The Art of Flamenco | October 2022
This Month’s Issue:
Farruquito Comes to Portland | Get Tickets
Discover the Legendary Dancer Farruco - Farruquito’s Grandfather and Founder of the Family’s Flamenco Dynasty
Intro to Flamenco Workshop at Mayo Street Arts | Register Today
Highlights from my Residency at Bates College | See the Show
Online Flamenco Studio | Free Month of Membership (Code: freeflamenco)
Free Flamenco Lesson: First Sevillanas
Farruquito Presents Íntimo
Oct 26 | 7 PM | Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME
"Farruquito dances as if he has every answer at his fingertips." THE NEW YORK TIMES
Called “the greatest flamenco dancer of this new century” by The New York Times, Farruquito (Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya) is hailed by critics and audiences alike for his prodigious artistry, incredible stage presence, profound poetry and captivating beauty. Heir to one of the most renowned flamenco dynasties, Farruquito made his first international stage appearance on Broadway at the age of 4-years-old alongside his grandfather, “El Farruco.” Farruquito is a celebrated progenitor of this electrifying dance form, making it his life’s mission to share the purest expression of flamenco on stages all around the world while further broadening flamenco’s influence through collaboration with the most paramount film directors, conductors and artists of our time.
Portland Ovations is generously offering all students of Lindsey Bourassa Flamenco a student rate. Please email Lindsey for details.
Let’s fill Merrill with our olés and appreciation for top-notch flamenco right here in Maine so we can continue to bring more great artists to our growing community of flamenco aficionados.
Artist Highlight: Antonio Montoya Flores, ‘El Farruco’
Born in Madrid in 1935, El Farruco was a Gitano dancer of no professional training, who performed a deeply-rooted Gitano style of flamenco dance. Profoundly proud of his Gitano heritage, he has passed his unique, explosive style to his family: his daughters, dancers La Farruca & La Faraona and his grandsons, dancers Farruquito (yes, the very same Farruquito who is coming this month to Portland!), Farru, El Carpeta and El Barullo.
Learn about his Life
A Compilation of Videos of Farruco’s Artistry
See how his style has been passed down through generations to his grandsons
In Partnership with Mayo Street Arts, Ovations Offstage Presents:
Intro to Flamenco Dance Workshop
with Lindsey Bourassa
October 23, 2022 • 3 - 5 PM
Bates College Residency
ABOUT: this September I had the immense pleasure of teaching a Repertory Intensive as a Resident Artist at Bates College. I had the honor of working with a cast of 7 talented dancers to choreograph a piece in real time, allowing the dancers to learn technique, choreography, and most importantly, to observe and partake in the creative process. As someone who typically choreographs solo, this was both a welcome challenge and a delight - sharing my process and integrating their artistic ideas, identities, strengths and feedback was a beautiful and resource-full process.
The piece we created is a contemporary take on the flamenco style Tientos, set to the song Réquiem by flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo in homage to the late, legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía. Our piece strives to highlight the legacy and impact artists can have on their environments, communities and art forms, with each dancer embodying and expressing grief and homage in a different way; mourning what is lost but also celebrating an artist’s life and work. The projected photo montage consists of photos from the cast members and myself, representing places that have impacted or been impacted by our personal and artistic identities. The song’s verses say: It will be the earth | It will be the suns | The seas and moon who yearn for you | It will be flamenco, which with great force misses you and cries for you | It will be Seville | It will be Triana | It will be Santiago, Cádiz and Granada | My dreams will be forever yours | It will be the earth | Dry and wet.
The students will perform this piece in the Marcy Plavin Fall Concert at Bates College alongside pieces by other Resident Artists Darrius Strong, Tristan Koepke, Dr. Ananya Chatterjea, and dance major Maya Golden.
Performances: Dec 3 - 5 | Bates College | Free for All to Attend
Free Month of Membership
Enter the code freeflamenco and enjoy a free month of membership to try out the Online Flamenco Dance Studio.
Enjoy an extensive library (18 courses) of comprehensive technique, choreography and theory to foster your growth as dancers!
Courses for beginners through advanced-intermediate levels
Just $25/month or $250/year to keep your membership after your free trial
Course content is available 24/7 through pre-recorded videos, to learn at your own pace and schedule
Free Dance Lesson
Follow along to learn or practice the 1st of 4 Sevillanas!
Ana María Zabala