Juan Manuel Fernández, or famous “Farruquito”, revered figure in the flamenco. His parents are famed flamenco singer Juan Fernández Flores “El Moreno” and flamenco dancer Rosario Montoya Manzano “La Farruca”. His grandfather, “Farruco”, founded unique dancing style of flamenco Barcelona and since Farruquito was a child, he was surrounded by flamenco art in its purest form. He made his debut on the international stage on Brodway when he was only five years old. Farruquito acted in the show “Pure Flamenco” with legendary flamenco Barcelona artists, some of them were part of Farruquito’s family. Since that moment he has devoted his entire life to the innovation and preservation in the art of flamenco Barcelona.
When he was eight Farruquito presented his first seasonal play at the Sala Zambra in Madrid. At the age of 11 he participated in shooting video clip "Camarón nuestro" and in the following year at the age of 12 Farruquito appeared in film “Flamenco” by Carlo Saura, alongside his grandfather and family patriarch El Farruco. That same year he acted in the show Bodas de Gloria with his brilliant family, participating in its choreographic and artistic conception. In 1992 Farruquito performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Barcelona Paralympics, and at the Andalucía Pavilion of the Seville Universal Exposition with his grandfather, performing in the play “Presente, Pasado y Futuro”.
In 1997 with the death of his grandfather Farruco, young Farruquito has to assume responsibility of perpetuating the family lineage. He created his first show at the young age of 15. In the show “Raíces Flamecas” he has shown himself as a remarkable dancer of new dimension, who can naturally unite his amazing personal artistic conception with all his traditional knowledge.
After his debut at the London's Royal Festival Hall, this magnificent, indigenous and frenetic flamenco Barcelona achieved instant success, a big success that was repeated at the Villa and Conde Duque Theaters in Madrid, the Poliorama Theater in Barcelona and on international tours in France and Japan.
In 2001 at the Flamenco USA Festival Farruqito with his family performed the show "Farruquito y familia". During his performances in New York and Boston, the New York Times rated him as “the best artist who set foot in the Big Apple in 2001”. The following year he presented the same show in Seville at Central Theatre with big success. Later he and his brother performed in III Edition of Flamenco USA Festival. His brother Farruco at that moment was only 14 years old. After that, Farruquito went on tour in North America with the show "Por Derecho", he conquered critics with his artistry and personality. He participated at the flamenco Barcelona Festival in Madrid, in Villamarta Theatre, at Albeniz Theatre and Festival Flamenco in Jerez in all of them with great success. Also Farruquito's genius did get noticed by the famous photographer Richard Avedon. The US magazine People named him as one of the most beautiful people in the world.
In November of 2003 at the Maestranza Theater in Seville Farruquito presented his show “Alma vieja”. The show was a big success. Later he repeated the triumphe once more at the Albéniz Theater in Madrid and the Victoria Theater in Barcelona, since then, the show has succeed on stages across France, Spain, Italy and the UK. Furthermore Farruquito is a head of dance academy in Seville, where he propagates techniques and precepts of his grandfather Farruco’s dance school.
In 2004, Farruquito received public and press recognition, with several awards such as the Premio Público for best flamenco Barcelona dancer, the Telón Chivas 2004 Award for best dancer, the flamenco Barcelona Hoy for best flamenco Barcelona dancer, and the prestigious APDE 2004 Prize to “the dignified repository of the inheritance of gypsy dancing.”
In year 2008 his new work PURO, with amazing technical dancing display and 14 musicians on stage was presented en Palma de Mallorca, , Jerez y Sevilla (XIII Bienal de Flamenco). The critics were consentaneous, “Farruquito reigns again!” The show also succeeded in such countries as Mexico, Israel and Holland. At festival Bienal de flamenco Barcelona in Seville in 2010 dancer presented his hew play “Sonerias”, an outstanding work with traditional dance style.
At the Compac Theater in Madrid Farruquito release the show “Baile Flamenco”, which was performed for 4 successive days, tickets were completely sold out. The show was a big success with critics like “Farruquito triumphs at the opening of Baile flamenco Barcelona.” (El Mundo, 11/16/2011). In this show dancer performs dressed by prestigious fashion labels Louis Vuitton and Berluti. It was a first time Berluti had agreed to dress a celebrity.
In 2015 Farruquito danced at the Tablao Cordobes Flamenco Barcelona. It was a first time when the dancer officially performs at the Tablao. Tablao Cordobes Barcelona Flamenco is a place where you can see best flamenco show in Barcelona. It is situated in famous La Rambla street since 1970.