Compañia Flamenca José Porcel

Compañia Flamenca José Porcel


8 p.m., Saturday, November 5, 2011
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Image: Flamenca The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts continues its 2011-2012 Dance season with Compañia Flamenca José Porcel , the explosive, rhythmic, and colorful dance troupe from Spain at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, 20011. The Company continues to celebrate its country's folkloric dance tradition this season with a thrilling new program entitled "Gypsy Fire." Tickets are $40, $35, and $30.

The origins of flamenco are still uncertain, entwined in a web of influences and contributions from various civilizations. Flamenco singing and dancing may have originated in Andalucia sometime in the fifteenth century when the inhabitants of southern Spain encountered the Gypsies, who brought with them a mixed cultural influence of Arabic-Egyptian, Jewish, and Indian peoples. The oldest form of flamenco is cante jondo , an intimate and deep-felt song that recounts the sorrows and hopes of the Gypsies as a people. Originating as a rhythmic form of accentuation for singing, flamenco dancing was enriched over time by constantly increasing expressive possibilities along with indispensable accompaniment by guitars. As a theatrical performance, flamenco only developed in the past century, through constant efforts that involved stylistic experimentation, refinement of expression, and technical codification, giving this form of dance a true artistic dignity of its own without causing a loss of its strong identity as folk dancing that is inseparably bound to the Gypsy spirit.

Image: Flamenca The Compañia Flamenca José Porcel was founded in Madrid, Spain, and is among the premiere dance companies which exhibits this exciting art form. The company brings the flamenco dance tradition to life vibrantly and colorfully with live musicians, vocalists and of dancers who have delighted audiences around the world.

José Porcel was born in Sevilla, and at the age of thirteen began dancing Andalucian folkloric dances and flamenco in cultural centers in Valencia. He began his dance studies at 16 with the master Martín Vargas. He moved to Madrid and continued his studies with Paco Romero, Isabel Quintero, Cristóbal Reyes, Pedro Azorín and José Granero. In 1989, he made his professional debut with the Ballet de Valencia, directed by Mr. Vargas, and was promoted to soloist in the company the following year. In 1991, Mr. Porcel choreographed his first flamenco work, "Te traigo al sur, Miguel," under the direction of the flamencologist Federico Torres, in the Teatro Principal in Alicante. In 1992, he directed and performed in his first flamenco company in the Expo de Sevilla. In 1993, José Porcel took part in a tour of America with Clara Romana's company in the work "Carmina Burana". In 1994, he was invited to join the Ballet Nacional de España, where he interpreted many flamenco ballets. In 1997, he brought his performance entitled "Entrañas flamencas" to the flamenco festival of the Palacio de la Música in Valencia. In 2000, he danced as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, under the direction of maestro Héctor Zaraspe.

Image: Flamenca The Company's "Gypsy Fire" program features such authentic dances as the "Farruca" which has Galicia, Asturias, and Andalusia folkloric influences, the "Alegrias" from Cadiz in Southern Spain, the "Tientos" which evolves from the tango, "Buleria," an improvisation, and "Rondeña" from the mountainous region of Málaga. "With this new production I would like to present the purest and the oldest part of flamenco from Andalusia," said José Porcel. "Preserving the style and the forms of traditional flamenco, customs and experiences of the Andalusian people is my primary goal."

Tickets to Compañia Flamenca José Porcel at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2011 are $40, $35, and $30.

Tickets and subscriptions are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit fairfield.edu/quick .

Posted On: 10-25-2011 11:10 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 95