World Renowned Flamenco Master Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca Perform at the Merriam Theater, January 23
JANUARY 4, 2010
“An intensely dramatic dancer, Ms. Barrio’s
skilled footwork expresses the
brilliance and color of flamenco rhythm…” – New York Times
Spain’s most authentic flamenco dance company Noche Flamenca returns to Philadelphia with Bessie Award-winning performer Soledad Barrio on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2pm and 8pm at the Merriam Theater.
Founded by Martín Santangelo and his wife Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca elicits
the dramatic intensity of flamenco onstage, “channeling 500 years of pain,
despair and passion” (Boston Globe) characteristic
of the Andalucían-based art form. Two of Spain’s finest flamenco dancers, Juan
Ogalla and Antonio Jiménez, join Soledad Barrio on stage, in addition to five
musicians to perform new works, such as the duet love story “Mi Sueño” (“My
Dream”), a Soléa (solo) and traditional
pieces.
The touring company is currently performing a three-week run
at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City,
and recently completed critically acclaimed tours in Australia,
Mexico and Argentina. Engagements in 2010 also
include performances at Le National in Montreal,
the Royal Conservatory Koerner Hall in Toronto
and the Boston Opera House.
“The company’s real backbone is its
music; Mr. Gago’s singing both in the communicative sincerity…and the firm
rhythm of his coloratura, was excellent; Eugenio Iglesias delivered a guitar
solo of sensuous warmth, beautifully free of flamboyance” -New York Times
Tickets for Soledad
Barrio and Noche Flamenca are available for $33 and $43 and can be
purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center
box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings.
(Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for this
performance. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at
the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm
prior to evening curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per
person.
Madrid-born Soledad
Barrio has been noted for her fluid
technical skill on stage, her ability to spontaneously respond to the mood of
the musicians while translating flamenco with intricate footwork, pronounced
arches of her back and thrilling pivots (New
York Times). As a performer, she
first met her future husband Martín
Santangelo at a dance studio in Madrid
in 1992; shortly thereafter, the duo founded the touring company Noche Flamenca, blending their passion for flamenco together on and off stage. Since
its formation in 1993, Noche Flamenca has developed into one of the best
flamenco troupes in the world with performances around the globe, including
annual engagements in New York City and Buenos Aires.
Soledad Barrio
has appeared as soloist with Manuela Vargas, Blanca del Rey, Luisillo, El
Guito, Manolete, Cristobal Reyes, and El Toleo, Ballet Espanol de Paco Romero,
Festival Flamenco and many other companies. She has performed throughout
Europe, Japan and North and South America with such artists as Alejandro Granados,
Isabel Bayón, Jesus Torres, Miguel Perez, Belen Maya, Manolo Marin, Javier
Barón, Merce Esmeralda, Rafael Campallo and Belen Maya. Along with a Bessie
Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in 2001, she has won awards from
over 12 different countries around the globe for her excellence in dance.
Artistic director and choreographer Martín Santangelo has performed throughout Spain, Japan
and North and South America, appearing with
Maria Benitez's Teatro Flamenco, the
Lincoln Center Festival of the Arts and Paco Romero's Ballet Espanol. He also appeared in Julie Taymor's Juan Darien at Lincoln Center.
In 2000, Santangelo was nominated for Cal-Arts’ Alpert Award in the Arts.
American-born Santangelo attended the University
of Iowa and New York University
where he studied dance, theater and American studies. He trained with the jazz
legend Luigi and Polish theater director Gerzy Jrotowski before moving to Madrid in 1992.
Noche Flamenca
has performed at the University
of California at Berkeley,
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the Ravinia Festival, the American Dance
Festival, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the Hollywood Bowl,
among others. Internationally, the company has appeared on stages in Australia, New
Zealand, Greece
and Egypt,
among other countries. Noche Flamenca's artistic integrity has been recognized
with awards from the National Dance Project (2006), the National Endowment for
the Arts (2007 & 2008) and the Lucille Lortel Award for Special Theatrical
Experience (2003). In support of its mission to educate and enlighten audiences
about flamenco, the company offers extensive residency programs that reach out
to people of all ages.
Kimmel Center Presents 2009-10 Season is sponsored by
Citi. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents.
Free in the Plaza
programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service
groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts
Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from the Wachovia
Foundation.
The Kimmel
Center is a recipient of
partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC “Grow Up Great”
initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment preparing children for success
in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center’s
early childhood program “Bop and Swing,” an arts program for children 1-5 years
old, designed to promote an appreciation for American culture.
Saturday, January 23,
2010 | 2pm and 8pm
Merriam Theater
Martín Santangelo, Director
and Producer
Soledad Barrio
Featured Guest Artists
Antonio Jiménez
Juan Ogalla
Cantaores
Manuel Gago
Miguel Rosendo
Guitarists
Salva de María
Eugenio Iglesias
> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, send us a message online.
