Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco

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Don't miss Theatre Flamenco's 41st annual home season in San Francisco and Mountain View!

SAN FRANCISCO'S FT. MASON'S COWELL THEATER (NOVEMBER 16-18)

WHO: Theatre Flamenco

WHAT: "Al Compas del Tiempo"
Choreography by Carola Zertuche with special guests: Juan Siddi Aivar (dancer and choreographer)
Felix de Lola (singer), Jesus Montoya (singer) and Jose Valle "Chuscales" (guitar)

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, November 16-17 at 8 PM
Sunday, November 18 at 2 PM

WHERE: Fort Mason's Cowell Theater
(Marina & Buchanan Streets, San Francisco)

TICKETS: Friday and Sunday - $30/general; $26 students and seniors
Saturday performance and gala reception: all seats $40

BOX OFFICE: (415) 345-7575 and ticketweb.com

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MOUNTAIN VIEW (JANUARY 4, 2008)

WHEN: Friday, January 4, 2008 at 8 PM

WHO: Theatre Flamenco

WHAT: "Al Compas del Tiempo"
Choreography by Carola Zertuche with special guests: Juan Siddi Aivar (dancer and choreographer)
Felix de Lola (singer), Jesus Montoya (singer) and Jose Valle "Chuscales" (guitar)

WHERE: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
(500 Castro Street, Mountain View)

TICKETS: $30/general; $26 students and seniors

BOX OFFICE: (650) 903-6000 and mvcpa.com

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DESCRIPTION: Theatre Flamenco's 41st annual season is particularly significant year in the company's long history. Miguel Santos, the company's distinguished and long-time Artistic Director has passed the company into the capable hands of Carola Zertuche. This season is the first full realization of her vision for the company.

To mark her inaugural year at the creative helm of the company, Carola has produced "Al Compas del Tiempo," a stirring commentary on the frenetic pace of modern life, and a celebration of life's quiet moments. Each piece will have a different tempo from the deep songs (Cante Grande) to the light songs (Cante Chico) to explore the contradictory demands of modern life, from a frantic rush to the serene nature of contemplation. Also on the program is the spectacular, audience favorite "Granaida/rondena" choreographed by Carola Zertuche, whereupon the company takes over the stage in a display of electrifying energy.

"Al Compas del Tiempo" is choreographed by Carola Zertuche, and performed by Theatre Flamenco's distinguished dancers and musicians. Following Theatre Flamenco's established tradition of featuring guest artists, Carola has invited a group of special guest artists to join Theatre Flamenco at the November run at Fort Mason's Cowell Theater.

Audiences will be treated to the talents of the extraordinary dance artist and co-choreographer, Juan Siddi Aivar, as well as a wonderful singer and group of musicians from Spain - Felix de Lola, Jesus Montoya, and Jose Valle "Chuscales."

Theatre Flamenco is the second oldest dance company in the Bay Area (after the SF Ballet). Founded in 1966, the Company's purpose was to fill what was then a dearth of Spanish dances in the Bay Area. Theatre Flamenco was the first American dance company to stage full productions of Spanish dance in the U.S., and is one of the oldest dance companies in California. Over the years, Theatre Flamenco has served as a beacon of cultural pride, a reservoir for the diverse traditions of Spanish culture, and a vital source for artistic collaboration.

Miguel Santos, the Company's longtime artistic director, has been at the company's helm for several decades. He started in 1968 as principal dancer, choreographer, and since 1987, as Artistic Director. This past year, Mr. Santos passed the role of Artistic Director to Carola Zertuche, a notable dancer and teacher in her own right, making the 41st annual concert season the beginning of a new era of artistic leadership for this venerable company.

ABOUT THE LEAD ARTISTS

CAROLA ZERTUCHE (Artistic Director/Dancer) began her dance career in Mexico City's Tablao Meson de Triana. Her studies have led her to such renowned teachers as Manolo Vargas, Ciro, Belén Maya, Andres Marin, Israel Galvan, Jota Master, and Pedro Azorin. She has been featured as a soloist in Pilar Rioj's company Reflejo Espanol and danced with the Maria Elena Anaya Company under the artistic direction of Manolo Vargas. Additionally, she has performed with companies such as Los Tarantos, La Tania's, Teatro Flamenco, and Maria Benitez Company. Her choreography has been showcased in such festivals as the Ethnic Dance Festival in San Francisco, the Santa Barbara Flamenco Festival, and the Monterrey Mexico Flamenco Festival. The year 2002 found Carola touring Mexico and the U.S. with the Sentido Flamenco Show starring Alegria Suarez, Cano, Mercedes Amaya, and Santiago Aguilar; in the same year Carola was nominated for the Isadora Duncan Dance Award in the soloist category. In 2003, she toured with the Maria Benitez Company and presented her first full show of flamenco El Color del Flamenco. In 2005, she presented Verde with guests Pastora Galvan and Jose Anillo. In October 2005, she danced as a guest artist with Domingo Ortega Flamenco Company in Los Angeles and Andres Marin Company in the First Flamenco Festival in San Francisco. In 2007, Carola became the new Artistic Director of Theatre Flamenco in San Francisco and her weekly flamenco performance, Jueves Flamenco, was voted as Best Classic Flamenco in San Francisco Magazine.

JUAN SIDDI AIVIR Recognized as a young, powerful and passionate flamenco dancer, Juan began his professional career at the age of 18. He danced with Compania Flamenca Alhama and Noches de Amor productions on international tours for seven years. Highlights included: Metropol Theater, Vienna; Tranenpalast, Berlin; Moods, Zurich; on German television programs ORF; Flamenco Festivals, Dusseldorf; Arosa Cruises through the Mediterranean; Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City; and Bienal de Flamenco, Seville. Additionally, he was featured on a live CD from the Noches de Amor tour. In 2000, Juan performed with Compania Flamenca Alhama as the principal male dancer at a birthday gala for Herzogin von Wurttenburg and His Majesty Juan Carlos of Spain. Here, he and the company were recognized for their representation of Spanish culture in Europe.

In 2005 and 2006, Juan was invited as a special guest artist with La Tania Flamenco Music and Dance Company to perform on tours throughout California at the Brava Theater and Cowell Theater, San Francisco; Kuumbwa Jazz Theater, Santa Cruz; and Montgomery Theater, San Jose.

Juan began his own flamenco company in September 2007. Soon after, he created, directed and choreographed the production Pasión Flamenca. In October, the production toured with sold out performances throughout Colorado and New Mexico. Currently, Juan is living in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he is teaching and choreographing flamenco at The Institute for Spanish Arts and at Santa Fe Community College.

Singer JESUS MONTOYA is from Sevilla, Spain. Born into one of the oldest Gypsy families, Jesus is steeped in Flamenco purity and power leaving his audience feeling enchanted, captivated and loved. He earned the name "El Rey Del Fandango Grande" at age 7, and by age 9 had started a professional singing career. By age 13, touring had become second nature. He has been the featured singer for De Legendary Fernanda Remero, Isabel Vargas, Andres Marin, Pepe Rios, La Cipri & Manuela Salazar, Carmen De Torres, Jaun Ogalla, Alejandro Granados, Isabel Lopez, Omayra Amaya, Ciro, Juaquin Ruiz, Estrella Morena, La Trucco, Carmela Greco, Pepa Montes, and Manolete to name a few.

Jesus Montoya came to America in 1990 at age 23. Since then, he has toured tirelessly with every single top major Flamenco company throughout the United States and Canada. Widely known as "The Gypsy Dynamo," he has captivated audiences worldwide and reviewers have dubbed him the "Pavarotti of flamenco."

JOSE VALLE "CHUSCALES" is one of today's leading flamenco guitarists. Born into a gypsy family in Spain, he grew up performing with his relatives in the legendary caves of Sacromonte. Internationally acclaimed as both a soloist and accompanist, he has worked with some of Spain's most outstanding artists, including La Cingla, Farruco, La Tati and el Guito. In a recent interview, the legendary guitarist Juan Maya Marote recognized Chusclaes as one of his most important musical heirs.

FELIX DE LOLA, from Sevilla, Spain, began his flamenco singing with the Campallo family and went on to study with the renowned flamenco singers Jesus Heredia and Naranjito de Triana. His recent, extensive touring schedule has brought him to the world stages throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Costa Rica, South Africa and the United States, singing for a list of illustrious artists such as dancers Juan Polvillo, Belén Maya, Angel Atienza, Pastora Galvan, Carmela Greco, Maria Benitez and guitarists José Luis Postigo and the prestigious guitarist and composer José Luis Rodriguez, musical director of the famed Cristina Hoyos Flamenco Company. Along with his superb singing talent, Felix composes music and verses for flamenco song, theatrical works, and musical adaptations for flamenco theater. In Costa Rica he is recognized as a leading exponent of Flamenco. Recent projects include composing musical adaptations of Costa Rican writer Cristy Van de Laat's The Red Book of Black Haiku, and the play Moureliana, based on the poetic works of writer Jose Nestor Mourelo Aguilar.

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