Gypsy Ballads by García Lorca. While completely done in its native language, there was little lost in translation to the non-Spanish speakers in the audience due to Sahid’s vibrant portrayal, which emphasised each spoken line to the very end where Carmen Rives, chargé d’affaires — Embassy of Spain, joined him for a rousing dance-filled finale.

The performance closed to plenty applause standing well on its own, but offering an insight as to what was transferred to the Jamaican students over the week.

“The first day, the students were closed and shy. However, we taught them it’s okay to feel something while on stage, so I believed we’ve fulfilled our mission,” he said.

The workshop took place at both institutions from April 11 to 15, with a final play at Alpha Institute. Rives said the embassy chose the Alpha Institute and Edna Manley College due to their position in Jamaican culture.

“Alpha Institute was chosen due its cultural significance in Jamaican entertainment. Edna Manley [College] provides the structure Jamaicans need to purse their artistic dreams,” she explained.

Established in 2006, the SAH is a company of actors, directors and producers that strives to carry on the tradition of theatre as an indispensable form of storytelling which serves to inspire, challenge, empower, and educate. The SAH has an international and open culture philosophy and believes in sharing knowledge and experience with individuals from different cultures. In its decade of existence, the society has held many acting workshops preparing actors and creating and transmitting the magic of theatre to thousands of people in Miami, other cities of the USA, Bogota in Colombia, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Madrid in Spain. The SAH works closely with the Cultural Office of Spain in Miami.

— Rory Daley