Hailed as “LA’s most significant venue for flamenco” by LA Weekly, the Fountain Theatre returns to the Ford stage after a two year absence, bringing the finest local, national and international flamenco artists to celebrate this passionate expression of Spanish culture. Forever Flamenco’s dancers, musicians and singers have been delighting audiences for years with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. This year’s show pays tribute to the founder of the Fountain’s flamenco program, Deborah Lawlor, a Los Angeles icon and ardent supporter of the art form for more than two decades.
“Forever Flamenco was born out of Deborah’s love and total immersion into Flamenco,” says Maria Bermudez. “Young dancers, up-and-coming dancers have been given opportunities, as well as seasoned professionals and international dancers, have all come through Forever Flamenco at the Fountain. Me being one of them. I had my first baby steps there. I have to say, the Fountain has been one of my most cherished performance spaces for Flamenco.”
Forever Flamenco at the Ford will be a once-in-a-lifetime gala event gathering some of the finest international, national and local flamenco artists together on stage for the first time. Artists include Jesus Alvarez, Roberto Amaral, Fanny Ara, Lakshmi Basille, Maria Bermudez, Jose Cortes, Adam Del Monte, Manuel Guiterez, Jason MacGuire, Jesus Montoya, Timo Nunez, Domingo Ortega, Jose Tanaka, Antonio Triana, Linda Vega, Ben Woods, Yaelisa and more (lineup subject to change).
Behind-the-Scenes with Maria Bermudez
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Forever Flamenco at the Ford Sat June 15 (323) 461-3673MORE
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”
