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Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana performs at Symphony Space, Oct. 7, 8, 9. Learn more.
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News
Read what's happening at Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana.
History
Photo: Martha Swope
May 17, 1983
Spanish Dance Arts Company debuts with a concert at The Alternative Museum, New York, directed by Robert Browning current Director of the World Music Institute. Roberto Lorca, Carlota Santana and Melinda Marquez are the trio that will later evolve into Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana.
Photo: Martha Swope
June 1983
Founders Roberto Lorca and Carlota Santana self-produce at New York University. Mr. Lorca explores new ways to work with Spanish dance in a theatrical medium. An evening-length program Reflejos based on the music Concierto de Aranjuez is a seamless work for the trio of Lorca, Santana and Marquez.
Photo: Jane Grossenbacher
October 13, 1987
Roberto Lorca dies of AIDS. Carlota Santana is determined to carry on his legacy.
March 24, 1992
The Company performs for the first time at The Joyce Theater, beginning a lasting relationship with New York's premiere dance venue. Upholding Roberto Lorca's mission to build cultural bridges with flamenco, Carlota Santana presents El Encuentro de Dos Mundos highlighting the fusion of Spanish and Latin American styles. Company members La Meira, Pedro Cortes, La Conja, Basilio Georges and Aurora Reyes joined choreographer and guest artist Manolo Rivera.
1994
The Company receives a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a full-year Residency at PS 42, Bronx, NY. This national recognition and substantial funding helps solidify Project Olé.
Nuevo Ballet Espanol
1996
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana begins working with international artists, including Juan Andres Maya. The goal of cultural exchange, fostering the next generation of Spanish dance artists, is established. The Company provides artists from Spain with the opportunity to choreograph, perform, and teach in the United States. Mr. Maya is one of several Company artists who becomes well known in the United States; others include Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez of Nuevo Ballet Español.
Photo: John Michael Kohler Arts Center
1996
North Carolina Arts Education programs take off. The Company opens a second home base in the Raleigh/Durham area to meet the demand, and provide a home for Spanish dance in the south.
Photo: Jane Hoffer
1998
Lincoln Center Institute commissions Inesperanza, and invites the Company to participate in their Summer Institute, where Educators learn from the Artists how to integrate the arts into classroom learning. Flamenco and Spanish dance are recognized as valuable mainstream educational tools. The Company is invited back in 2005 with Amor Flamenco for a year-long engagement.
Carlota Santana and Antonio Hidalgo
Photo: Les Todd
2003
The Company celebrates its 20th anniversary season with revivals of works by Roberto Lorca including Luz y Sombra, Suite Español, and Zapateado.
Rafaela Carrasco
2006
Boundaries are broken—the Company experiments with modern styles. Internationally known Madrid-based choreographer Rafaela Carrasco teams up with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana to create Burlador, a flamenco ballet based on the legendary Don Juan. Modern dance and jazz music are fused with traditional flamenco in this experimental work.
© 2007 Lois Greenfield
2008
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana's 25th Anniversary! The Company celebrates with the new work Carmen: El Baile.