THE COMPANY

ARTISTIC TRAJECTORY

The company's work is distinguished by its commitment to preserving cultural expressions that are at risk of disappearing and by its ongoing research in the field of ethnography. Pieles draws inspiration from the folklore of the Canary Islands while embracing traditional cultural expressions from around the world. Through a distinctive artistic language of its own, the company's innovative spirit coexists with ethnographic and anthropological values, creating a space that is both deeply Canarian and universally relevant.

As a result, Pieles has been the subject of academic research, including an anthropological study of its first production, Canto al trabajo, published by the Revista Andaluza de Antropología, and an article on Ángaro published in TSN (Revista de Estudios Internacionales). The project has also received several awards in recognition of its musical and theatrical achievements, as well as its artistic trajectory. Among its distinctions are the Canary Islands Music Award for Best Roots Album, awarded to Ángaro in 2021; the Réplica Award for Best Sound Design, awarded to Tarasca in 2021; the Atlántico Sonoro Award for Research and Preservation of Traditions in 2022; and a nomination for Best Roots Album for Orilla at the 2024 Canary Islands Music Awards.

Released on 26 May 2015, Canto al trabajo marked the beginning of Pieles. Conceived as a tribute to the work carried out by past generations of Canarians on the land, at sea, and in the home, the production draws upon work songs and other cultural expressions from the Canary Islands and beyond. Its success was supported by a five-month residency at Teatro Timanfaya and its participation in Expo Milan 2015.

In 2017, Pieles premiered its acclaimed production Ángaro, through which the company became resident ensemble at Auditorio Jameos del Agua for three consecutive seasons. More introspective in nature and developed through a cinematic lens, the production reflected a significant artistic evolution and a remarkable level of maturity. In 2018, Ángaro was selected to participate in the Etnosur International Festival, held in Jaén, Spain.

That same year saw the creation of PIELconPIEL, an intimate acoustic concert format featuring musical selections from the company's large-scale productions. Although this format does not incorporate stage movement, it retains the distinctive atmosphere that characterises the company’s artistic identity.

On 25 April 2019, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of multidisciplinary artist César Manrique, Pieles premiered La ilusión de César, inspired by the life and work of the renowned Lanzarote-born creator.

In September 2021, the company premiered its award-winning production Tarasca, a work inspired by the rich tradition of oral storytelling. Themes such as land, salt, migration, work songs, legends, ballads, call-and-response traditions, and proverbs connect audiences with the diverse geographical, cultural, and emotional landscapes of the people of the Canary Islands.

Currently, coinciding with the celebration of its tenth anniversary, the company is immersed in the creation of its next production, Arahal. The new work will explore the musical legacies inherited by the Canary Islands from Amazigh and Sephardic cultures, as well as their shared roots. With this production, Pieles aims to move towards a more strongly theatrical approach while embracing greater musical experimentation.

Alongside its artistic activity, Pieles has developed an educational strand associated with each of its productions, reflecting its commitment to promoting the traditions and cultural heritage of the Canary Islands. Through this initiative, the company provides educational programmes for children and young people throughout the archipelago.

Since 2015, through projects such as Teatrae—the educational programme of Teatro Cuyás—Mi aula es un escenario—the educational initiative of Teatro Guiniguada—Despertares—the educational programme of Fundación CajaCanarias—and, more recently, its participation in PROA+ (Programme for Educational Guidance, Advancement and Enrichment), participants have had the opportunity to engage with Canarian folklore and traditional music from around the world. These initiatives involve students directly in both the creative and performance processes through educational units and learning activities designed by the company's Stage Director, Oswaldo Bordón, in collaboration with the participating cultural venues.

In line with this educational mission, Pieles, through Laboratorio Escénico, also created Percusión Canaria, the first percussion school in the Canary Islands. The school provides ongoing training for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the drum traditions of the Canary Islands and other cultures around the world. Today, it serves more than one hundred students from different islands.

Percusión Canaria is involved in a variety of educational programmes aimed at a wide range of age groups. These include Campus Escénico Sénior, a health and wellbeing programme for older adults promoted by the Cabildo de Tenerife; Islénior; Un solo pulso, a project developed by the Department of Education and Youth of the City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna to bring traditional percussion into local schools; and El latir de los pueblos, an initiative run by Despertares that introduces Canarian percussion traditions into educational centres.

In addition, two annual parallel projects have emerged around the company, both dedicated to traditional and roots music. Etnomundo focuses on the cultural expressions of peoples from around the world, while Sonajos is a specialised forum dedicated to the drum traditions of the Canary Islands. Pieles also collaborates with Etnografía Canaria, an online platform that brings together research and resources related to the musical ethnography of the Canary Islands.