Yaelisa and her exciting troupe of fabulous artists returns to Forever Flamenco on Sunday, June 10th at Barnsdall Park for an evening of flamenco collaboration and soniquete with a select group of world-class artists. Master musician Jason McGuire” El Rubio” playing his own original compositions and jamming with drummer/percussionist Joey Heredia, accompanied by the great singer Jose Cortes. Yaelisa brings two contrasting bailores together for the first time to dance alongside her – Manuel Gutierrez and Antonio Arrebola, recently moved to the Bay Area from Malaga, Spain. Three distinct styles, aires and dancers together for an unforgettable evening of “FLAMENKEANDO.”
Created and produced by Deborah Lawlor, Forever Flamenco is now in its 9th smash year. “Forever Flamenco is one of the most intense flamenco performances currently running in Los Angeles”, exclaims LA Splash magazine. “Being the sensual, intimate art form that it is … the way you feel when your walk out of a Forever Flamencoperformance is pretty darn fabulous.”
Emmy Award-winning dancer and choreographer Yaelisa is the founder and artistic director of Caminos Flamencos . Yaelisa creates and presents contemporary, traditional and theatrical dance programs showcasing artists from Spain and the U.S., which reflect the changing face of flamenco in the 21st century, while preserving the history and culture of this traditional art form. The Los Angeles Times has said of her “Yaelisa created a kind of footwork fugue, her quicksilver rhythms overlapping their plaintive croonings in something Bach would have admired.”
At the age of four, Yaelisa danced on the stage of the famous Casa Madrid, and her immersion in flamenco culture became a part of her life because of her mother, the renowned singer/dancer Isa Mura. She has performed with many of Spains finest artists, including Alejandro Granados, Antonio El Pipa, Manuel and Antonio Malena, Domingo Ortega, Enrique El Extremeno, Yeye de Cádiz, Mateo Soleá, El Junco, Juan Ogalla, Geronimo, Felipe Maya and others. Since 1986, Yaelisa has spent extensive periods of time living and performing in Spain, presenting her choreography there and in the U.S. She has choreographed and appeared in several feature films and music videos, and created many highly acclaimed productions both for her company and as Artistic Director of the New World Flamenco Festival at the Irvine Barclay Theater in Irvine, CA. Combining artists from Spain and the U.S., Caminos Flamencos remains on the cutting edge of flamenco, most especially with their recent productions of CANCIONES and CANCIONES 2 where they explored combining flamenco with the music of the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Dave Brubeck and others…. dance critic Rachel Howard says “A Caminos Flamencos performance brings several guarantees: virtuosic music, striking lighting and a closing tour-de-force solo by artistic director Yaelisa to draw shouts of ‘olé!’”
Jason McGuire
Jason McGuire “El Rubio” has become synonymous with flamenco despite his Irish/American heritage. With over 30 years playing experience and concerts from coast to coast he has been for many years the guitarist other professional players come to help learn and hone their craft. As Musical Director of the award winning flamenco dance company Caminos Flamencos as well as Musical Director for “The New World Flamenco Festival,” Jason has shared the stage with some of the top flamenco artists in the world today as well as other legendary performers like Carlos Santana, Savion Glover and Wynton Marsalis to name a few. Along with his Emmy Award winning wife, flamenco dance extraordinaire Yaelisa, the two have forged the path for authentic as well as experimental flamenco through their groundbreaking productions. Jason’s album “Distancias” has received much critical acclaim and his compositions have been compared to some of Spain’s most important guitarists.
“When I first heard Jason play guitar, I was in awe of his talent and the fluidity of his style. He has an incredible knowledge of flamenco combined with an electic modern fusion jazz sensibility. His melodic and rhythmic sense spun my head around and I wanted to hear MORE! He is unique in a world of a million guitarists.” – Grammy Nominated Engineer/Producer, Cookie Marenco
“I love the passion Jason McGuire puts in his music and guitar playing. He has nice energy reflecting from his guitar with excellent technique and crispy sound. I enjoy his music and compositions a lot.” – Nuevo Flamenco Legend, Armik
“When he plays I feel as though I am back in Spain performing with my family and friends. His playing is so strong and powerful it is like three guitars playing at once.” – Gypsy Flamenco Singer, Jesus Montoya “El Genio Gitano”
Flamenco “Comes Home” to the Intimate Fountain Theatre
Paloma Rios
After a very successful year of presenting Forever Flamenco in the beautiful 300-seat Gallery Theatre in Barnsdall Park, Flamenco returns to the intimate 78-seat Fountain Theatre for one night only this Sunday, March 25th, at 8pm.
Produced by Deborah Lawlor, the cozy Fountain is the perfect venue to enjoy Flamenco music and dance. Every seat is up close and personal, just a few feet from the stage.
The lineup this Sunday, March 25 includes singer/dancer: Briseyda Zarate, dancer/percussionist Ryan Zermeno, dancers Pamela Lourant and Paloma Rios and guitarist/artistic director Ben Woods.
Forever Flamenco will return to the Gallery Theatre next month in April. This Sunday is the rare opportunity to enjoy world-class Flamenco just a few feet away from your seat in the intimate Fountain Theatre. Don’t miss it!
Ryan Zermeno
Flamenco at the Fountain Sunday, March 25, 8pm (323) 663-1525More
Deborah Lawlor and The Fountain Theatre in association with Beth Nesbitt and Vida Flamenca present Emilio Ochando and company in Forever Flamenco on Sunday, March 18, in the beautiful 300-seat Gallery Theatre at Barnsdall Park in Hollywood.
Emilio Ochando
Emilio Ochando, a phenom from the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza, has performed as a soloist with Ballet Nacional de España and Ballet Nacional de Cuba. His choreographic prowess earned him 2nd prize as emerging choreographer at Alcala de Henares (Madrid). He is currently a soloist in the Montreal production of Don Juan with dancer/choreographers Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez, and returns to Forever Flamenco for an exciting evening of clasico español and flamenco dance along with an electrifying line-up of musicians and dancers, including the US stage debut of cantaor Guillermo Gonzalez direct from Sevilla. Ochando is joined by the relentless passion of dancers Clara Rodriguez and Stephanie Narváez from San Francisco, accompanied by the guitar mastery of Kai Narezo and Gabriel Osuna. Gerardo Morales punctuates the performances on percussion.
Artist Line-Up for Sunday, March 18:
Artistic Director: Emilio Ochando Guitarists: Kai Narezo and Gabriel Osuna
Singer: special guest, direct from Sevilla: Guillermo Gonzalez
Dancers: Emilio Ochando, invited dancers from San Francisco Clara Rodriguez and Stephanie Narváez
Percussion: Gerardo Morales
Now in its 9th Smash Year, Forever Flamenco is the prime ongoing flamenco event in Los Angeles. The LA WEEKLY raves: “The Fountain has certainly cemented its stature as L.A.’s most significant venue for flamenco. Kudos are also due to the rotating series of artistic directors who continue to attract the best dancers from L.A.’s vibrant community as well as significant out-of-town guests.”
Since 2011, the Fountain Theatre’s Forever Flamenco is presented in the lovely 300-seat Gallery Theatre in Barnsdall Park, the venue perched on an enchanting hilltop overlooking Hollywood. A charming and romantic setting for such a passionate art form!
The Gallery Theatre at Barnsdall Art Park is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Hollywood Blvd and Vermont Ave)
Forever Flamenco! Sunday, March 18, 8pm (323) 663-1525Get Tickets
She grew up in East L.A., a Chicana with fiery passion and intense musical talent. Eighteen years ago she moved to Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, to study Flamenco. Today, her critically acclaimed performances have graced the stages of prominent venues throughout the world, including the Hollywood Bowl and the John Anson Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, The Joyce Theater and Lincoln Center in New York, Festival de Beaucaire in France, and the Teatro Villamarta in Spain as part of the prestigious Festival Flamenco de Jerez. She was honored in 2002 by the City of Jerez for her relentless dedication to the artistry of the region.
She is internationally acclaimed performer Maria Bermudez, also known as “La Cha Cha”.
This weekend, you can experience the thrilling “La Cha Cha” in a rare L.A. appearance, Maria Bermudez & Friends,October 30, 2011 at Barnsdall’s Gallery Theatre. Friends joining her on stage include one of her Spanish company members, “palmero” (hand-clapper) Luis de la Tota, and some of the very best U.S.-based flamenco artists including dancer Manual de la Cruz; singers Kina Mendez and José Cortes; guitarists Adam del Monte, Kai Nazero and famed bassist Reggie Hamilton; and celebrated percussionist Joey Heredia. This performance is a Special Flamenco Event.
Maria has been an important part of the Fountain’s Flamenco Family from the very beginning. After performing many years at the Fountain and in Fountain concerts at the 1200-seat John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Maria moved to Jerez (Spain’s “City of Flamenco”) to deepen her study and master her artistry. There she formed her own company, Sonidos Gitanos, touring worldwide as lead dancer and artistic director.
She formed Chicana Gypsy Project in 2007, drawing on her rich Mexican-American heritage and immersion in Gypsy culture. Combining her jazz-flavored voice with her earthy, sensuous Flamenco dancing, Maria creates a thrilling new art experience uniquely her own. She is married to El Pele, of the group Navajita Plateao (Gypsy Rock).
Maria began studying flamenco dance after the untimely death of her beloved and talented brother, Alfonso Bermudez. The unique and compelling story of how this beautiful, talented Chicana from Los Angeles moved to Spain many years ago and developed from a hungry young flamenco dancer from East L.A. into a world-renowned flamenco sensation accepted by the Gypsy community in Jerez inspired an award-winning documentary film “Streets of Flamenco”.
One of the top Flamenco artists in the world today, and a dear friend of the Fountain for twenty years. Once you see Maria burn up the stage, you remember it forever. Ole!
