Los Gitanos presents The Phoenix, Flamenco Fire next weekend!
Los Gitanos Flamenco Dance Company will be presenting The Phoenix, Flamenco Fire at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre next weekend.
The show is an explosive blend of dance, live painting, and music, an experience not easily found in a sleepy residential neighborhood like Tsawwassen.
Bev Montavani and her partners rehearse for the show at Montavani’s studio. Photograph by SUBMITTED PHOTO
Performances start at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 3.
“I am very excited to have partnered this year with so many talented artists in our community which allowed us to fuse our seemingly different styles into one incredible performance,” said Bev Mantovani, owner, and choreographer of Los Gitanos Spanish School of Dance in Tsawwassen.
“This show allowed the perfect opportunity to combine our different talents into one unique flamenco presentation. You won’t even find this in Spain.”
The audience will witness the development of live painting as it is created to the sounds of Spanish guitar, soulful songs, rhythmic palmas and castanets, intricate zapateo (footwork), compelling piano and violin, and the warmth of percussion.
Garett Campbell-Wilson rehearsing the layout for his live painting performance with Montavani. Photograph by SUBMITTED PHOTO
“Garett Campbell-Wilson is a young, curious, and extremely talented artist who loves to find ways to progressively take his work to a new level,” explained Mantovani. “He has tried live painting before to violin music but not flamenco dance; he instantly accepted the challenge. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him and I can’t wait to see what he will develop during our performance.”
One of the songs at the performance called “Poeta” by Spanish flamenco composer Vicente Amigo has been recorded by the students of the Delta Community Music School led by Stephen Robb. The second part of the song will be played live by Robb and one of the violinists at the music school.
“A few years ago, we partnered with Stephen and his students and we fused classical music with flamenco and the result was amazing,” added Mantovani.
“Stephen is such a professional musician, I look forward to every time we have the opportunity to collaborate.”
Other partners in this performance include local musician and percussionist Dave McIlory.
“You would think Dave was born playing the Cajon, this special box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru. He has such an incredible sense of rhythm and deep understanding of music,” said Mantovani.
Three well-known and talented artists from the flamenco scene in Vancouver and long-time associates of Los Gitanos are “cantaora” (singer) Jafelin Heltin, guitarist Peter Mole and teacher Oscar Nieto.
“I cannot imagine doing a show without them,” explained Mantovani. “They are the best in the business.
Their knowledge, years of experience, and love of this genre are a gift to our audience who sometimes are not very familiar with their art form.”
The annual performance is sponsored by Northern Building Supplies and Vancity.
Tickets cost $25 and are available by calling 604948-8081 or emailing info@ losgitanos.ca.
Click here to read the original article published in the Delta Optimist on Thu., May 25, 2012
About Garett Campbell-Wilson
Garett Campbell-Wilson is a creative strategist and digital marketer, sharing his expertise and experience in art and technology to help businesses thrive. As an artist at @gcamwilstudio and marketing consultant at @cerebrummg, he explores the powerful connection between creativity and business success.
Find Me On Social Media
Keep in touch with me through social media! You can follow me and send me a direct message on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any business-related questions, feel free to email me at garett@cerebrummarketinggroup.com.