World Music Institute & Flamenco Festival Inc. present New York Flamenco Festival Celebrates 10th Year

Festival Dance Concerts to Celebrate Tradition and Innovation with Rocío Molina, María Pagés, Israel Galván and Gala Debuts

Reaching beyond Andalusía, 2010 Festival debuts Madrid’s rock/rumba band Canteca de Macao plus world debut of singer Marina Heredia with Morocco’s Chekara Orchestra of Tetouan

10TH ANNUAL NEW YORK FLAMENCO FESTIVAL www.worldmusicinstitute.org/flamenco

Thurs Feb 11, 7:30 PM
GALA FLAMENCA
PASTORA GALVÁN * MANUEL LIÑÁN * BELÉN LÓPEZ * ROCÍO MOLINA
Program: Todo Cambia
New York City Center, W. 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, NYC
$35, $45, $55, $75, $90
Special $200 WMI benefit tickets include wine & tapas reception with artists.
Call (212) 545-7536 for gala details
CityTix® (212) 581-1212
http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionnew.aspx?performanceNumber=5243

Fri Feb 12, 8:00 PM
COMPAÑÍA ROCÍO MOLINA
Program: Oro Viejo
New York City Center, W. 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, NYC
$30, $35, $45, $65, $80
CityTix® (212) 581-1212
http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionnew.aspx?performanceNumber=5243

Sat Feb 13, 8:00PM & Sun Feb 14, 7:00 PM
COMPAÑÍA MARÍA PAGÉS
Program: Autorretrato
New York City Center, W. 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, NYC
$30, $35, $45, $65, $80
CityTix® (212) 581-1212
http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionnew.aspx?performanceNumber=5243

ANDALUCÍA LOUNGE
Special free pre-concert dance classes 1 ½ hours before showtime with Nelida Tirado for City Center ticket holders only at mezzanine lobby at City Center.
Tapas and Spanish wines available at concession stand

Wed Feb 17, 8:00 PM
CANTECA DE MACAO
Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues), NYC
$20 Box Office (212) 414-5994
http://www.highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1301

Fri Feb 19, 8:00 PM
JOSÉ ANTONIO RODRÍGUEZ
Daniel Navarro, guest dancer
Program: Córdoba…en el Tiempo
Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU
566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South, NYC
$40, $50 (212) 545-7536 or (212) 352-3101
http://www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu/calendar/flamenco

Sat Feb 20, 8:00 PM
MARINA HEREDIA & THE CHEKARA ARAB-ANDALUSIAN ORCHESTRA OF TETOUAN
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, NYC
$40, $50, $60 (212) 545-7536.
Ticketmaster (212) 307-4100 or Box office (212) 840-2824

Sun Feb 21, 7:00 PM
COMPAÑÍA ISRAEL GALVÁN
Program: La Edad de Oro
Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU
566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South, NYC
$40, $50 (212) 545-7536 or (212) 352-3101
http://www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu/calendar/flamenco

Info/Tickets: (212) 545-7536
http://www.worldmusicinstitute.org

http://www.flamencofestival.org

"one of the year’s biggest dance events in New York City"
THE NEW YORK TIMES

"one of New York City’s most important events"
NEWSDAY

New York’s annual flamenco celebration, now in its tenth year, features performances with renowned dancers and musicians direct from Spain and beyond. This year’s festival includes dancers who graced our flamenco festivals in previous years – Rocío Molina, María Pagés, Pastora Galván, Manuel Liñán, and Israel Galván – as well as artists who will be making their first appearance here: the young dancer Belén López (NY debut); guitar maestro José Antonio Rodríguez (US solo debut). This year the festival also reaches beyond Andalusía to include US debuts by the cutting-edge Madrid rock/rumba group Canteca de Macao as well as the first collaboration between the captivating flamenco vocalist Marina Heredia and the Chekara Arab-Andalusian Orchestra of Tetouan, Morocco (world debut).

PROGRAM DETAILS

Thurs Feb 11 - Gala Flamenca
This year's gala, Toda Cambia (Everything Changes), features important new figures in flamenco dance: the sensuous Pastora Galván, a versatile dancer able to navigate easily between classic and modern flamenco; Manuel Liñán, a master of technique who is steeped in tradition and known for his dramatic choreography; the passionate Belén López, who has caused a sensation in flamenco circles in recent years; and Rocío Molina, the fiery dancer who has "become one of the finest soloists in the world today (New York Times)."

Video of Belén López: Belen Lopez Video
Video of Pastora Galvan: Pastora Galvan Cideo

Fri Feb 12 - Compañía Rocío Molina
The Málaga-born Rocío Molina has become a major star in the flamenco world at the age of 25. Noted for her work with the Compañía María Pagés, Mujeres with Belén Maya and Merche Esmeralda (seen at the 2008 Flamenco Festival), and performances with her own company, she has been described as a revelation in flamenco dance. This program features the US premiere of Oro Viejo (Old Gold), where she explores the passage of time accompanied by three dancers, a singer, and musicians (guitar, percussion, palmas). "One of the (Jerez) festival’s most unforgettable performances" --Dance Magazine

Video: http://worldmusicinstitute.org/event.php?id=987

Sat Feb 13 & Sun Feb 14 - Compañía María Pagés
María Pagés, one of Spain’s most celebrated dancers, is known for the sinuous movement of her "endless arms" and her charismatic stage presence. Born in Sevilla, the award-winning Pagés gained international recognition as a principal dancer with the companies of Antonio Gadés, Mario Maya and Rafael Aguilár before creating her own company in 1990. For this festival, her acclaimed 15-member troupe presents Autorretrato, the introspective and soulful program that won the Giraldillo Prize for Best Show at Sevilla’s 2008 Bienal de Flamenco. "true poetry in movement" –La Vanguardia

Video: http://www.flamencofestival.org/

Wed Feb 17 – Canteca de Macao
The Madrid-based Canteca de Macao has caused a stir in international music circles in recent years with its wild blend of flamenco, rumba, rock, punk, reggae, salsa and jazz. One of Spain’s most popular live acts, the group makes each performance into an exciting and joyful party. For this program, the nine-member group, which includes a juggler, features selections from its new CD Agua pa’ la tierra (Warner Music), which fervidly deals with life, the planet, water and wine. US debut.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPWeeTOWi_w

Fri Feb 19 - José Antonio Rodríguez
The award-winning guitarist José Antonio Rodríguez, one of the most remarkable guitarists in contemporary flamenco, presents Córdoba …en el Tiempo, his compelling work dedicated to the city of his birth. His program reflects his memories of Spain's vibrant and romantic city that for centuries was Europe’s greatest cultural center. Rodríguez has composed music for orchestras and dance companies, appeared in Carlos Saura's Flamenco and Iberia, and at the age of 20 was the youngest artist to receive the title of Official Guitar Maestro for the Córdoba Music Conservatory. He is joined by Sebastian Cruz (vocal), Chico Gallardo (guitar), Agustin Diassera (percussion), and the captivating dancer Daniel Navarro, who appears as guest artist.

Video: http://www.flamencofestival.org/multimedia_jose_antonio_rodriguez.html

Sat Feb 20 – Marina Heredia and the Chekara Arab-Andalusian Orchestra of Tetouan
This program brilliantly brings together flamenco with the Andalusian repertoire of Morocco (al-ala) - music that originated in the medieval courts of Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba when Muslims, Jews and Christians co-existed in southern Spain. Granada’s Marina Heredia, an entrancing vocalist in the new generation of flamenco, shares the stage with the Chekara Arab-Andalusian Orchestra of Tetouan, which has collaborated with many of flamenco’s leading singers. Founded over 50 years ago by the famed Abdessadak Chekara, the orchestra is now directed by violinist and singer Jallal Chekara, Abdessadak’s nephew, and includes dancer Jara Heredia from Granada. This program marks the first time that Marina Heredia and the Chekara Orchestra will be performing together.

Video of Marina Heredia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXVyQ4u3V2A

Archival Video of Chekara Arab-Andalusian Orchestra: http://worldmusicinstitut.org/event.php?id=1001

Sun Feb 21- Compañía Israel Galván
Israel Galván is widely regarded as the most innovative bailaor in flamenco today. A rebel and traditionalist who has been called “revolutionary” and “a genius,” he is known for his incredible footwork punctuated by moments of stillness and silence. Since appearing in 1994 in Compañía Andaluza de Danza under the direction of Mario Maya, he has won flamenco's most prestigious awards, including Spain's National Dance Prize. His show La Edad de Oro (The Golden Age) strips flamenco to its bare essence, sculpting a form that resonates with the traditional while embracing the modern. Galván is joined by the renowned vocalist Fernando Terremoto, son of the legendary Terremoto, and the outstanding guitarist Alfredo Lagos, with artistic direction by Pedro G. Romero. "a provocative and fascinating dancer" -- New York Times

Video: http://flamencofestival.org/eng/multimedia_israel_galvan1.htm

New York Flamenco Festival 2010 is sponsored by Agencia Andaluza para el Desarrollo del Flamenco, Junta de Andalucía, and the INAEM, Ministry of Culture of Spain. Additional support is provided by Made in Mad, Regional Government of Madrid; Tourism Board of Andalucía; Guitar Festival of Córdoba (Town Hall of Córdoba); Tres Culturas Foundation; Extenda Trade Promotion Agency of Andalucía; the Town Hall of Sevilla; Instituto Cervantes in New York; the Tourism Office of Spain in New York; the New York State Council for the Arts, a State agency; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.