Bay Area Flamenco Festival

Description

BAY AREA FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
Recognized as one of the most vibrant flamenco festivals in the United States, THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO FESTIVAL features authentic world-renowned flamenco talent from Spain. Founded in 2005, the Festival has grown into a popular and vital annual Bay Area cultural event. Sold out Festival performances have taken place at several of the best entertainment venues in the Bay Area. In addition to several days of live performances, lecture demos, film screenings workshops and master classes, as well as various informal gatherings provide the opportunity for cultural exchange and create a context for sharing cultural traditions and have a lasting impact on both participants and observers who are able to experience flamenco in a genuinely interactive and spontaneous environment.

“In recent years, the San Francisco Bay Area has become a major U.S. conduit for Spain’s greatest flamenco artists. […] There’s really a vibrant scene here and Nina Menéndez has become a major force [as] the producer of the Bay Area Flamenco Festival.” -NPR The California Report

FESTIVAL FLAMENCO GITANO
The Bay Area Flamenco Festival presents the annual FESTIVAL FLAMENCO GITANO USA in collaboration with presenters in other major cities all of whom have a strong track record in the field of flamenco dance, such as the World Music Institute in New York City and Kala Koa Entertainment in Los Angeles.

The Festival, under the artistic direction of it’s founder, Nina Menéndez, is dedicated to presenting grassroots flamenco from the Gypsy communities of Spain. The UNESCO has recognized flamenco as a World Heritage Treasure, acknowledging the Spanish Gypsies’ essential role in flamenco’s evolution. Celebrating Spanish Gypsy music and dance as a living culture and a legacy of world stature, the Festival has presented some of the most important figures in the history of flamenco as well as prodigies from today’s generation of artists. In 2012 the Festival received a Special Honor from the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards for performances featuring a multigenerational group of tradition-bearers, heirs to a rich legacy of music and dance passed down through the families.

Artistic Director Nina Menendez explains: “These artists are bringing the Gitano essence of flamenco into the 21st century. They have an ease for improvisation that comes from living the art as part of everyday life and are able to express a full range of genuine emotion with unique personal style. No choreography is required, only an intimate connection among the dancers and musicians who interact freely on the basis of a shared legacy and an insatiable hunger to find the spark of duende that transforms the mundane into the sublime.”

ARTISTS PRESENTED
Diego el Cigala, Manuela Carrasco, Los Farruco, Manuel Agujetas, Son de la Frontera, Miguel Funi, Inés Bacán, Pepe Torres, Angelita Vargas, Jairo Barrull, Jose Maya, Concha Vargas, Juan del Gastor and more.


3-NIGHT FESTIVAL PACKAGE
7th ANNUAL BAY AREA FLAMENCO FESTIVAL: FESTIVAL FLAMENCO GITANO

More information and tickets to other Festival events: http://www.BayAreaFlamencoFestival.org


PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Thursday, September 27, 7pm
¡FIESTA JEREZ! Gypsy Flamenco All-Stars
This concert, celebrating the roots, joy and soul of flamenco, feels less like a stage production and more like an invitation to a Gypsy family gathering in Jerez de la Frontera. From the heart of Andalusia's wine country, this 12-member ensemble features singer/dancer Juana la del Pipa, guitarist Diego del Morao, singer Enrique el Zambo, singer/dancer Kina Mendez, and dancer Gema Moneo, a rising star in flamenco. Special appearance by Curra & Yoya of Mujeres de la Peña Tío José de Paula.

Friday, September 28, 8pm
JOSE MERCE
West Coast premier of Spanish superstar, José Mercé, one of the world's greatest flamenco artists. His 1998 recording "Del Amanecer" (Virgen) garnered worldwide recognition with his contemporary arrangements aimed at a younger audience. With multiple Latin Grammy nominations and more than 600,000 albums sold in the last 15 years, he has made an indelible mark on flamenco. His latest CD will be released on Blue Note in the fall of 2012. "[] energetic to the max, with [a] unique, magnificent voice." Flamenco-World.com

Sunday, September 30, 7pm
FARRUCO FAMILY: El Carpeta y La Farruca
The U.S. debut of the 14-year-old prodigy El Carpeta, and return of matriarch La Farrucaboth of the legendary Los Farruco dynasty, the first family of Gypsy flamenco dance. As La Farruca is acclaimed for her elegance, her son El Carpeta, youngest brother of superstar Farruquito, is becoming known as the most extraordinary flamenco dancer of his generation and torchbearer for the family legacy. " you feel in La Farruca the accumulated wisdom of decades, the calm mastery that holds an audience in thrall and never lets it go." New York Times


FOR INFO & TICKETS TO OTHER FESTIVAL EVENTS, FILMS & WORKSHOPS go to http://bayareaflamenco.org


THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO FESTIVAL is recognized as one of the most vibrant flamenco festivals in the United States, featuring authentic, world-renowned flamenco talent from Spain. Founded in 2005, the Festival has grown into a popular and vital annual Bay Area cultural event drawing over 3000 world music and dance enthusiasts.

"In recent years, the San Francisco Bay Area has become a major U.S. conduit for Spain's greatest flamenco artists. [] There's really a vibrant scene here and Nina Menéndez has become a major force [as] the producer of the Bay Area Flamenco Festival." -NPR The California Report

More Info

Link

http://www.bayareaflamencofestival.org

Call

510.444.2820

Email

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