27 days left until DanceWeekend!
For today’s countdown we are featuring Elena la Comadre director for Arte Flamenco! Don’t miss DanceWeekend Film Screening happening Friday July 15 at 7pm. Get your tickets now: https://danceweekend22.eventbrite.ca
TW: @arteflamenco_TO
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself/your company?
In 1990 ꜟArte Flamenco! was formed to represent Spain during the CNE’s exhibit Say Si to Spain. The school counterpart of ꜟArte Flamenco! was established several years later.
Artistic director of ꜟArte Flamenco! is Elena la Comadre. From its conception, her goal was to present Flamenco dance works keeping in the style of traditional Flamenco.
In the late 90’s, ꜟArte Flamenco! embraced the idea of Flamenco dance theatre –storytelling using dance, cante, guitar, and poetry. Profound themes that were rooted in human experiences.
The mid years of 2000 marked a transition for ꜟArte Flamenco! With the passing of singer/guitarist Cesar Alvarez, la Comadre placed more emphasis on the school and from 2008 to 2019 the school presented annual concerts with tremendous success. And then there was Covid!
Like so many dance teachers/directors, the isolation years 2020 and 2021 of Covid compelled Elena la Comadre to find new ways of reaching dancers and students that involved no contact. And in doing so it led her to rediscover herself as dancer who was now much older, more wounded and unwilling at first to embark on this journey.
What will you be sharing at DanceWeekend’22?
Film – entitled Betrayed – a Flamenco portrayal of the character Medea from Greek Mythology written by Euripides
Do you have any up-coming performances/workshops/events you would like to share?
Due to the continuing current Covid pandemic – not knowing whether one is coming or going, safety for dancers and students is paramount. Nevertheless improvisational dance pieces as we are still navigating through Covid are uploaded on to our website – https://www.arteflamenco.com/rough-cuts. I am also in the process of creating Flamenco Fragments on the school page which will allow students of all levels to present mini performances in a safe setting.