#DanceWeekend19 is 39 days away and today we are featuring Ritmo Flamenco Dance and Music Ensemble.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Ritmo-Flamenco-710507155755368/about/?ref=page_internal
https://www.facebook.com/Anjelica-Scannura-201775259916444/
https://twitter.com/ritmotoronto
Can you tell us little bit about your company/collective/school?
The Ritmo Flamenco Dance and Music Ensemble was formed in 1995 by Valerie Scannura (Artistic Director, choreographer) and Roger Scannura (Music Director, flamenco guitarist). Their daughter, Anjelica Scannura is Co-Artistic Director and is an award-winning choreographer and dancer.
Since its inception, they have enthralled audiences in music and dance festivals worldwide. The company strives to create original concepts woven seamlessly into their productions with artists they have mentored, while continually going to the source by travelling to Spain. They have garnered a strong reputation for their authentic brand of flamenco that is bred in the bone, ensuring their presentations are marked with the Scannura’s outstanding level of excellence. Valerie directs the school in their Toronto studio in the stockyards, Roger is a professor of music at York University and Anjelica is involved in outreach in various areas of Ontario as well as teaching workshops throughout the world.
What are showing at DanceWeekend’19?
For this year’s Dance Weekend, we are presenting a new work ‘El Flamenco’ exploring the roots of café cantantes and tablao performances. The Gitanos used to earn a living by performing high energy improvisational shows for private parties. ‘El Flamenco’ glorifies the raucous abandon that the gitanos portray as well as the soulful artistry and intangible essence of pure flamenco.
Who are the performers/collaborators in this piece(s)?
The choreography and lead dancer is Anjelica Scannura. Other dancers are Valerie Scannura, Sachi Uguccioni and the music is directed by composer, flamenco guitarist Roger Scannura. There will be a couple of other musicians performing: Michael Murray ( guitar) and Saikha Baig (percussion).
Can you talk about your creative process? What inspires you?
The creative process involves me and my family getting together and talking about what we would like to do next. Since we have been working together our whole lives, it is an easy, and natural process. We just decide what shape the work takes in terms of other dancers or musicians we would like to add. Reading and sourcing out materials about certain dancers from the past can trigger one main idea that I can focus on as flamenco is very much about the people that came before you. I like to pay respect to certain icons of flamenco while incorporating contemporary movement into my pure, traditional passages to keep things fresh. What makes art unique is the ability to forge your own path and listen to your heart.
Please share your experience performing in a previous DanceWeekend and/or tell us what you are looking forward to at DanceWeekend’19?
Ritmo Flamenco has been performing in Dance Weekend since 1998. It is a great dance series to be a part of because the venue is the Fleck Dance Theatre and Dance Ontario is a great organization to represent. This showcase is unique in both concept and execution and dancers of all genres and ages perform together in the same forum. It is also a great audience to perform for and we always feel gratified for having taken part.
What is one surprising or interesting fact about your company/collective/school?
A cool fact is that Anjelica Scannura is also an established actor, having just released the feature film “Little Italy” starring Hayden Christensen and Emma Roberts. She also is a stand- up comedian and will be traveling to New York City and Los Angeles in 2019 to perform in various comedy clubs.
Do you have any up-coming performances/events you would like to share?
Ritmo Flamenco will be performing in the Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover, ON on February 2, 2019 at 8:00pm. They will be doing an entire evening of works from their repertoire.