Suma has managed to produce two hundred thousand thrilling minutes of applause, singing, dancing, music and laughter. The past four years have been glorious for the flamenco arts and the festival is now entering its fifth edition. As they say in the world of bullfighting: the fifth is bound to be a good one.

New venues were opened, curtains were raised, the sun had been bought in case it rained, and the wind in Vallecas was stopped and overtaken by soleares and seguiriyas. Flamenco in Chinchón, in Alcalá de Henares, Torrelodones, Alcobendas, the quaint little village of La Cabrera, Rivas Vaciamadrid, and other treasures that form part of the artistic heritage of this Community, the capital's cultural center with its poets and flamenco singing. The look and design were a real luxury, flamenco's typical polka dot prints marked an era and others tried to imitate us. It's much better to be imitated than to be ignored.

The masters of the flamenco arts left a Suma behind that will go down in history, a cultural luxury for the Community of Madrid that, with all due respect, is unlike anything previously known in this art: a month-long flamenco festival, thirty days, thirty nights for the many fans from around the world who have done so much for the country's most authentic art form in Madrid.

Everyone wants to come to the Suma. And, we'd love to have them all, but we're sorry to say there isn't room for everyone at once, though, in time, and with a bit of effort we'll manage to bring them. Four years ago, nobody could have imagined that this miracle would occur. We Spaniards tend to take our most important achievements for granted; that's just the way we are.

The Community of Madrid's Department of Culture is no-doubt responsible for all this. We are twinned with Seville's Biennial, with the Festival del Cante de Minas de la Unión (La Union's Flamenco Mine Song Festival), and with all the flamenco festivals in the Community of Madrid.

Success is a debt we all have with those who managed to put Suma Flamenca together: we must go on and improve the festival each year. The three prizes we've received mean very little; the real honor is to continue bringing flamenco art to life.

In 2010, the world's most open, multi-racial, and friendliest Community will continue to promote flamenco.

Juan Verdú
Suma Flamenca's Director
Community of Madrid