New York City Center presents Flamenco Festival 20/20—celebrating the 20th season of this citywide event—from March 27 through April 5. Showcasing the astonishing range of creativity in contemporary flamenco, the Festival pays tribute to the art form’s roots while revolutionizing it from concept to choreography. Flamenco Festival was founded in 2001 and presents the leading names in flamenco today, from world renowned artists and icons of traditional flamenco to the most innovative, emerging young stars. The largest celebration of flamenco in the US, the Festival features over 120 artists in 53 shows and is dedicated to the promotion of flamenco artists outside of Spain, presenting performances throughout the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The festival’s theme this year is “Breaking walls, uniting worlds,” reflecting the need to dismantle the preconceptions surrounding flamenco. As part of the 20th season, Flamenco Festival is honored to present a program of more than 30 companies, featuring artists from different generations who use their freedom as an engine for creation.
In addition to the performances at City Center, this year’s New York City program includes events at 20 venues throughout the city – including The Town Hall, NYU Skirball, Baryshnikov Arts Center, 92Y Harkness Dance Center, Joe’s Pub, and pop-up events at the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place (230 Vesey St) beginning on Thursday, March 12 at 7pm. For information on the complete New York City program, visit flamencofestival.org
Gala Flamenca–this year titled “Gala de Andalucía” to pay special homage to the birthplace of flamenco and the 20th Anniversary of Flamenco Festival–is the highlight of the festival, bringing together exceptional dancers and singers in an evening that showcases the best that each performer has to offer. A special highlight in this year’s line-up is guest artist La Chana, who rose to international stardom in the 1960s and has rarely been seen in recent years. The 74-year-old dancer will make a long-awaited comeback as part of the City Center program.
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Leadership Support for Dance at New York City Center is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Harkness Foundation for Dance.
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FLAMENCO FESTIVAL Founded by Miguel Marin, Flamenco Festival is dedicated to the promotion of flamenco artists outside of Spain. The festival´s annual international events showcase the leading names in flamenco today, from world renowned artists and icons of traditional flamenco to the most innovative, emerging young stars.
Flamenco Festival USA was founded in 2001, and has since become a showcase for Spanish artists in New York, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, and other cities across the US. In 2003, the first Flamenco Festival was presented in London at Sadler’s Wells, and since then it has become an annual date with Flamenco in London. In 2005, Flamenco Festival expanded to Japan, and in 2007, the company organized the first Flamenco Festival in China, with performances in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2011 Flamenco Festival was presented for the first time in Moscow (Russia) and in São Paulo (Brazil). Most recently, the expansion reached Doha (Qatar), Seoul (South Korea), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) or Melbourne (Australia).
Flamenco Festival also presents concerts and individual flamenco artist tours throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, and the US. flamencofestival.org
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NEW YORK CITY CENTER (Arlene Shuler, President & CEO) has played a defining role in the cultural life of the city since 1943. The distinctive neo-Moorish theater welcomes over 300,000 annual visitors to experience internationally acclaimed artists on the same stage where legends like George Balanchine, Leonard Bernstein, and Barbara Cook made their mark. Its landmark 75th Anniversary Season (2018 – 2019) paid tribute to this rich history and celebrated the institution’s singular role in the arts today.
City Center’s Tony-honored Encores! series has celebrated the tradition of American musical theater for over 25 years. In 2013, City Center launched the Encores! Off-Center series, which brings today’s innovative artists into contact with groundbreaking musicals from the more recent past.
Source: Joe Guttridge, Director of Communications, NY City Center
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