“one of the year’s biggest dance events in New York City” The New York Times

“ one of New York City’s most important events” Newsday

New York’s annual flamenco celebration, now in its eighth year, features dancers, vocalists and guitarists direct from Spain in a mesmerizing display ranging from flamenco puro to innovative new works. This year’s festival includes artists who were highlights from previous years: celebrated dancers Merche Esmeralda, Eva Yerbabuena, and Rocío Molina; vocal giants Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda; guitar maestros Tomatito and Juan Carlos Romero; and the captivating Latin Grammy-nominated group Son de la Frontera. New to the festival are two rising stars – vocalist Diana Navarro and dancer Pastora Galván in her New York debut - and the superb dancer Belén Maya. The festival includes for the first time the participation of Mario Maya, who will be directing the gala program, Mujeres. The New York Flamenco Festival 2008 is dedicated to the vitality of the flamenco arts of Andalucía, the birthplace of flamenco.

Fri Feb 8     8 PM
Carmen Linares · Miguel Poveda
Juan Carlos Romero · Pastora Galván

Program: Cuatro Esquinas (Four Corners)

Town Hall
123 W. 43rd Street, NYC
$35, $45, $55
Box office (212) 840-2824
TicketMaster (212) 307-4100

Two of flamenco’s leading singers, Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda, share the stage in a virtuosic vocal display ranging from the Gypsy roots of flamenco to contemporary innovations. Linares, one of the great names in flamenco, has been celebrated worldwide for over 30 years for her exquisite style; Latin Grammy nominee Miguel Poveda has become an important figure in the new generation of flamenco vocalists. In their new show, Cuatro Esquinas, they will joined by the remarkable guitarist Juan Carlos Romero and Pastora Galván, a commanding young dancer in her NY debut

Co-presented with Instituto Cervantes

Town Hall
123 W. 43rd Street, NYC
$35, $45, $55
Box office (212) 840-2824
TicketMaster (212) 307-4100

The dazzling Gypsy guitarist Tomatito is noted for his mastery of the compás and his elegant style. In his teens, he began a long partnership with singer Camarón de la Isla, which lasted until Camarón’s death in 1992. Since then he has become one of flamenco’s most highly regarded solo guitarists and received several Latin Grammy Awards. In this performance, he will be joined by his ensemble, which features El Cristi (guitar), Lucky Losada (percussion), La Tana (vocal), and the dynamic Gypsy dancer José Maya.

 “one of the greatest living flamenco guitarists”  
New York Times

Fri Feb 15    7:30 PM
Gala Flamenca: Mujeres
Merche Esmeralda
Rocío Molina
Belén Maya
Special guest Diana Navarro Directed by Mario Maya

New York City Center
W. 55h Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, NYC
$30, $45, $75, $85
Special $200 gala tickets include reception with artists
(212) 545-7536 for gala details
CityTix® (212) 581-1212
nycitycenter.org

This all-star gala, featuring three generations of dancers, is dedicated to the women of flamenco. The program, entitled Mujeres, is comprised of the legendary Merche Esmeralda, noted for her mesmerizing performances for the National Ballet of Spain and her work as founder and director of the renowned Ballet de la Región de Murcia; the innovative and soulful dancer Belén Maya, known for her appearances with Mayte Martín and the Dance Company of Andalucía; and Rocío Molina, a highlight of the 2004 and 2005 NY Flamenco Festivals who was called “a brooding treasure” (New York Times). Appearing as guest artist is the extraordinary award-winning singer Diana Navarro. The show is directed by famed dancer and choreographer Mario Maya.

Sat Feb 16    8 PM
Sun Feb 17    7PM
Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena

Program: Santo y Seña (Signs and Wonders)

New York City Center
W. 55h Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, NYC
$30, $40, $60, $75
CityTix® (212) 581-1212
nycitycenter.org

Eva Yerbabuena will return to the New York Flamenco Festival after her appearances here in 2002 and 2005. Hailed as “a revelation” (New York Times) and a major force in flamenco today, she is a consummate artist known for her breathtaking solos and dramatic footwork. She has enraptured audiences throughout the world and won every prestigious Spanish choreographic award, including the National Dance Prize. Her company will present the New York debut of her acclaimed new show, Santo y Seña (Signs and Wonders). With this show, Ms. Yerbabuena reprises and refreshes some of the outstanding flamenco choreographies performed by her company since its debut in 1998.

Program: Cal

NYU Skirball Center
566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South, NYC
$35, $45
Ticket Central (212) 279-4200   www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu

One of the hottest new ensembles in flamenco today, Son de la Frontera features the electrifying Gypsy dance of Pepé  Torres along with fiery instrumentals and impassioned vocals. Led by Raul Rodríguez (son of singer Martirio), the innovative ensemble blends flamenco puro with Latin American rhythms and melodies and is the first group to prominently feature the Cuban très (a guitar with three sets of double steel strings) in flamenco. The group was formed in tribute to pioneering guitar maestro Diego del Gastor from Moron de la Frontera, Seville, and includes two of his grandnephews. The  program will include selections from Son de la Frontera’s Latin Grammy-nominated album Cal (World Village).

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New York Flamenco Festival 2008 is sponsored by Agencia Andaluza para el Desarrollo del Flamenco and INAEM, Ministry of Culture of Spain Additional support is provided by the New York State Council for the Arts, a State agency; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the Howard Bayne Fund; the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Fundacion Autor; Spanish Society of Authors Composers and Publishers; Tourism Board of Andalucía; Instituto Cervantes; the Tourism Office of Spain; King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center; and the Consulate General of Spain in New York. Directed by Miguel Marin Productions.