Washington, D.C. – GALA Hispanic Theatre continues its 44h season with the fifteenth international Fuego Flamenco Festival that brings leading flamenco artists from Spain and the United States to Washington audiences. Recognized for the presentation of stellar artists in an intimate tablao setting, the festival runs from November 7 through November 17 at GALA Theatre, 3333 14^th Street, NW, one block from the Columbia Heights metro station on the Green/Yellow lines. Parking is available behind the theater at the Giant Food garage for a rate of $4 with validation at GALA.

Fuego Flamenco XV, with Honorary Producers Lynne and Joseph Horning, is an exploration of traditional flamenco and its breadth and diversity through contemporary expressions. This year’s program includes Entresueño by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company and the United States premiere of Raíz de 4 choreographed and performed by Rafael Peral and Marisa Adame and presented in collaboration with Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas of Madrid, Spain.  Entresueño re-imagines an acclaimed work that explores the essential elements of self, and Raíz de 4 evokes the roots of flamenco and its diverse expressions.

The festival program also includes Flamenco en Familia, free interactive demonstrations of various aspects of flamenco for children and families on November 9 at 11 am and 1:30 pm; and special performances for students of Colores de Flamenco by the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company on November 6, November 7, and November 8 at 10:30 am.  

Press Night and Artist Reception for Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company is Friday, November 8.

Press Night and Artist Reception for Rafael Peral and Marisa Adame is Friday, November 15.

The festival is made possible with generous support from Lynne and Joseph Horning, the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C., SPAIN arts & culture, Maggio & Kattar, and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

FLAMENCO APARICIO DANCE COMPANY

Fuego Flamenco XV opens with Entresueño by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company. Entresueño premiered at GALA in 2006 before it toured nationally.  In this re-imagined version, the company explores dreams as an uninhibited medium for psychodynamics, a state where the dreamer has an opportunity to dissociate and experience the self through his composite forces, making Entresueño not just a state of transition but a dialogue between our conscious and unconscious.

Directed by Edwin Aparicio and Aleksey Kulikov, Entresueño features Aparicio, curator of GALA’s Fuego Flamenco Festival, and dancers Norberto Chamizo, Alex Miton, and Jeanne D’Arc Casas; singers Francisco Orozco “Yiyi” and José Cortés; and guitarist and composer Richard “Ricardo” Marlow and José Moreno on percussion.

Performances are on Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at 8 pm, and Sunday, November 10 at 2 pm.

Edwin Aparicio (Choreographer, Director, Dancer) trained with renowned flamenco artists Tomás de Madrid and “La Tati". He performed with the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, including its most recent production of Carmen (2015); the Washington Ballet in Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises (2013); has appeared as a soloist with ensembles such as the José Greco Spanish Dance Company, and shared the stage with such celebrated artists as Carmela Greco, Pastora Galván, “La Tati,” and José Luis Rodríguez.

Mr. Aparicio is the artistic director and choreographer of twelve acclaimed productions, including Íntimo with Carmela Greco, which premiered at GALA and then toured to Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Portland, OR; and Entresueño, which marked his New York City debut as a company director.  He is a co-founder and curator of GALA’s Fuego Flamenco Festival, and is a faculty member at the Washington School of Ballet. Mr. Aparicio was named one of “25 Dancers to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2009; received a Protagonista Award from GALA for his artistic achievements in the Latino community; and received the Cross of the Order of Civil Merit bestowed by King Felipe VI of Spain.

Aleksey Kulikov (Director) Trained in Kiev at the age of nine in ballroom dance, he competed semi-professionally and performed ballroom dance theater until his emigration to the United States in 1996. In DC, he studied flamenco with Natalia Monteleón, and in Spain with "La Presy" in Granada and José Galván in Seville. His teachers included "La Tati," Carmela Greco, Manuel Liñán, Domingo Ortega, Alejandro Granados, and Manuel Liñán. Mr. Kulikov has performed flamenco at various venues in the D.C. area, including Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and in Yerma and Edwin Aparicio’s Flamenco Deconstructed at GALA. Together with his husband Edwin Aparicio, he co-directed One Plus One (2013), Flamenco Men II (2015), Salvador (2016), and Flamenco Extranjero (2017).

Richard "Ricardo" Marlow (Musical Director, composer, arranger, guitarist) was introduced to the guitar by his father, the eminent classical guitarist John E. Marlow. He received a degree from the James Madison School of Music in 1997, and studied flamenco guitar with master artist Gerardo Núñez in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain. He has performed with Danza del Río Flamenco Company, Ana Martínez and  Paco  de  Málaga,  Anna  Menéndez,  and  Arte Flamenco  Dance  Company.  Mr.  Marlow  also  has performed in Edwin Aparicio’s productions of Uno más uno, Bailes Inéditos, Encuentros, Íntimo, and Flamenco Men II, where he shared the stage with Jesús Montoya, Alfonso Cid, "La Truco", and Carmela Greco. He performed in Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore; and in the Washington Ballet’s Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises at the Kennedy Center.

RAFAEL PERAL AND MARISA ADAME

Fuego Flamenco XV continues with the U.S. premiere of Raíz de 4, presented in collaboration with Madrid’s Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas. This imaginative new flamenco piece is choreographed and performed by Rafael Peral and Marisa Adame, who are making their first appearance in Washington, DC.  Directed by Mr. Peral, the production also features music director and guitarist José Almarcha; singers Trini de la Isla and José El Calli; and Epi Pacheco on percussion. Performances are on Thursday, November 14, Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16 at 8 pm, and Sunday, November 17 at 2 pm.

Raíz de 4 delves into flamenco’s most primitive roots, evoking the convergence of cultures and the folklore of Spain. The essence of flamenco ---romances (ballads), martinetes, fandangos and soleares---take the forefront in this impressive display of emotions and artistry by exceptional flamenco artists who convey a genuine love for the art form.

Rafael Peral (Choreographer, Director, Dancer) is making his first appearance at GALA. Born in Barcelona, Spain, he began his career with José de la Vega; became a member of the Antonio Canales Company, where he played the role of “toro” in Torero; appeared in Gitano and Bengues directed by Lluis Pascual; and was a guest artist in the production of Serranito, directed by Victor Monge. He has also performed with the flamenco dance companies of María Pagé, Guito and Manolete, Adrián Galia, Eva La Yerbabuena, Sara Baras, Juan Andrés Maya, and with El Flamenco Vive.  He has appeared at many notable flamenco venues in Spain and Tokyo. With Marisa Adame he has created Jonda Emoción and Raíz de 4, which premiered at the National Theater of Algiers and was presented in Oran, Constantine, and Madrid. Mr. Peral has a degree in Spanish Dance from the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Instituto del Teatro de Barcelona, and trained with masters El Toleo, La Tani, La Chana, Manolo Marín, and Antonio Canales, among others.

Marisa Adame (Choreographer, Dancer). Born in Barcelona, Spain, she  has performed in Carmen (Luis Dávila Dance-Theater Company) and as a soloist in Romeo and Juliet; in Los Tarantos (José Greco Company); in Juana la Loca and Sueños (Sara Baras Company); in Mis recuerdos and De Madrid a Sevilla (Flamenco Dance Company of El Güito); and 4 Estaciones (Flamenco Dance Company). With Rafael Peral, she created Jonda Emoción and Raíz de 4. Ms. Adame has also performed at numerous tablaos  in Spain, and El Flamenco in Tokyo. She received the First Prize at the Madrid Choreography Competition for her work on Color Danza Española, and has a degree in Spanish Dance from the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza del Instituto del Teatro de Barcelona. She also trained with flamenco masters La Chana, Ciro, La Toná, Manolete, La China, La Yerbabuena, Javier de la Torre, and Adrián Galia.

Casas Patas is a world-renowned Madrid tablao hosting some of the best and most authentic flamenco in  Spain.  Famous  groups  and  new  talent  sometimes  share  the  same  stage  to  create  memorable
productions. The Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas grew out of this club and today sponsors workshops, seminars, and exhibitions promoting the art of flamenco around the world.

 FLAMENCO EN FAMILIA

Flamenco en Familia, free family interactive demonstrations in flamenco zapateo, castanets, and fans, takes place on Saturday, November 9. Dancer Sara Jerez and guitarist Ricardo Marlow, along with other local artists, will lead two sessions from 11 am to 12 pm and 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm at GALA Theatre.

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