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About the Company
Since inception in 1979, Flamenco Latino's professional company has explored and developed the genre known as Ida y Vuelta. This "Round Trip" genre had its birth during the late 18th century, when Spain and other countries in Europe were influenced by Latino dance and music, most notably the Cuban Habanera and Rumba, which led to flamenco tangos, tanguillo and rumba.
Flamenco Latino's recent Más Allá Series has pushed flamenco boundaries. Flamenco dance structures have been flavored with jazz, blues and salsa, and have included the collaboration of tap dancers like Omar Edwards. Productions like “Flamenco Gumbo I & II” combined flamenco with the music of New Orleans, the northernmost Caribbean city. Since 2018, Flamenco Latino has presented its Series in collaboration with Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.
Going back 30 years, Flamenco Latino's interpretation of Ida y Vuelta included exploration of flamenco guajiras and many rumba styles, such as Peret, Bambino and the Gipsy Kings. It has also created many unusual amalgamations referencing mambo, cha-cha, danzon, bomba y plena, cumbia and merengue. Drawing on Basilio Georges' early professional career as a jazz musician, the music has reflected many jazz harmonic and improvisatory concepts.
With such a career reference, Flamenco Latino produced a great deal of exciting and innovative repertoire presented in Seasons at Pace University and the Duke Theater, and through touring from 1997 to 2006. It has gone even further with collaborations at Thalia Spanish Theatre from 2003-2009, where Director Angel Gil Orrios involved Flamenco Latino to interpret the art of Picasso through plays written by the artist, and through "Amor Latino," a musical involving both tap and flamenco. From 2006-2016, Flamenco Latino ran a Studio Theater space in Midtown Manhattan where they offered classes in dance, guitar, cante and palmas for adults and children, presented performances and recitals, and produced workshops with artists from Spain.
Flamenco Latino currently offers both live and online classes and performances. Classes are offered at studios in Jackson Hts. Queens, and in Greenwich Village Manhattan.
Dancers: Julissa Cadenillas, Leslie Carmen Irizarry, Sophia Mintz, Tamia Moore Natalia Starkova,
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