Tuesday, August 28, 2012

World On Stage Presents A Palo Seco


                                                     
                                                                      World on Stage Presents:
                                         A Palo Seco
                                                                    9PM        
                                                  National Heritage Museum
                                                                  33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA
                                                                               781-861-6559

The artistic director and dancer, Rebeca Tomas, has been a solo dancer and company performer with such well known flamenco groups as Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenco, Flamenco Vivo Carlota. The New Yorker called her “Compact, spring-loaded, and finely trained”. Eva Yaa Assantewaa called her “she’s truly a well crafted explosive device” The New York Times said of her ” When she swept on stage…Ms Tomas was like a burst of springtime…”. Ms Rebeca Tomas’s formal flamenco training was with some of the best known flamenco teachers in Spain, initially in Granda and later at the famous Flamenco Academy Amor de Dios in Madrid. She has performed in various tablaos in Spain and extensively thruout the US.
The music director, Pedro Cortes, a third generation of family of Spanish Gypsy guitarists, is amongst the best flamenco guitarists on the US flamenco scene.. The Los Angeles Times called him “Dazzlingly deployed virtuosity paced like capriciciously gathering storm..” He uses the experience passed down to him by his Spanish flamenco family to maintain the purity of Flamenco while creating new and original compositions. He has toured with world famous flamenco groups from Spain like Jose Greco and Maria Benitez and has performed with such artists as Farruquita, La Tati, Manolete and late Lola Flores. He has two books on Flamenco, published by the American Guitar Institute. 

A Palo Seco Flamenco is blessed with the exceptional voice of David M. Castellano, who is easily one of the country’s top flamenco singers. His worldwide performances include musical venues and theatres in France, Mexico, India, Russia, Israel, and many others. His exceptional talent has led him to perform with such great artists such as Pilar Rioja (The Queen of Spanish Dance), Middle East pop fusion group Alabina, as well as television and commercial compositions. 

Jose Moreno, the dazzling pecussionist on Cajon for A Palo Seco, is a fixture in the New York and Miami flamenco scene. Born into a family of famous flamenco artists Estrella Morena (dancer) and Pepe de Malaga (singer), Jose started his flamenco career at an early age og 6 under the guidance of his parents. He has also studied with the great Manolete, Farroquito, and Andres Marin, and Cajon with Manuel Soler. Jose has performed with international acclaimed performed such as The Great Manolete, Joaquin Ruiz, Pastora Galvin, El Pecas, Jose Cortes, Isabel Pantoja, Omayra Omaya, and others. He has appeared at famous venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and at well known flamenco Festivals. 
In Barbara Martinez, Sol “La Argentina”, Marina Elana Scannell, and Rebeca Tomas, A Palo Seco Flamenco has some of the finest group of flamenco dancers in the US.

Barbara Martinez, hails from a family of artists from Venezuela and grew up in New York City. She began performing in opera, off-Broadway and film at age 10. Besides her fiery dancing, she is an exceptional flamenco singer and has performed in singular and both roles with famous flamenco companies. She has performed in jazz, world music, and flamenco festivals internationally and at such famous venues as Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. She also has her own own fusion group which has appeared at Carnegie Hall.
Sol “La Argentina” was born in Argentina and moved to the US. She has danced internationally in numerous tours and productions with the renouned Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenco, sharing the stage with figures like Soledad Barrio, Alejandro, and Alfonsa Losa. The New York Times said of her “Sol la Algentina harnessed the art form’s power with her seductively aggressive “Solea” in which her elegant carriage provided space for tension and relief…”
Marina began her training in ballet at a very young age and delved into flamenco soon afterward. She studied flamenco in Spain in Seville and Madrid with Yolanda Heredia, Rosario Toledo, Concha Jareno and Maria Juncal. She has appeared in world famous flamenco companies, including Maria Benitez’s Teatro Flamenco and La Monica’s Pasion Flamenco.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Flamenco at Art in the Park, Natick, MA

On Sunday September 2nd, join Eve Costarelli and Antonio Tiriti, and a host of flamenco dancers and other musicians for a fun, free Flamenco event!

Art in the Park
Shaw Park (intersection of Rte 16 and Union Street in South Natick, MA)
12:00-1:30PM
Free and open to the public
Plenty of free parking


The event features local artists, businesses and performers.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Flamenco and Yoga classes with Eve Costarelli 2012-2013



Family Yoga (grades k-4) (Mondays 3:30-4:30/Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA ):
·         Bring your whole family to yoga and practice together! This class presents an opportunity to bond within your family and the community. Family Yoga includes postures, breathing techniques and meditation for the whole family, including age- appropriate variations to accommodate all of the students in the class. Bring anyone you love and have fun! All yogis age 5 and up are welcome in this class.

Yoga for the Young Athlete…and all ambitious kids! (grades 5-12) (Mondays 4:30-5:30Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA)
·         Yoga is the perfect complement to competitive activities as it promotes flexibility, strength, friendliness and equanimity.  Students will learn yoga postures to work the body, breathing techniques to increase the flow of oxygen to the body’s tissues and meditation to calm the mind.
Performance can be improved with yoga:
o   Stablizes autonomic nervous system equilibrium
o   Respiratory efficiency increases
o   Joint range of motion increase
o   Eye-hand coordination improves
o   Balance improves
o   Dexterity skills improve
o   Reaction time improves
o   Posture improves
o   Kinesthetic awareness increase
o   Mood improves
o   Anxiety and Depression decrease
o   Hostility decreases
o   Concentration improves

Veteran’s Yoga (Mondays 6:00-7:30/Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA )
·         This yoga class is free for all veterans, family members and providers. This class focuses on the specific needs of veterans. Experience the benefits of yoga to relieve stress, recover from trauma, focus the mind and heal the body. All veterans welcome regardless of age or physical ability. No previous yoga experience is necessary. Mats and props are provided. Please wear comfortable clothing and avoid eating at least one hour before class.


Youth Flamenco (Beginner) (Wednesday 4:00-5:00PM/Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave Cambridge, MA; Thursday 3:30-4:30PM/Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA)
·         Children I (BEGINNER), kids ages 7 to 11
The class is designed for children aged 7 to 11 with zero to 1 year of flamenco dance experience.  This class includes basic technique of flamenco dance that includes correct posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. The student will become familiar with basic flamenco vocabulary. The course will include exercises that will develop the clarity of the students’ footwork, develop their upper-body to lower-body coordination. Basic castanet playing exercises are practiced. Repertoire will be taught. Required attire:  leotard or fitted top, castanets, flamenco shoes and skirt for girls. Castanets and flamenco boots for boys.

Youth Flamenco (Intermediate) (Wednesday 5:00-6:00PM/Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave Cambridge, MA)
·         Children II (Intermediate), kids ages 7 to 11
The class is designed for children aged 7 to 11 with at least 1 year of flamenco dance experience.  This class offers Flamenco technique to improve posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. Exercises that will improve clarity of the students’ footwork, upper-body to lower-body coordination as well as stamina and endurance are included. Medium to complex footwork and choreographic variations are taught. Required attire:  leotard or fitted top, castanets, flamenco shoes and skirt for girls. Castanets and flamenco boots for boys.

Youth Flamenco (Intermediate/Advanced) (Thursday 4:30-6:00PM/Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA)
·         Flamenco II/Teens and Adults (12 years of age minimum)
Two to four years of dance experience required. This class offers Flamenco technique to improve posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. Exercises that will improve clarity of the students’ footwork, upper-body to lower-body coordination as well as stamina and endurance are included. Medium to complex footwork and choreographic variations are taught. This class will include elements of yoga to understand the flamenco body.
Required Attire: Flamenco shoes, flamenco skirt, leotard or fitted top, castanets. Other dance accessories may be required such as Spanish hat, mantĂ³n and fan,  when necessary.

Adult Flamenco (Beginner/Advanced Beginner) (Friday 10:00-11:30AM/Edwards Hall/Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA)
Flamenco I/Teens and Adults
The class is designed for teens, at least 12 years old, and adults of ALL AGES.  This class includes basic technique of flamenco dance to include correct posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. The student will become familiar with basic flamenco vocabulary. The course will include exercises that will develop the clarity of the students’ footwork, develop their upper-body to lower-body coordination. Basic castanet playing exercises are practiced. Repertoire will be taught . This class will include elements of yoga to understand the flamenco body.Required Attire:  leotard or fitted top, castanets, flamenco shoes and skirt for women. Castanets and flamenco boots for men.