Sitarist Anoushka Shankar has always sought to infuse her classical Indian music with a more international sound. On Friday, she will perform at Lisner with an ensemble that combines her ancient traditions with Spanish flamenco.

Written by DCist contributor Amanda Abrams

Onstage, Edwin Aparicio is all fire and precision: with his proud snapping shoulders and fast-moving feet, he fully embodies Spain’s best-known dance style, flamenco. But offstage, the man who has done much to increase flamenco’s presence around the city is a D.C. boy through and through. Born in El Salvador, he grew up in Mount Pleasant and attended the city’s public schools and dance studios before seriously turning his focus to flamenco. Eventually, Aparicio widened his perspective – and embellished his movement style – by traveling abroad to study in Spain, the center of the flamenco world.

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…