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Last week the Washington Ballet company concluded an impressive run of shows, but the D.C. dance scene continues to bring it in dynamic ways these days. This week there's at least one set of dance shows looking to continue the momentum.
Right on time for Valentine's Day, the eighth annual Flamenco Festival will steam up the stage with four shows this weekend and next week at GWU's Lisner Auditorium.
Famous flamenco singers Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda, joined by guitarist Juan Carlos Romero, and D.C.-debuting dancer Pastora Galván will kick it off this Saturday, Feb. 9, in their show, Cuatro Esquinas (Four Corners). Linares, who has been in the business for over 30 years, and Latin Grammy nominee Poveda will combine with Romero and Galván to display the roots of Flamenco along with some of its recent innovations.
On Sunday, the Gypsy guitarist and multiple Latin Grammy Award winner Tomatito (a.k.a. José Fernández Torres) will perform with his ensemble, the Tomatito Quintet, and upcoming Gypsy dancer Jose Maya. Tomatito is famous for working with singer Camarón de la Isla for 18 years before Camarón's death in 1992, but he has since continued the development of flamenco guitar and has earned his place as the foremost flamenco guitarist of his generation.
Photo of Eva Yerbabuena courtesy Flamenco Festival, D.C.
There is no show on Monday, but the festival picks up on Tuesday with a show dedicated to women titled Mujeres. It is directed by dancer and choreographer Mario Maya, and features three generations of world-renowned flamenco dancers. There is Merche Esmeralda, known for her work with the National Ballet of Spain; Belén Maya, who danced with the Dance Company of Andalucía; and star of the 2004 D.C. Flamenco Festival Rocío Molina. They will be joined on stage by special guest singer Diana Navarro.
The festival finishes on Thursday and Friday, February 14-15, with the D.C. debut of Eva Yerbabuena's Santo y Seña (Signs and Wonders). Yerbabuena, who has won every Spanish choreographic award during her career, is performing for the first time in D.C. since the 2002 festival.
Tickets range from $35 to $60 with a limited amount of $20 tickets for GWU students; available at Lisner Auditorium Box Office (Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or online.
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Just wanted to add that the organizers of Lisner's Flamenco Festival included a special evening titled "Flamenco Dance on Lisner's Stage...Starring You!"
This workshop was taught by local flamenco dancer Sara Jerez-Marlow with yours truly, flamenco guitarist Miguelito.
This provided us DC area performers a great opportunity to reach out to more people who might not be aware of our very active flamenco community.
Here are some flamenco workshop pics from my blog.