Flamenco Fever presents the Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival VII
Flamenco Fever presentsthe seventh annual Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival on September 6 through September 11, 2021. Flamenco, a riveting combination of music and dance, is the focus of this weeklong festival featuring heart pounding percussion, lightning-fast footwork, and vibrant song and guitar technique. Together, they convey the passion and a constantly changing interpretation of life that is the essence of flamenco.
Julia Alcántara, founder of Flamenco Fever, celebrates her 11th Flamenco Festival in Dallas. Her long career in arts production continues to raise the bar for the art form in Dallas and has gained her backing from dozens of sponsors that have helped the festival grow steadily every year. Flamenco Fever seeks to expand the flamenco community in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. The area has a much smaller flamenco presence compared to Miami, New York, and Los Angeles and smaller cities such as Albuquerque, Phoenix, and San Antonio.
The Grand Finale of the Festival will include Julia Alcántara’s original choreography for “Solo Quiero Caminar” by Jorge Pardo. Mr. Pardo has been proclaimed the “Greatest Living Artist” by the French Academy of Jazz, won Spain’s National Prize for Current Music in 2015, and recently won a Grammy as a contributor in Chick Corea’s Best Latin Jazz Album “Antidote.” Slated to headline the Festival but unable to attend for the second time due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, this piece is continually being reworked in each interpretation.
“Jorge’s sophisticated blend of jazz and flamenco tests the boundaries of both forms yet retains the true essence of each genre. No one has ever choreographed an entire dance concert to his music,” says Ms. Alcántara. “I’ve dreamed of making this happen for decades, and now here in Dallas, Texas we are presenting the first original choreography inspired by his music.”
The Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival will feature internationally renowned artists including dancers Julia Alcántara (Texas,) Jorge Robledo (Argentina,) Alejandro Vega (Spain,) and Melissa Cruz (California), cantaor Alejandor Vega (Spain,) and Guitarist Kris “El Cuervo” (Arizona.)
Festival Details:
Grand Finale
The culmination of the festival is a tour de force performance. At times sultry and intense, the same cast will become playful and flirtatious in swinging dynamics that only pure flamenco can express.
Saturday, September 11, 2021, 8 – 10:00 p.m.
The Majestic Theater, 1925 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75201
Tickets: $29.23 to $78.12, https://www.prekindle.com/search?s=Flamenco
Daily Festival Events:
Artists Welcome Dinner
Monday, September 6, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Café Madrid: 4501 Travis Street, Dallas, Texas 75205
Artists will meet and greet over dinner and close the night with a short pop-up performance. Patio Reservations Recommended, 214-528-1731
Flamenco Lecture & Demonstration
Tuesday, September 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge, 2626-2630, Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas 75226
Call for Information: 214-377-9893
Tickets: $10.00 in advance, $15 at the door https://www.prekindle.com/search?s=Flamenco
Flamenco Movie Night
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (Time and Location TBD)
Free Event
Bishop Arts Barrage
Thursday, September 9, 2021, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Multiple Bishop Arts Restaurants host Flamenco style acts with patrons and dancers making the rounds in costume. Check Facebook.com/OakCliffFlamencoFestival for all locations and reservations.
Free Event
Musician’s Showcase – Features musicians and cameos by guest dancers
Friday, September 10, 2021, 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
Latino Cultural Center
2600 Live Oak St, Dallas, Texas 75204
Tickets: $20 in advance $30 at the door, https://www.prekindle.com/search?s=Flamenco
For more information please contact:
Julia Alcantara, Artistic Director
Julia@AlcantaraArts.com, 214-934-4480
www.facebook.com/OakCliffFlamencoFestival
About Julia Alcántara
Julia Alcántara is a native Texan who, after studying for three years with Dallas flamenco matriarch, Conte De Logo, moved to New York to study with Antonio Del Castillo and Raquel Heredia. Ms. Alcántara finished her education at the National Institute of Flamenco where the curriculum included classes in flamenco history, choreography, improvisation, singing, and classical Spanish dance with Eva Encinias and Pablo Rodarte. There she was able to study with some of the greatest flamenco artists in the world and form relationships with some of Spain’s greatest artists.
With her company, Ida y Vuelta Flamenco Dance Company, Ms. Alcántara has hosted and performed with world-class dancers, singers, and musicians from all over the world. Her authentic flamenco shows receive rave reviews in D Magazine and The Dallas Morning News.
A few memorable accolades are: The Dallas Opera’s La Vida Breve, Good Morning Texas appearances, and the World Cup opening ceremonies. Honored to be a soloist in the Irving Symphony’s “Dallas Treasures” concert, her name has become synonymous with quality cultural entertainment. She has been recognized through multiple grants that make her programming possible.
About Jorge Robledo – Dancer
Jorge Robledo was born in Argentina, Buenos Aires. He began his career in dance at an early age, specializing in Spanish dance, classical ballet, jazz and modern dance. He studied Flamenco at the School of Jorge Luis and Conchita Spain. His extensive training led him to work with different artists, such as Carmelo Scaramouzzino and Malvina Straga. In Flamenco and Spanish Classic, he danced alongside Norma Buontempo, Jose Zartman, La China and Antonio Ortega. Later in his career, he was given the opportunity to work in Spain with Antonio Granjero, Jose Barrios, Manuel Betanzos, Domingo Ortega, Belen Maya, Nacho Blanco, El Torombo, Juana Amaya and Antonio Canales. He also serves as professor of dance studios with Vladimir Issaev Ballet School (North Miami) and Roxy Performing Arts (Miami.)
About Melissa Cruz – Dancer
Melissa Cruz is a Bay Area-based flamenco professional and has been a full-time flamenco artist and instructor for the past 15 years. After discovering flamenco while studying at UC Berkeley, she began dancing with Rosa Montoya and soon joined Ms. Montoya’s professional company. Melissa has performed as a soloist in the San Francisco International Arts Festival and has presented in eight San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals, twice as a featured soloist.
She was commissioned to present a solo representing the genre of flamenco in the 2013 San Francisco Isadora Duncan Awards Ceremony and was a featured artist in the 2014 Tucson Flamenco Festival. She currently serves as principal dancer and choreographer for the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company. She is Artistic Director of “The Flamenco Room” a monthly professional tablao show in San Francisco. In June 2021, she was featured in the one-woman flamenco play “Flamenco on my Own” produced in collaboration with Ballet Flamenco La Rosa in Miami.
About Alejandro Navarro – Cantaor/Guitarist
Alejandro Navarro began his studies as a guitarist and singer at the age of fourteen, studying with teachers Eduardo Rebollar, Pedro Sierra, Paco Cortés, and Antonio Carrión. He has shared the stage with cantaors Manuel Cástulo, Antonio Ortega, Paco (el sopi,) and teacher Maria Serrano. In 2010 he founded the group, Retales Flamencos
About Alejandro Vega – Dancer/Palmero
Alejandro is the second generation of a flamenco performing family from Spain. He discovered the cajón, flamenco percussive box, at age 16. After studying with Ramó n Porrina, the famous Spanish flamenco cajón player, he began to perform with accomplished artists such as La Tati, David Amaya, El Cigala, Maria de Toledo, Antonio Reyes, and Domingo Ortega. He made his New York debut performance at the Casa de España with the Dance Company Soul & Duende in the late 90s.
About Kristofer Hill (El Cuervo) – Guitarist
A graduate of Arizona State University, studying guitar and composition, Kristofer had the opportunity to study with Frank Kuntz, Chris Champion, renowned composer Daniel Lentz, and performing artist Richard Lehrman. A trip to Sevilla, Spain in 2011 led to discovering the flamenco guitar and becoming a disciple of Juan del Gastor, master and teacher of the legendary Moron style. Studying with the Maestro turned into years in Andalucia, accompanying in the studios of Juana Amaya, Jose Galvan, El Lebrijano, Esperanza Fernandez, Concha Vargas, and Los Farrucos. As a guitarist for Jose Galván’s Cuadro, he has performed at la Peña Torres Macarena, El Teatro de la Alameda, Caja Negra, and many other venues.
About the Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival & Flamenco Fever:
The mission of Flamenco Fever is to diversify DFWs cultural landscape, while preserving the Hispanic heritage of Oak Cliff through the promotion of authentic flamenco performances and educational initiatives.
The Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival (OCFF) is their signature annual event. A seven-day Spanish cultural event with workshops, dancing, music, cinema, and a paella cookout. Several community events are free, making them affordable and inviting for those who may have never experienced flamenco before.
*Photo by Denis Hevia
(This CharityLifestyes eBuzz provided by Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival.)
