FOREVER FLAMENCO
There are many forms of dance and song that emerged as a celebration of life amidst human suffering, but surely Flamenco thrillingly stands out as an example of such an art form. There are moments in the music that clearly reflect Indian, Islamic and Moorish influence. Some Flamenco music styles (palos) have been attributed to Jewish influences, as the Jews were firmly ensconced in Iberia since Roman times. And Andalusia, home to Flamenco, is in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
Do you want to understand the flavors of this extraordinary artform? Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, one of the world’s leading flamenco companies, presents Ventanas, a virtual flamenco festival featuring top artists from all over the globe, from December 10 – 20. With live performances on pause for the foreseeable future, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana assembled a thrilling roster of acclaimed companies for Ventanas, offering four “windows” into the imaginations of the next generation of choreographers. From the comfort and safety of your own home, allow Sintonía, Emilio Ochando y Compañía, Compañía Guadalupe Torres, and Compañía Isaac Tovar to transport you to a world filled with beauty, passion, and love through exquisite flamenco performances. Plus, get rare access to masterclasses with Jesús Carmonaand Patricia Guerrero, two of today’s most extraordinary artists. Tickets for Ventanas, which includes access to all four full-length performances, are $25 and can be arranged at www.Flamenco-Vivo.org.
Gifts of any size provide crucial support to Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana’s current operations, and will help to ensure a future filled with magnificent flamenco presentations.
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Ventanas means “windows” – and that’s the idea behind this new, all-digital festival: it gives you a unique glimpse into a tantalizing variety of flamenco delights – from afar.
Through these “windows” you’ll see a wide range of artists & styles: from the fireworks of the traditional tablao-style you might find in an Andalusian café – to works only seen live at recent major Spanish festivals – to new, experimental choreography – you’ll be wowed by the variety and artistry of these creations by four up and coming choreographers from Spain and the US.
Plus, get rare access to masterclasses with some of today’s most important artists (details below).
Best of all, at this festival, there are no lines, no travel required, comfy seating, and drinks are “on the house.”
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The schedule for Ventanas:
Thursday, December 10 at 7pm – December 17 at 11:59pm
Tattooed
By Sintonía
An experimental flamenco dance performance about survivors’ strength and resilience.
Sintonía presents its inaugural production, Tattooed, an experimental flamenco dance performance that gives voice to survivors marked by abuse. Consisting of a series of theatrical vignettes, this show illustrates stories that have scarred, yet shaped their lives. Ultimately, Tattooed is a proclamation of strength, resilience, and seeks to challenge people’s perspectives on flamenco and survivors.
Join Sintonía Artistic Director Fanny Ara for an artist talkback on Thursday, December 10th at 8:15 pm immediately following the performance broadcast. Free to festival pass holders.
Friday, December 11 at 7pm – December 18 at 11:59pm
Clásica Tradición
By Emilio Ochando y Compañía
An autobiographical journey bringing together tradition and the vanguard through dance and music. In this work, Ochando creates a unique environment with sound, creative staging, lighting, and (of course) stunning artistry. Shawl, bells, spoons, and castanets combine with strong musical composition involving Spanish guitar, the cello, piano, and the live voice. A beautiful blend between tradition and the contemporary.
Saturday, December 12 at 7pm – December 19 at 11:59pm
Acuérdate Cuando Entonces
By Compañía Guadalupe Torres
This show arises from this idea of homage in which, through the different styles of flamenco, the importance of those “roots” of that “flamenco of yesterday” is highlighted. This continues to be a great source of inspiration for the new generations, reminding us how the past is important for the flamenco scene today. It’s a tribute to the cante (song) and the importance of those echoes of purity in flamenco and the legacy of great artists such as: Niña de los Peines, Manuel Torre, Mairena, Caracol, La Paquera, Terremoto, Fernanda, and many others.
Sunday, December 13 at 7pm – December 20 at 11:59pm
Añejo
By Compañía Isaac Tovar
Añejo is an open, living, evolving spectacle. Rather than to tell a particular story or script, it seeks to enjoy flamenco by referencing figures of its past, and presenting the essence of flamenco using the cante, the toque and the dance. It’s a work in which the audience must follow only its senses and feelings and enjoy every instant of what’s happening on stage. Representing Isaac Tovar’s first show as a solo artist, Añejo both demands and demonstrates all the knowledge and experience he has acquired along his trajectory as an artist.
EXCLUSIVE LIVE MASTERCLASSES
Jesús Carmona
Soleá por Bulerías
Saturday, December 12, 12pm – 1:15pm
Soleá por Bulerías is a flamenco palo. This dance is the product of the intensification of the Soleá rhythm or the deceleration of the Bulería. This cante is an intermediate step between the Soleá and the Bulería but responds to the same rhythm of both.
Patricia Guerrero
Alegrías
Sunday, December 13, 12pm – 1:15pm
Alegrías is a flamenco palo or musical form that originated in Cádiz and has a rhythm consisting of 12 beats. Alegrías belongs to the group of palos called Cantiñas and it is usually played in a lively rhythm. The livelier speeds are chosen for dancing, while quieter rhythms are preferred for the song alone.
Tickets for the Masterclasses are $30 each or $55 for both.
