THIS SATURDAY!
Flamenco Marketplace
May 14 • 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Flamenco Vivo Studios
Join us for complimentary wine, music, and the best deals for flamenco gear in NYC! Buy and sell 2nd hand flamenco items, or purchase new designs by Sonia Olla and Sally Lesser at Flamenco Marketplace THIS SATURDAY— FREE!
FROM SPAIN
DIARIO DE JEREZ
Interview with Ismael de la Rosa “El Bola”
According to Spanish newspaper, Diario de Jerez, Ismael de la Rosa “El Bola” is one of the hottest voices in flamenco today. Born in Sevilla in 1995, he grew up singing por soleá and fandangos with his family los Fernández, a famous Gitano flamenco family. Bola’s great uncle is Curro Fernández; his aunt is Esperanza Fernández, and his father is Ismael Fernández— who has performed with Madonna, Ricky Martin, Farruquito, and Flamenco Vivo’s very own Peña Flamenca NYC.
Bola recently returned to Spain after his performance at the New York Flamenco Festival with Eduardo Guerrero, María Moreno, María Terremoto, and Mercedes Ruiz, among others. The young singer is experiencing a very special moment in his career. “I am very excited about everything that is happening to me. The Flamenco Gala was fantastic, the people were extremely grateful, and they value flamenco very much. You could tell that we all love each other, and there was spectacular chemistry.”
On flamenco’s evolution, the Sevillano says that he is open to all kinds of music, because he is a music lover. When it comes to composing or singing, he may explore more current sounds but always with purity. In that aspect he’s very orthodox and carries pure flamenco as his flag. For Bola, flamenco is about transmitting emotions. “Cuando me subo a un escenario, me abro por completo. Dejo mi piel desnuda a través de la voz.” / “When I step on stage, I open myself completely. Through voice, I bare my skin.”
FLAMENCO RESOURCE: VEREAS NEGRAS
La Lupi por Tangos
“Flamenco in its most natural state”
Vereas Negras is a great resource to learn more about flamenco, with videos featuring flamenco’s most prominent artists (song lyrics included) and a fascinating interview series. Check out this video of La Lupi, who taught our first Afición class as part of Peña Flamenca NYC.
FROM OUR FRIENDS
THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST
Rebeca Tomás on the Changing Faces of Flamenco
Digital news site The Dance Enthusiast interviews Rebeca Tomás on the evolution of flamenco and her company A Palo Seco. Rebeca is a dear friend of Flamenco Vivo and has performed, directed, and choreographed for the company.
THE 16TH ANNUAL
NYC Dance Parade with Xianix Barrera
Saturday, May 21
Flamenco Vivo Teaching Artist Xianix Barrera has some exciting plans this spring! She’s inviting the flamenco community to participate in the upcoming NYC Dance Parade with a flamenco float, and just held a class trip to Sevilla for Feria. Learn more about what she has planned and how you can join the fun!
FUN FACT
FLAMENCO TRIVIA
Which country has the most flamenco academies?
Hint: Believe it or not… it isn’t Spain!
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ANSWER: Japan! That’s right––it houses significantly more academies dedicated to the art form than flamenco’s very own country of birth! Japan boasts over 650 flamenco academies, and the single city of Tokyo alone has more than the entirety of Spain.
Curious about the history behind this surprising statistic? Check out the article below for a brief but detailed history of flamenco’s presence in Japan!
