Festive Flamenco for the holidays at HACC's Rose Lehrman Arts Center
Nov. 25, 2008
Harrisburg, PA — New York City-based Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana celebrates family, friends and the folkloric traditions of Flamenco with two holiday shows at HACC.
The dance company will present its festive “Navidad Flamenca” on stage at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 4-5 in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center theatre on HACC’s Harrisburg Campus.
With choreography by Clara Mora and music by David Serva, The New York Times calls the show “an infectiously joyful celebration of music and dance.” Villancicos (Spanish Christmas Carols), Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) and other Hispanic traditions are featured in this captivating program.
Act I of Navidad Flamenca opens on a scene where family members are preparing for a Hoilday Fiesta. Traditionally, in many countries, carolers will go from house to house serenading. Here our "carolers" go from house to house asking for some goodies to celebrate the holiday (all done in fun). Songs in Spanish might sound similar to English carols but there are Spanish language favorites such as “Los Peces en el Rio,”“Campanilleros” (from the sound of little bells-campanas), and “Campana Sobre Campana.”Each Latin American country has its favorite native instruments, which are added to the traditional Spanish carols, or villancicos. In Andalucia (the home of flamenco), flamenco rhythms have been added to the carols and many of them have the rhythm of Tangos--a happy 4/4 beat. If you listen closely you might also hear the strains of Mexican folk music or Argentinan Tango, as extended families from all over get together to celebrate the Fiesta. Act II of the program features a variety of flamenco dances.
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana was founded in 1983 by Roberto Lorca and Carlota Santana with the mission of breaking boundaries between cultures using the universal spirit of flamenco. Since Lorca’s untimely death in 1987, the company has flourished under the direction of Santana, who has actively encouraged creativity and innovation in her young dancers, choreographers and musicians, all the while maintaining high artistic standards and staying faithful to flamenco’s powerful traditions. together the local traditional and newer Hispanic communities. Yearly arts education, performances and dance classes enrich and inspire audiences.
In 1996 the Company established a second home in North Carolina where they bring together the local traditional and newer Hispanic communities. Yearly arts education, performances and dance classes enrich and inspire audiences.
Pre-show events include a free pre-show dance demonstration at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 by local Flamenco group Aqui y Ahora. A flamenco master class led by members of Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center. Registration required is for the master class – call 780-2545. Master class cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students (ages 12+).
Show sponsor is the Hershey Trust Company. Media sponsors are Susquehanna Style Magazine and WITF-TV.Ticket prices for the show are $35 adults, $33 seniors and $24 students. For more information, call 231-ROSE (7673) or go to www.LiveatRoseLehrman.org.
