Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company presents the world premiere of

De Idas y Vueltas

Choreographed by Esmeralda Enrique, El Junco and Javier Latorre

The acclaimed Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company (EESDC) proudly presents the world premiere of De Idas y Vueltas featuring new choreography by Javier Latorre, recipient of three Spanish national dance awards, Artistic Director Esmeralda Enrique and El Junco, returning guest artist from Spain who earned a Dora nomination for Outstanding Performance for his appearance in EESDC’s Portales last season.  De Idas y Vueltas is an evening of dazzling flamenco dance and music that celebrates the Latin American songs that have been integrated into flamenco. It runs April 24-27 as part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextStepsdance seriesat Fleck Dance Theatre, a fitting wrap for Hispanic Heritage Month.

De Idas y Vueltas uses the transmigrations of Spaniards to the Americas to explore how things come and go in all of our lives; sometimes returning forever altered and other times, never returning at all.

“Our presentations seek to promote a better understanding of Spanish history, culture and ideas, while illustrating its complexities and inclusiveness,” says Artistic Director Esmeralda Enrique. The Latin American songs used in flamenco speak of the nostalgia of the immigrant. ‘De ida y vuelta’ refers to those songs which, through migrations of people from Spain to the Americas and from the Americas back to Spain, became imbued with a flamenco accent.“

The three inseparable ingredients in a flamenco performance are music, song and dance.  For De Idas y Vueltas, Enrique brings together a brilliant combination of flamencos from Spain and Canada with spectacular results.

The exceptional Javier Latorre (awarded Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco for choreography and former soloist with the National Ballet of Spain under the direction of Antonio Gades) brings his dynamic artistry in a lush and vivid choreography to open the evening.

El Junco (Juan José Jaén Arroyo) of Cádiz, who was a soloist with Compañía Christiana Hoyos, returns for his second season as a featured guest dancer and choreographer. His vibrant and virtuosic prowess highlights the earthy essence of flamenco for a scorching chemistry with the talented EESDC ensemble of dancers: Pamela Briz, Paloma Cortés, Ilse Gudiño, Noelia La Morocha and Esmeralda Enrique herself.

Watch a short video featuring El Junco with EESDC from last season’s Portales:
http:vimeo.com/88077957           (El Junco)
http://vimeo.com/88077961       (El Junco on the left at the start with the company)

Óscar Lago (Cádiz) joins the company for the fifth time as lead guitarist and is music director for this production. Along with with long-time EESDC guitarist Nicolás Hernández, Lago was nominated for Dora Awards for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition for Portales (2013) andAguas/Waters (2012). Toronto guitarist Benjamin Barrile, who has been playing with EESDC for numerous recent engagements, will be the second guitarist.

EESDC is equally honoured to again welcome singer Manuel Soto (of Jerez) who returns for his fourth season, joined this year by Matías López (of Barcelona), a fresh new Spanish vocal talent. Adding the remaining flavour to the music are returnees Chris Church (violin) and Rosendo “Chendy” León (percussion). Together, they express the depth of emotions portrayed in flamenco song with their intuitive, nuanced rhythms.

Flamenco, an art form like no other, speaks to the heart and touches the soul. EESDC’s talented company of musicians, singers and commanding dancers deliver the power of this expressive art with elegance and passion; never failing to mesmerize audiences, eliciting shouts of “ole” and standing ovations at each performance.

The award-winning Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company was founded in 1982 under the artistic direction of Esmeralda Enrique. Rooted in flamenco and Spanish classical dance, EESDC presents a style that holds both a classic and contemporary aesthetic in perfect balance while maintaining the values of traditional flamenco singing, dance and music.  The Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company has been presenting an annual Toronto season since 1990. It has developed an ever-expanding repertoire that has earned both critical and popular acclaim. With unique, talented dancers and musicians from Canada and regular guest artists from Spain, the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company is recognized for the exceptional level of its productions, receiving two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in addition to numerous nominations over the years (14 and counting). Esmeralda Enrique is one of the most celebrated flamenco dance artists in Canada; she reveals in her work a total mastery and love of this unique art form. EESDC enthralls audiences with its imaginative choreography and artistic excellence while bringing to life the contagious excitement and full breadth of feeling that this passionate art delivers.

 “an exhilarating two hours of intense power and sensuality…  beautifully self-possessed virtuosity of both voice and movement “ – David Bateman, Bateman Reviews Blog (about Portales, 2013)

“Fine fiery flamenco…  a hands-down winner… The musicians are first-rate…  A class act from start to finish.”
– Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail (about Aguas / Waters, 2012 

“Terrific. The dancing, the music, the singing…”
– Michael Crabb, CBC Radio (about Espejo de Oro / Mirror of Gold, 2011)

Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company presents the world premiere of De Idas y Vueltas
part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps
Choreographed by: Esmeralda Enrique and special guest artists from Spain, El Junco  and Javier Latorre
Dancers: Pamela Briz, Paloma Cortés, Esmeralda Enrique, Ilse Gudiño, Noelia La Morocha, El Junco
Musicians: Music DirectorÓscar Lago (guitar),
Benjamin Barrile (guitar), Chris Church (violin), Rosendo “Chendy” León (percussion)
Singers: Manuel Soto, Matías López
Lighting Design: Sharon DiGenova
Video Design:  Bryan Díaz
Costumes: Mary Janeiro, Esmeralda Enrique

Thursday April 24-Sunday April 27, 2014
Thursday to Saturday at 8PM; Sunday at 3PM  (with a talkback with the artists after Fri. performance)
Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, 3^rd floor.
Tickets: $29-$45 ($23-30 for students, seniors, CADA, and groups)
Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000 OR online at http://www.flamencos.net

Practical new tools and resources for volunteer Board development across Ontario

Monday, March 31, 2014
CSI Regent Park, 585 Dundas Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON
Presented by OAAG in conjunction with Maytree and CPAMO

Registration OAAG Member $75 | General $85
To register, fill in this Registration Form (Word doc) or this Registration Form (PDF)
or, email communications@oaag.org or call (416) 598-0714.

Maytree invests in leaders to build a Canada that can benefit from the skills, experience and energy of all people. Our policy insights promote equity and prosperity. Our programs and grants create diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom, the media and in public office, changing the face of leadership in our country. Maytree Foundation

Workshop Leaders
Charles Smith, Project Lead, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO)
Cathy Winter, Manager, DiverseCity OnBoard, Maytree
Veronica Quach, Assistant Director, Ontario Association of Art Galleries

Maytree Foundation has pointed out that there is a significant diversity gap at levels of executive leadership and Board levels across many sectors in Ontario. This includes Ontario’s public art galleries. Join us for this important and timely opportunity to talk about Board governance, leadership and change management in Ontario’s public art galleries!

This workshop is part of OAAG’s Diversity and Leadership Project, funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Your fee includes a hard copy of the CPAMO Toolkit: Evidence-based Strategies to Promote Pluralism in the Arts and Maytree Foundation’s toolkit Diversity in Governance: A Toolkit for Nonprofit Boards.

Content

CHARLES SMITH CPAMO

• Examine Ontario-based artists, arts organizations, presenters, associations and other members who committed to advancing cultural pluralism in the arts.
• How to successfully integrate culturally diverse values and principles in operations, planning, audience development, marketing, programming and decision-making processes.
• Look into the CPAMO Toolkit: Evidence-based Strategies to Promote Pluralism in the Arts and how it can be applied in the public art gallery sector in Ontario.

CATHY WINTER MAYTREE

• Provide comprehensive tools and good ideas for executive directors, board chairs, and board directors, particularly in the nonprofit sector, for increasing diversity on their organizations’ boards of governance.
• Share the ideas and success of DiverseCity onBoard, a project of the Maytree Foundation, which aims to transform the leadership landscape by connecting qualified candidates from minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors.
• Give participants the opportunity to reflect on the current composition of their own board and strategize on ways to make it more representative of the community it serves.
• Demonstrate the use of Maytree Foundation’s toolkit Diversity in Governance: A Toolkit for Nonprofit Boards.

VERONICA QUACH OAAG’S DIVERSITY-THROUGH-MENTORING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

• OAAG is creating opportunities for six culturally diverse arts professionals to design their own mentoring relationships with senior arts managers to help them accelerate their transition into leadership positions in public art galleries across Ontario. Veronica Quach will review the timeline for calls for participation from potential mentors and mentorees.

Learning Objectives

• Improve decision-making by engaging diverse perspectives.
• Legitimize the mandate of the organization for the whole community.
• Build social capital and cohesion among diverse populations.
• Become more responsive to the community and clients.
• Support fundraising, marketing and reaching out to your markets more effectively.

You may be eligible for a bursary which helps to cover transportation and other costs: http://www.museums.ca/Services/Bursaries/?n=14-100

Special thanks to Maytree, CPAMO, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Thanks to PACART.