MEET THE ARTISTS – LE POISSON ROUGE
Lucía Álvarez “La Piñona”
Lucía Álvarez was born in Jimena de la Frontera (Cádiz) and started dancing at age 10 in schools in Campo de Gibraltar and then moved to Granada continuing to develop her skills with Luis de Luis and Estela Arauzo. At 18 she moved to Seville, where she currently lives, to study at the Fundación de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren with instructors such as Milagros Mengíbar, Rafael Campallo and Carmen Ledesma among others. As well she continued her studies with Andrés Peña, Eva Yerbabuena, Rubén Olmo and Andrés Marín. She performs regularly in tablaos s such as “El Arenal,” “Los Gallos” (Sevilla), “El Cordobés” & “El Carmen” (Barcelona), “Casa Patas”, “Corral de la Morería” & “Las Carboneras” and “Villarosa” in Madrid. She received First prize “Trofeo Desplante” in the Competition: Cante de las Minas in 2011. She premiered her own work “Emovere” in 2018 at the Festival Flamenco de Jerez de la Frontera. She is a regular participant of Esperanza Fernandez show “De lo jondo y Verdadero.” During the 2016 season she participated as featured artist in Manuel Liñan’s program at the XX Festival Flamenco de Jerez de la Frontera and as first dancer with the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía at the Generalife of Granada and, in Arcangel’s show “Tablao” during the Granada Dance and Music Festival. She also toured widely to such places like Ecuador, Saint Petersburg, Lebanon, London, Holland, Belgium and Kenya where she collaborated with the London Garden Opera with the show “Carmen”.
Isaac Tovar
Isaac Tovar is a former soloist of the Ballet Nacional de España, Nuevo Ballet Español, Compañía Antonio "El Pipa," Compañía Andaluza de Danza, among many other premier national and international companies including Flamenco en route (Switzerland) and Flamenco Vivo (NYC). Isaac performed as a semifinalist in the LIX Festival International del Cante de las Minas. He is the recipient of the 1st prizes at the renowned Concurso Nacional de la Perla de Cádiz, the IV Concurso Internacional de Danza in Almería, and the XXVII Concurso Nacional de Ubrique, as well as the 2nd prize for Solo Choreography in the XXV Certamen de Coreografía de Danza Española y Flamenco in Madrid. In 2018 Tovar debuted his first solo production “Añejo” at the Centro Cultural de la Villa in his hometown Seville. In 2019 his production “Generaciones” premiered at the prestigious Teatro Real in Madrid. Throughout his career he has danced in important theaters around the world, including: Place des Arts in Montreal, Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, Teatro de la Maestranza in Sevilla, Teatro Villamarta in Jerez, Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Palace of Music in Moscow, Chaillot Theatre in Paris, Sadler’s Wells of London, Bunkamura Theatre in Tokyo, International Theater in Taipei, Peking Opera House, and the Joyce Theater in New York City.
Fanny Ara
Fanny Ara is an internationally-sought after and award-winning choreographer, performer and instructor. Her most dedicated worldwide fans especially credit her as one of the driving forces of flamenco today; an artist excelling in the full spectrum of flamenco, from the most traditional to the avant-garde. Fanny has been an invited artist in national and international festivals and has toured extensively in Canada, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and throughout Europe. She has been distinguished since 2006 with nominations from the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards in the categories of Most Outstanding Individual Dancer, Most Outstanding Music, Ensemble, and Individual Performance for her project, Juncal Street, and Best Ensemble for her work with the San Francisco Opera in La Traviata. New York’s Vilcek Foundation also awarded Fanny a prestigious finalist prize for “Creative Promise in Dance” in 2012. Fanny’s versatility in the art form of flamenco is manifested in her many artistic works. As Philip Gardner said of her performance at the Joyce Theater in New York City “My newest love is Fanny Ara...the captivating expressive qualities of Fanny’s upper body mesmerized us while her footwork. Dazzled both the eye and the ear...she soared into the upper most echelon of dance artists I have witnessed over the years.”
Emilio Ochando
Emilio Ochando was born in Valencia and began his training at the age of nine. At 12 he collaborated with the National Ballet of Spain and at 16 moved to Madrid continuing his training and finishing his studies at the The Royal Professional Conservatory of Madrid “Mariemma.” He has performed with the Companies of Domingo Ortega, Inma Ortega, Malucos Danza, Nuevo Ballet Español (Rojas and Rodríguez), and Aida Gómez and performed in various tablaos, nationally and internationally. In 2013 he created his own Company and produced works such as: 3DEUNO and SIROCO. He has choreographed for the Rafael Aguilar Company and for the production of “Oh Cuba” in Granada at the Generalife. He choreographed Romeo and Juliet for the EBB Company, and "Sin Duda.” for the latest production of the Royal Professional Conservatory “Marienma.” He performs workshops and masterclasses traveling to the United States, Canada, London, and Europe. During his career he has received many awards: 1st prize in the international contest of Spanish dance and flamenco city of Almeria. First prize Talentmadrid 2016 and First prize in the Certamen de Baile Español y Flamenco in Madrid in 2016. In 2018, he was a candidate for the 2018 MAX awards for a best male performance and a best new show for SIROCO. Presently he is performing as guest artist and touring with his latest 3DEUNO and SIROCO shows. He has performed in festivals such as the Jerez Festival, Suzanne Dellal Festival, and Flamenco Madrid Festival, among others.
José Manuel Alconchel
was born and raised in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He is the son of singer Pepe Alconchel. At the early age of 9, Jose began playing the guitar with Jose Luis Balao and Manuel Lozano “ El Carbonero”. At 15, traveled abroad to perform with the company of “ La Chiqui de Jerez” in Switzerland and England. He continued his studies with the great guitarist Gerardo Nunez and won an award for best accompanist in the Flamenco Guitar contest in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz(1997). In 2005, he became part of the Spanish dance group “ Raices” directed by Susana Vasco, who’s work combined flamenco and fusion performances.In his professional career, he has played in Nina Pastori’s album “ Entre Dos Puertos”, and collaborated and worked with artists such as David de Maria, Merche Esmeralda, Manuel Reyes, Maria Juncal, Concha Jareno, Mercedes Ruiz, Fernando de la Morena, Luis de la Pica, El Torta, Curro lucena, Jesus Mendez, Andres Pena, Los Zambos, Sara Corea, Antonio Granjero, Cristobal Reyes, La Fabi, Ivan Vargas, Raquel Heredia and more. In 2005, he toured the United States with the Flamenco company of Carlota Santana and has worked in various tablaos including Casa Patas, Carboneras, and Cava to name a few. Jose Manuel currently resides in the United States and is a frequent musical collaborator with Telemundo. He recently played in the recordings of Gente de Zone from Jesse and Joy, Bacilos, and Antonio Carmona.
Francisco "Yiyi" Orozco
Francisco "Yiyi" Orozco comes from an Andalusian family, born in Barcelona, and was introduced to Flamenco rhythms at the tender age of four. Yiyi was trained by flamenco singer and father “Joselón de Jerez” in his Spanish peña named “Peña Fosforito.” Considered a child prodigy of percussion, Yiyi began his professional career at the age of twelve. By age seventeen, and one CD later, he became more involved with singing, and left Spain for Germany on a long-term contract with the company “Flamenco Rubio.” Since that time he has performed with “Compañia Flamenca Alhama” throughout Europe and Japan; with María Benitez “Teatro Flamenco” and Domingo Ortega as well as at “Casa Patas” in Madrid; with Jose Greco II; and with world-renowned guitarist Serranito. He has also performed with Alejandro Granados, Yolanda Heredia, El Toleo, El Pelao, María Serrano, La Tania and Antonio Granjero.
Jesus de Utrera
Jesus de Utrera was born in Utrera and at a very young age began performing and learned under the tutelage of Enrique El Extremeño. Jesus began his artistic career working with the Company of Angela Españadero "El Flamenco" and in 2000 was a member of the Company Tres al Compas with whom he toured Costa Rica. The years 2001-2002 saw him performing with the Company of Maria Benitez Estampa Flamenca throughout the United States. In 2003 he was featured with Juan Ogalla in New York City. He toured Holland, Germany and Belgium with the Company of Pilar Tabora He then spent a number of years performing in Tokyo sharing the stage with such famous artists as Extremeño, La Moneta, Pedro Sierra, La Tobala, Oscar de los Reyes, Mara Martinez, Maria Jose Franco, and Claudia Criz among others. Jesus has worked in various tablaos such as Casa Patas in Madrid and the famous Los Gallos en Seville. In 2008 he toured Japan with the company of Angela Españadero and toured Croatia and Slovenia with Flamenco Puro and toured with the Company of La Truco to Moscow. And performed in Buenos Aires in 2011 at the Bienal de Arte Flamenco. Most recently Jesus performed with the CUMBRE FLAMENCA Compañía Carmen la Talegona.
Video: Herman + Taf