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by Agustín Hervás
José Antonio Morante Camacho was born in
Puebla del Rio in Seville on 2 October 1979. There is no history
of bullfighting in his family, but even so, I have it on good advice
that they were the first to support him in whichever arena he fought.
A huge number of the matadors from Seville's family move from arena
to arena where they cheer along or grieve with him, depending on
the outcome of the afternoon. José made his debut in Guillena,
Seville, and qualified in Burgos on 29 July 1997.
During the season of 1999, for the first time, he
passed through the Puerta de Principe (The Prince's Door) of the
Real Maestranza de Caballería bullring in Seville, which
is the large door through which matadors are carried upon their
fans' shoulders, the most coveted position in bullfighting.
One year later after triumphing in this same arena,
he was carried through it on the shoulders of his fans. José
was gouged for the first time and it affected him that whole season.
He fought in Madrid in 2000, where the spectators are said to be
the most demanding to please, but he managed to captivate them by
elegantly overpowering the bull, despite it being a difficult animal.
The destiny of some matadors is mapped out and Morante has his destiny
sealed in a bullfighting arena; that of El Puerto de Santa María,
Cádiz.
Joselito de Gallo once said of this historic building,
'he who has not seen a bullfight in El Puerto, knows not what it
is to watch a bullfight'. Time and again he has reigned triumphant
in El Puerto de Santa María, where he has had many afternoons
of true inspiration. His manner of bullfighting is irregular but
when he receives a bull, there is not one person in the arena who
is left unimpressed by his passes.
Morante's technique is natural bullfighting, nothing
forced, because the essence of his style is his lust for life. His
wrists, arms and waist have a certain character and some would say
they have a mind of their own but are lead by the head that beats
out the rhythm of skilled movement of the cape, like a song that
breaks the air when sung.
Without a doubt, the characteristic trait of this
matador from Seville is bullfighting using the cape. With the flannel
low he links a series of movements perhaps impossible, perhaps precise
but most certainly full of life. Bullfighting is also an expression
of the body and in Morante it demonstrates his identity.
When this type of body language is forced it looks
ridiculous, but when it comes naturally, as it does to José
Antonio, it lends distinction to the soul of the matador bursting
with pride, with satisfaction at his achievement.
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