2/18-2/21/10 Join Flamenco y Más as they heat up Tucson’s nightlife, with a culturally charged program of live entertainment.
Olivia Rojo presents Flamenco y Más in Cuadro Flamenco. Seven of Arizona’s finest flamenco professionals are joined by special guests, singer Vicente Griego and guitarist Gabriel Osuna, for an evening of soulful singing, rich guitar and dynamic dance in a very intimate setting.
Seven performances run February 18 – 21, 2010 at the Temple of Music and Art’s, Cabaret Theatre. Tickets: $35.00 now at www.flamencoymas.com 520.271.8478
Performance Schedule
Thursday February 18 7pm
Friday February 19 7pm and 9pm
Saturday February 20 7pm and 9pm
Sunday February 21 2pm and 4pm
Location
Temple of Music and Art
Cabaret Theatre
330 S. Scott Ave.
Tucson AZ 85701
Tickets
$35.00 www.flamencoymas.com
Flamenco y Más
2010’s Featured Performers:
Dancers: Mele Martinez, Angelina Ramirez
Dancer/Percussionist: Jason Martinez
Guitarists: Jon Bañuelos, Misael Barraza
Percussionist: Clay Emrick
Singer: Macarena Giraldez
Special Guests:
Guitarist: Gabriel Osuna
Singer: Vicente Griego
About Cuadro Flamenco
Cuadro Flamenco will be a traditional performance framed by the Temple of Music and Art’s intimate Cabaret Theatre.
Among flamencos, ‘cuadro’ refers to the group of performers: singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists who perform in a traditional style, in a small space, where they are close to each other and keenly responsive to everything that’s going on. The group becomes the orchestra to whoever takes the momentary lead. Soulful singing, complex footwork, spontaneous choreographic animation, percussive accents and punctuation points, and timely shouts of support are the instruments of the orchestra.
Essential rhythmic support is created by the ‘palmas’ (skilled percussive handclapping) that flows through each piece and is at times interrupted by small or large explosions followed by sudden silence.
This earthiness, ebb and flow of rhythm, with bursts of chaos and resolve are what make cuadro flamenco so dynamic, dramatic and passionate.
The ‘cuadro’ artists are intimately connected, always on edge and eager to accompany and perform with energy and purpose.
Purchase your tickets now for CUADRO FLAMENCO! Feb 17th-21st. Go to: flamencoymas.com
1/11/09 - Join us a Casa Vicente for Tablao Flamenco on January 22nd and 23rd! For reservations call 884-5253.
1 
11/09 - Join us for a series of Tablao Shows at CASA VICENTE! Call 884-5253 for reservations...
8/19/09 - Mele and Jason are special guest, along with guitarist Jon Banuelos, for an upcoming event in Phoenix - don't miss it!
Saturday August 22nd La Firme Tattoo and Classic Car Show
Don't miss this awesome event!
Time: 6pm
Where:245 E Jackson St. Phoenix, AZ 85004
Admission: $15 pr day or $25 for the weekend
Lots of things to see! Tattoos, Low Riders, Beverage/Food Booths, Music and FLAMENCO!!! :)
www.lafirmeshow.com
8/14/09 -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 5, 2009
Contact:
Casa Vicente Restaurant:
Marita or Vicente Sanchez-Gomez
(520) 884-5253
marita@casavicente.com
www.casavicente.com<http://www.casavicente.com>
OR
Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo:
Mele Martinez
(520) 309-8762
flamencodpv@gmail.com
www.tucsoniquete.com<http://www.tucsoniquete.com>
Presenting the 1st Tucson Spanish and Flamenco Festival…
Tucson, AZ – Casa Vicente is proud to present Tucson’s very first Spanish and Flamenco Festival! This three-day festival will include authentic Spanish fare, fine wine tasting, Club España cooking demonstrations, refreshing sangria, a colorful Mercado and an outdoor stage featuring more than 30 local and guest flamenco artists. Special guest artists, Fanny Ara, Gabriel Osuna, and Ricardo Anglada will offer 3-day flamenco workshops in dance, song, and guitar. Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo will also offer a free kids workshop!
What: 1st Tucson Spanish and Flamenco Festival
Where: Casa Vicente, 375 S. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701
When: Friday, September 18th, Saturday, September 19th, and Sunday, September 20th
Time: 8:00 pm – 1:00 am Friday and Saturday, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Sunday
Cost: $20 Friday and Saturday, $10 Sunday or purchase all three for $40 (price includes wine tasting, one glass of sangria)
Workshops: Time/Price - TBD
Website: www.tucsonspanishflamencofestival.com<http://www.casavicente.com> (website up August 22nd)
Contact: Casa Vicente, 884-5253
Bios and photos of Guest Artists:
Ricardo Anglada was born in Northern New Mexico. He is a protégé and student of the world-renowned guitarist Jose “Chuscales” Valle. Ricardo was the winner of the Concurso Del Arte Flamenco de EEUU at age 17 where he was noted as having maturity in his playing. Not only a flamenco guitar soloist, he is a sought-after flamenco accompaniment virtuoso and has toured the US with world-renown flamenco troupes including Viva Carlota Santana, Juan Siddi Flamenco, and Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company.
Fanny Ara began her dance studies at age three, studying ballet and Contemporary dance at the Irene Popard school located in St. Jean de Luz in the French Basque country. In 1991 she began training in Spanish classical dance with Catalina Gommes and for the next ten years she traveled regularly to Madrid to study with maestros Isabel Quintero and Antonio Najarro. In addition to her studies in dance, she studied piano at the Bayonne School of Art for 11 years. She attained a BA in literature with a specialty in music. After graduating from the Bayonne School of Art, she relocated to Sevilla and Madrid. Over the next two years there, she pursued intensive flamenco studies with Juana Amaya, El Torombo, Manolo Soler, Hiniesta Cortes. While in Spain, she was also accepted into the prestigious academy of Mario Maya, and worked in tablaos in Madrid. Fanny has been recently nominated in the category of Most Outstanding Individual Dancer (2006) from the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards. In June 2007, she presented her program "Magia Flamenca" in Washington DC with critical acclaim. Last summer Fanny was reviewed by Renne Renouf "always elegant, the reach of her arms generous, frequently evoking unseen forces, body occasionally concave , legs striding in earthy response yet with vulgarity absent, fingers spread in exclamation to the rhythms, leaving the stage abruptly, provoking a gasp of delight."
Gabriel Lautaro Osuna was born to a family of artists and musicians in northern New Mexico. He was exposed to accomplished guitarists at a young age and has continued to study the art of flamenco guitar with respected masters both in the U.S. and abroad. El Viejin, Pedro Cuadra, Ramon Jimenez, Rafael Habichuela, El Entri, Juan Maya Marote and Miguel Angel Cortez are some of his most influential mentors. Gabriel has collaborated with various musical artists throughout the world including performances at the “World Expo” in Hannover Germany and at the “Saint Florent Middle Eastern Music Festival” outside of Paris. He has performed extensively in theater presentations and in “Tablaos” (small flamenco cabarets) including a season at the Gypsy caves in Granada. In New Mexico he has accompanied singer Vicente Griego and the great Jose “Chuscales” Valle and has taught at Festival Flamenco Internacional in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He currently resides and performs regularly in the Los Angeles area.
Local groups also featured on stage:
Barbara y las Flamencistas (Tucson)
Sophia Eva (Tucson)
Flamenco Por La Vida (Phoenix)
Adair Landborn and Peña Flamenca (Tucson)
Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo Company (Tucson)
Jason Martinez (Tucson)
Mele Martinez (Tucson)
Misael Barraza (Hermosillo, Mexico)
Angelina Ramirez (Scottsdale, AZ)
Jon Banuelos
Melissa Aguirre (Hermosillo, Mexico)
7/22/09 - Our Festival Session schedule is up! Just click here: Festival Session 2009
/1/09 - SuMMER CLASSES BEGIN JUNE 8! For schedule info and to purchase classes online go to Summer 2009
5/31/09 - Thanks to everyone who participated in our Student Recital this past weekend - you all did a fabulous job! To see some photos of the recital just visit Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php
first theater production in Tucson!
CUENTO VIEJO
featuring Jason and Mele Martinez,
Vicente Griego,
Ricardo Anglada,
Saturday, MAY 23rd 8 pm
&
Sunday, MAY 24th 7 pm
Historic Y - Zuzi! Theater
738 N. 5th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR
or purchase now online: Buy Classes
4/20/09 - Don't miss the Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo Student Company this Saturday, April 25th at Casa Vicente! Make your reservations by calling 884-5253.
4/8/09 - Hello Students and Friends!
Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo is very happy to announce that we will present a flamenco theater show in May and will be bringing musicians from New Mexico to perform with us! We will have more details coming soon, but we'd like to ask if anyone might be able to help with housing our two artists from May 21st throught the 25th. Ideally we'd have both artists in the same location - so if you have two bedrooms to spare in the central Tucson area please let us know!
Many thanks and have a great week,
Mele Martinez
Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo
4/7/09 - Reminder: Classes for our final 6-week session of the semester begin next Monday, April 13th.
Hope to see you in class!
4/4/09 - No class this week - have a great weekend everyone and see you after Easter!
3/24/09 Attention Bay Area flamencos!! Jason will be in San Francisco as a guest teacher for Danica Sena while she goes to Spain, from April 1st - 17th. In addition to teaching her regularly scheduled classes, Jason will be offering privates in both baile and cajon. Listed below is the class schedule. Feel free to email us with any questions.
Mondays/Thursdays Int/Adv. Flamenco Siguiriyas/Jaleo Extremeño 8-10pm
Location: Mon: Duniya Dance Studio 3380 19th St. (Between Mission and Capp)
Thurs: City Dance Studios 10 Colton St. (Off of Brady St.)
Tuesdays Beg./Int. Flamenco 6-8pm
Location: MCCLA (Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts) 2868 Mission St. at 25th.
Wednesdays: Beg./Int. Flamenco 7:15-9:15
Location: ODC Dance Commons 351 Shotwell (Between 17th and 18th Sts.)
Saturdays: 4-5:30 pm Flamenco Dance Composition Workshop (All levels)
Location: ODC Dance Commons
3/7/09 Here's a recently posted article from the Associated Press on the Festival Flamenco Internacional:
Long-running New Mexico flamenco festival suspended
The Associated Press
DAILY NEWS LATINO
Saturday, March 7th 2009, 4:00 AM
(Page 1 of 2)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For more than two decades, the National Institute of Flamenco has celebrated the passionate Spanish dance with a world-renowned festival in New Mexico.
The Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque has lured a worldwide audience intent on seeing the art form's top professionals and their signature foot-stomping, hand-clapping moves accompanied by vibrant guitar, singing and colorful, frilly dresses.
Yet to the chagrin of organizers, the famous festival is being put hold this year, the lastest victim of the shaky economy.
"Everybody is really so sad to see that this is happening. The festival is one of the oldest flamenco festivals in the world, and it has become such a tradition for artists in Spain," said Eva Encinias Sandoval, the institute's director.
The recent economic meltdown isn't solely to blame, Encinias Sandoval said. Over the last several years, the rising cost of creating the festival has built up debt.
Though fundraising has helped defray costs in the past, the $500,000 festival pricetag would put a strain on the organization and Encinias Sandoval's family can no longer bear the financial burden.
"The festival has been a very costly event. We bring in the top artists from Spain and they come at a very high price," Encinias Sandoval said.
"The other thing we had to consider is our students come from around the country and around the world, and we're not sure where people will want to travel. People are not wanting to spend extra income. It's just too big of a gamble right now," she said.
In past years, the 10-day festival has featured 40 to 50 artists from Spain presenting performances and more than 30 workshops focusing on various disciplines of the dance.
It also has transformed Albuquerque into a hot spot for those who have made flamenco their life's passion.
Students and instructors can work one on one with top professionals at the institute and pursue degrees in flamenco at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Yet struggling businesses are now more weary to help with donations and sponsorship, said Marisa Magallanez, the institute's business development officer.
"It makes it a tough climate to fundraise in, for sure," she said.
The festival's suspension is also having an impact on people who rely on the event as a way to encourage new students to study the art.
Melani Martinez of Tucson, Ariz., is a former institute student who has attended the festival every year since 1993 and now owns her own dance studio, Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo, with her husband.
(Page 2 of 2)
She said she was encouraging her students to attend this year's festival and was disappointed to hear of the cancellation.
"It's not difficult to keep students, per se, but if they go to the festival and see these amazing, top flamenco artists, they become enamored and want to work toward that professionalism.
So it is affecting us," said Martinez, 31, who performed as a member of Albuquerque-based Yjastros, the American Flamenco Repertory Company led by Encinias Sandoval's son, Joaquin Encinias.
The festival is also a way for artists to network on a business level, Martinez said.
"It's a place where you can meet people and bring them (to Tucson). We have to import our musicians, and it's a great place to talk to them and see how they play," Martinez said.
"The flamenco world isn't that huge, and it is a good way to keep in touch and see the best of the best."
The institute is working to find additional sponsors and plans to jump-start the festival again in 2010, Magallanez said.
"It's sad to see it go to rest for a year, but it's a good thing to financially regroup and get financially strong," Magallanez said.
For some, taking part in the festival can be the spark that inspires a young dancer to pursue flamenco.
Dancer Alexa Miton, 26, attended the festival as a high school student from the Baltimore, Md. area in 2000 and was hooked. She moved to Albuquerque a year later and is now a soloist with Yjastros.
"As a young dancer this opened so many doors and so many ideas. I decided this is what I wanted to do. It has changed by life and now this is my career," Miton said.
"If you want to speak literally, I'm going to miss out on a paycheck ... but I know the biggest loss is that of the festival.
"Next year, it will come back stronger and better than before," she said.
2/25/09 - Hello students and friends! We want to forward the below message to you from Eva Encinias-Sandoval regarding the Annual Flamenco Festival in Albuquerque. Though we are very sad that the festival will not take place this year, we hope that as a community we can pull together and help financially in any way to make the festival a success in 2010! Please help us support flamenco!
About Festival Flamenco:
Each June, NIF brings some of the finest Flamenco artists in the world to Albuquerque to teach workshops and hold performances. This exciting Albuquerque Summer tradition celebrates Flamenco, the ancient form of artistic expression of the Spanish Gypsy culture. Flamenco's song, dance and music explore the full range of human emotion with an intense, vibrant quality that leaves audiences spellbound.
NIF, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving Flamenco's art, culture and history. Festival Flamenco Internacional (FFI), held at the University of New Mexico, is the largest event of its kind in North America, attracting guest artists, students and Flamenco fans from around the globe. Events include workshops, round table discussion forums, pre-professional performance competitions and spectacular performances.
During the Festival, NIF will also offers its annual Flamenco Kids Camp. This popular two week day camp introduces children ages 6 - 12 to the full range of Flamenco, featuring daily classes in dance, guitar, cajon and cante with field trips relevant to Flamenco and visits to several area attractions. At the week's end, campers and their families delight in participating in the camp's closing showcase performance for the community.
FFI is famous for its many thrilling, full house performances by guest artists and local Flamenco favorites. Flamenco experts in Spain recognize this dynamic festival as the most important Flamenco event in this part of the world.
"Festival Flamenco Internacional has been the driving force in our education of the art form here in the United States. For fifteen years I have attended the Festival and have experienced flamenco performances and events that have given me a lifetime of spectacular memories, inspirations, and a cultural fulfillment unlike any other in my life. Long live Festival Flamenco!" - Mele Martinez
3 ways to donate:
1. Send a donation today to the National Institute of Flamenco (a non-profit 501-c3 organization).
Mail to:
National Institute of Flamenco
Attn: Festival Donations
214 Gold Street SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
2. Make an online donation on our website through June 1st! We will send all donations raised through www.tucsoniquete.com in JUNE! To make an online donation, click here: Buy Classes
3. Become a National Institute of Flamenco Member! Visit: www.nationalinstituteofflamenco.org/news/view/680/
Thanks to the Tucson community for your support of flamenco here in the Southwest!
Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo
www.tucsoniquete.com
FORWARD -
From: Eva Encinias-Sandoval
National Institute of Flamenco
Dear friends,
It deeply saddens me to announce to you that this year’s Festival Flamenco Internacional de Albuquerque will be suspended.
In coming to a final decision, my children Marisol and Joaquin and myself had to consider the overall stability of The National Institute of Flamenco and all of the exciting programs that it produces. Although the Festival is the flagship project of NIF, we find ourselves facing a difficult finance situation due to many years of debt caused by the Festival’s operating budget. We have every intention of bringing the festival back in 2010. We plan on spending the year securing sponsors and strengthening our infrastructure so that we can better meet the challenges of producing such an event, securing it's presence for many years to come.
Attached is a press-release we are sending to the general public and flamenco community that explains with more detail the situation we are facing. We want to thank you for your support of our festival over the years and look forward to seeing you in 2010. If you have any suggestions or considerations that you consider may be helpful, please contact us. (505) 242-7600
Eva Encinias-Sandoval
Director
National Institute of Flamenco
2/6/09 - Don't miss the Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo student company's upcoming performances in Tucson:
At Casa Vicente on Saturday, Feb. 7th and Saturday, Feb 14th. Call 884-5253 for reservations. Also, at Carnaval 2009, hosted by Batucaxe, in Armory Park on Saturday, February 21st at 2:45 pm!
2/1/09 - Thank you to the 3a Semana Educativo Cultural for our warm welcome in Nogales, Sonora!
The Student Company performed at this wonderful event on January 30th, 2009. Thank you for your hospitality and grace!
1/18/09 Just a reminder - no classes on Monday, Jan 19 in observance of MLK day!
6/09/08 - A special note from the director of Festival Flamenco Internacional:
Congrats to Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo's director, Mele Martinez who won 3rd place at the Concurso Nacional de Flamenco - the only professional and pre-professional flamenco contest in the country. This concurso was held on June 8th, 2008 in the 22nd Annual Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque. Also congratulations to the first place winner, Ms. Alisa Alba, who was hosted by Domingo Flamenco in Tucson twice in 2007. These two ladies were among the 13 dancers and 7 international flamenco musicians who took the stage at Rodey Theater on UNM campus to compete for cash awards and were judged by an elite cast of 5 artists including Antonio Canales, El Galli, and Teo Morca. The 22nd Festival was one of the best ever and we hope to see even more participants in workshops and at the 10 amazing performances happening next June 5th through the 14th, 2009. See you all at the next Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque!!! For more info visit www.nationalinstituteofflamenco.org
Sincerely,
Eva Encinias-Sandoval
5/29/08 Thanks to everyone who participated in our last Domingo Flamenco event! We had a great time and look forward to the next workshops and performances in Tucson! Coming soon to our photo page: pics from our latest performances at Casa Vicente - here is a taste!
