The International Flamenco Festival Features Living Legend ‘Tomatito’,
‘Jose Maya & Rycardo Moreno’ direct from Spain – March 7 and 9.
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By Ernest Kearney — What is it about Flamenco?
The magic is in the fusion.
Flamenco is like some mystical hybrid, a construct of two distinctly different parts that seem initially at odds, a lion and an eagle, a man and a stallion, a woman and a serpent.
Flamenco is a wailing of unplumbed anguish and an exaltation of unquenchable elation that, when melded through dance and music, results in a celebration of the human spirit.
You can perform ballet successfully if the specialized skills it demands have been acquired and honed.
You can be a star of Broadway musicals if possessed with the right looks and with the acquired technique of flash and pizzazz.
But to be a star of Flamenco demands more. A depth of spirit within.
If you have never experienced the dance and songs of Flamenco, to do so is a revelation with the dynamism you’d expect of “The Big Bang.” Flamenco musicians do not so much “play” their instruments as dominate them. Watching a Flamenco guitarist play one wonders how such a subtleness of hand motions can produce such a tempest of tones.
It nearly defies words to convey the power and grace expressed by these artists in their music and dance, or to describe the concentrated intensity and emotional abundance Flamenco yields in the performance.
The language of Flamenco is fascinating in and of itself. One of my favorite terms is “coraje.” The literal translation is “courage.” But when applied to Flamenco it means performing with daring.
In this time of ours, when courage of convictions, courage of action, courage of speech is so lacking, to experience “coraje” on stage approaches the intoxicating,
You’ll find that if you experience Flamenco.
You may also find it addicting.
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2024 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival
World-Class Flamenco Artists Direct from Spain
Thursday, March 7, 2024; 8pm
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
One of Spain’s Great Modern Masters of the Flamenco Guitar
Tomatito
with Special Guest Dancer
Karime Amaya
and
Saturday, March 9, 2024; 8pm
Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles
4401 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
José Maya, Dancer
Flamenco Guitarist Rycardo Moreno
~ Pianist Andrés Barrios
with Special Guest Dancer Mizuho Sato ~
Opening for Both Shows
For more information and tickets, please visit https://laflamencofestival.com/
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