Press Release: Flamenco Festival, Sadler's Wells 1 - 15 March 2014

[Jan McNulty]

Flamenco Festival London 2014       
Sadler’s Wells, EC1R
Saturday 1 - Saturday 15 March
Tickets: £12 - £45
Ticket office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras: La Pepa – UK Premiere  
Miguel Poveda: In Concert – UK Premiere
Ángel Múñoz: From White to Black – UK Premiere
Belén Maya Company: Trasmín – UK Premiere
Marco Flores, Olga Pericet, Laura Rozalén, Mercedes Ruiz: Gala Flamenca: The Five Seasons – UK Premiere
Farruquito: Improvisao – UK Premiere

 

The annual Flamenco Festival returns to Sadler’s Wells for the 11th year from Saturday 1 – Saturday 15 March 2014, representing the varied styles of the celebrated art-form with performances from some of the world’s finest flamenco dancers and musicians.

This year’s Flamenco Festival opens with a UK premiere from Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras, led by Sara Baras, one of Spain’s most popular flamenco stars. Celebrated for her brilliant footwork and captivating stage presence, her works capture the emotion, drama and passion of traditional flamenco, with a vibrant contemporary edge. La Pepa is based on the history of her homeland Andalucía and features guest artist Jose Serrano, nine dancers and seven musicians.

 

Considered a genius in his native Spain, Catalan singer Miguel Poveda’s voice has no equal in the world of flamenco. He is accompanied by the dancer La Lupi, who demonstrates the percussive techniques through her hands, feet and body in a way that honours tradition while seeking innovation, resulting in a unique approach to the genre.

 

One of the top flamenco dancers of the next generation Ángel Múñoz presents the UK premiere of From White to Black, reflecting on contradictions that lie within himself, and within all of us, creating a dialogue between dancing bodies and music. Múñoz has worked with some of the biggest names in flamenco dance, from María Pagés to Paco Peña.

 

Other highlights of this year’s festival include Trasmín from Belén Maya Company (where the art of flamenco takes centre stage.) An encounter between Belén Maya and Manuel Liñán, two dancers from different generations are united by their love of dance and mutual admiration for one another. Belén Maya has performed to critical acclaim around the world, combining avant-garde ideas about dance with flawlessly smooth execution. Manuel Liñán is recognised as one of the most accomplished and innovative flamenco dancers of his generation.

 

The 2014 Gala Flamenca features some of the most exciting figures on the flamenco scene: Olga Pericet, one of the most influential artists of contemporary Spanish dance; Mercedes Ruiz, the top representative of the traditional style of her native region, Jerez; Marco Flores, one of the most innovative and technically astonishing dancer and choreographer in the flamenco world, and Laura Rozalén, who evokes the Sevillian school of the genre.

 

The two week festival concludes with the return of acclaimed flamenco performer Farruquito with his work Improvisao. A phenomenally popular artist, he is regarded as one of the most faithful representatives of flamenco puro.