Flamenco Vivo

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2023 and is one of America’s premier flamenco companies with home bases in New York City and Durham, NC. They reach more than 30,000 people nationwide each year through inclusive programs that entertain, educate and empower. Their mission is to promote flamenco as a living art form and a vital part of Hispanic heritage; produce and perform high quality dance works; provide arts education programs that catalyze connections among young people; and nurture the next generations of Spanish dance artists and educators. Flamenco Vivo honors the traditions of flamenco while advancing its evolution as a contemporary dance discipline. They have premiered over 30 original works, offering commissions to outstanding choreographers from the US and Spain and perform annual seasons in dual home bases of New York and Durham, NC and tour nationally to 12+ cities per year.

ABOUT CARLOTA SANTANA

Hailed as “The Keeper of Flamenco” by Dance Magazine and honored by the King and Government of Spain with La Cruz de la Orden al Mérito Civil for “all the years of passion, excellence and dedication to the flamenco art,” Carlota Santana is an internationally-renowned flamenco and Spanish dance artist and educator. In 1983, she co-founded Flamenco Vivo with Roberto Lorca; following his death from AIDS in 1987, she was determined to continue their work. In the decades since, she has led Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana’s growth as one of this country’s most successful flamenco companies, with a mission to promote flamenco as a living art form and a vital part of Hispanic heritage.

Under Santana’s artistic direction, Flamenco Vivo has premiered more than 25 original works, offering commissions to numerous flamenco artists from Spain and the United States; important creations include Bailes de Ida y Vuelta, depicting flamenco’s journey through Latin America; Mano a Mano, a tribute to the bullfighter Manolete; and the contemporary flamenco story-ballet Federico, a celebration of the life of Federico García Lorca. Ms. Santana created the company’s innovative arts-in-education program, integrating Spanish dance and culture with academic curricula, and has pioneered bilingual education initiatives targeted to immigrant populations, as well as other programs addressing the special needs of students with disabilities. Beyond the company’s on-going work, she has also been the driving force behind a series of unique special projects, including two flamenco symposia produced in collaboration with Duke University’s Dance Department and the ”100 Years of Flamenco in New York” exhibit mounted in partnership with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The first-ever curated museum show on flamenco in the U.S., “100 Years” ran for five months at The Vincent Astor Gallery at Lincoln Center; in his review, New York Times chief dance critic Alastair Macaulay praised the “vitality and pride” of the show, noting: “This vivid collection enriches our ideas of both this genre and this city.” Santana is on the faculty of Duke University and has taught at Long Island and New York Universities.

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHER

Patricia Guerrero is an acclaimed flamenco dancer and choreographer, winner of the 2021 Spanish Ministry of Culture's National Dance Award, and was named director of the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet in 2023. Born in Granada, a seminal city of flamenco, Guerrero has deep roots in the art form yet is fluent in other styles, from classical dance to Cuban guajiro. She began performing at age 8 and was touring professionally by age 15. At 17, she won the prestigious Desplante Award at Las Minas International Cante Festival and then performed at major dance events, e.g. Jerez and Düsseldorf Festivals. In 2010, she presented her first solo show, which toured Europe, and she has since choreographed numerous works. Carlos Saura asked her to be a soloist in “Flamenco Today,” which toured the world, including NY City Center, and she danced in Saura’s film, Flamenco, Flamenco. In 2011, she was named prima ballerina of the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet, and in 2012, won Best New Artist Award at the Bienal de Sevilla. She has been cast in works by Belén Maya, Dani de Morón and Antonio Rey, and starred as “La Bella Otero” with Spanish National Ballet in 2020-22, for which she won the Spain National Dance Award.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Francis Gómez of Huelva, Spain, is a flamenco composer, guitarist, and winner of the Music Composition for Dance at the 2021 Madrid Certamen for Flamenco and Spanish Dance. Francis’ extensive experience composing for dance companies includes creating works for esteemed artists Joaquin Grilo, Arcángel, Marco Flores, Alberto Sellés, and Macarena López. He has a Masters Degree in Flamenco Research and Analysis from University of Huelva 2021. His teaching experience includes Peña de Cante Jondo de Moguer 2012-2017 and Municipal school of Music of San Juan del Puerto 2014-present.

This performance is presented as a co-production with the Hawaiʻi Concert Society.

To purchase tickets to see Flamenco Vivo at the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center, follow our purchase tickets link to the right. Single tickets for this performance will go on sale September 3, 2024.

• Advance Sales/At the Door General: $30/$35
• Advance Sales/At the Door Discount: $25/$30
• Advance Sales/At the Door UHH/HCC Students w/valid ID & Children 17 & Under: $15/$20