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In
1983, with Roberto Lorca, Carlota Santana founded the Spanish Dance Arts Company
now known as Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana. The Company was created with the
vision of developing a format where new Spanish dance and music could be created
and performed. Under Ms. Santana's direction, the company has expanded its
repertoire by presenting new music, dramatic works, and a mixture of various
dance vocabularies, as well as by integrating Hispanic-American influences.
Recent creations include Burlador (The Trickster), an innovative dance drama
based on tales of the legendary Don Juan; Bailes de Ida y Vuelta, a journey
through Latin America showing how flamenco has been influenced by Caribbean,
Latino and Afro-Latino sounds; Bailaor/Bailaora, a dazzling display of flamenco
styles; the contemporary flamenco story-ballet, Mano a Mano - a tribute to the
bullfighter Manolete; and Federico, a celebration of the life of Federico García
Lorca.
Carlota Santana was designated “The Keeper of Flamenco” by Dance Magazine
recognizing her commitment to creating new works and developing young artists
and choreographers. She has pledged the Company to the mission of building
bridges between cultures using the universal spirit of Flamenco.
Ms.
Santana began her career with the María Alba Spanish Dance Company and continued
performing in the U.S. as a soloist with José Molina, Roberto Cartagena, and
Rosario Galán. In Spain, she performed at the Tablao Arcos de Cuchilleros and
worked with such masters as Carmen Mora, Paco Fernández, La Tati, and Ciro.
Under a grant from the U.S.-Spain Joint Committee for Educational and Cultural
Exchange, Ms. Santana worked in Seville with the renowned artist Manuela
Carrasco. Her independent work has been most strongly influenced aesthetically
by her mentors María Alba in New York and Carmen Mora in Madrid.
Ms.
Santana created the company's innovative arts-in-education program, integrating
Spanish dance and culture with the school curriculum. The Company has also
created, in conjunction with Lincoln Center Institute, an arts education
performance piece entitled Inesperanza, as well as the popular Amigos Españoles,
a young person’s exciting journey through Spain.
Ms.
Santana is on the panel for the New York State Council on the Arts and has
served on the panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. She is on the
faculty of Duke University, has taught at Long Island and New York Universities.
Ms. Santana is a recent recipient of a Choreographer fellowship from the North
Carolina Arts Council and is a member of the Board of Directors of Arts North
Carolina.
Under her artistic direction, the company has performed at Lincoln Center, The
Joyce Theater, The New Victory Theater, Summerdance Santa Barbara, Carnegie
Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, Van Wezel
Performing Arts Center in Sarasota, Universidad Bucaramanga in South America,
Palacio de Congresos in Granada, Spain, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the
Museum of Modern Art among many, many others.
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Touring Programs 2008-2009-2010
El Corazón del Flamenco “The Heart of Flamenco”
From
renowned Flamenco master, Carlota Santana, comes El Corazón del Flamenco,
a rhythmic romp of flamenco palos (styles) revealing the soul of this
exciting traditional dance. Each style is steeped in a long and rich history,
revealed through the guitar rhythms, expert footwork, and colorful costumes.
Featuring
a synthesis of live music and dance, the program features a spectrum of Spanish
culture including cante jondo, songs of a heavy heart and lighter songs,
cante chico, with a unique look at the Latin influenced rhythms of the
Bailes de Ida and Vuelta.
The
heartbeat of flamenco is in the variation of its rhythms. From the solemn and
ritualistic Seguiriya, to the light and lively Alegrias, to the
uplifting, Carribean-flavored Guajiras, El Corazón del Flamenco
gives the audience a taste of the impressive range of flamenco palos.
Tour
dates available in Fall 2009
Flamenco
Vivo Carlota Santana:
Navidad Flamenca
“an infectiously
joyful celebration of music and dance” - The New York Times
Step
aside toy soldiers…the bullfighters have arrived! Away sugar plum fairies...give
them flamenco dancers! In Spain, it’s one big celebration! For the first time in
over a decade, Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana stages this glorious holiday
show- an exciting blend of dance and live music.
A
familiar sounding story but with a new set of characters- Friends and family
gather to eat and drink, dance and sing, to celebrate Christmas and the New Year
-- dancers sing and singers dance, recalling the folkloric fiesta of Flamenco,
rarely seen today by theater audiences.
Villancicos (Spanish language Christmas
Carols), Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) and other Hispanic traditions
make up this captivating program.
Fiesta Flamenca
Pride.
Sorrow. Love. Passion. Universal themes that touch and transcend the boundaries
of the many cultures in America. Through its purity of form, rhythms and
intensity, flamenco strikes primal chords in the emotions of audiences of all
ages, all cultures, all degrees of exposure to the arts.
Flamenco is considered worldwide to be one of the richest
expressions of folklore. It is inherently a multicultural art form. Originally
from Andalusia, the southern region of Spain, it developed from the interaction
of the many cultures that inhabited this region for centuries.
Traditional dances include the joyful Alegrias, with songs
that are light and carefree in spirit. The Tangos, one of the oldest and
most basic gypsy forms. The Soleres, the essence and root of flamenco,
with its themes of romantic tragedy, desolation and death. The flamenco party
frequently ends por Bulerias, with a “jam session” in which everyone
takes their turn to “show their stuff.”
Tour dates available in Spring
2010
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Please
contact Baylin Artists for full descriptions of
the following activities.
Fiesta
Flamenca -- Lecture Demonstration
This program is a wonderful blend of entertainment and education. The artists
- in full, colorful, traditional Flamenco costumes - perform and explain the
intricacies of Flamenco dance, song, and its rhythms. Participation from the
audience is essential. The
objectives of this program are: to show the origins of the
flamenco dance, song and music; to demonstrate and relate the relationships
between Spain and the Latin American cultures; and present a high quality,
entertaining multilingual program.
Children's/School
Performance
This
dynamic program highlights the rhythms and emotions of Flamenco.
Flamenco began in Southern Spain, and we bring to our educational
programs the essence of the different culture that influenced Flamenco:
Andalusian, Gypsy, North African, Arabic and Judaic.
Unlike other art forms, the traditional dances do not tell stories but
instead portray feelings. The
program consists of a series of solos, duets and company numbers.
Note:
This is a pure performance without explanation or audience participation.
Masterclasses
Flamenco
Vivo/Carlota Santana offers interactive classes for dance students of all
levels. Classes will focus on Flamenco techniques and increase the participant's
awareness and understanding of Flamenco dance.
These
classes are also appropriate for senior groups.
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Please
contact Baylin Artists for technical information.
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