World Premiere of Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca's ANTIGONA Set for UW World Series This Weekend

In October, the UW World Series will present the world premiere of Antigona, a new work by Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca. Hailed by critics everywhere for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances, Noche Flamenca is one of the most authentic flamenco companies in the world today, and Soledad Barrio is its star. Now, in a unique creative partnership, this remarkable company joins with acclaimed American theater director Lee Breuer to create a new work, Antigona, based on Sophocles' ancient Greek heroine. Combining live music, song, and dance, Noche Flamenca's Antigona will bring the fiery, expressive nature of flamenco to one of the world's great tragedies in an evening-length work that promises to be both gripping and intensely moving. The work is conceived and directed by Martín Santangelo with choreography by Soledad Barrio, consulting direction by Lee Breuer, and visual and mask design by Mary Frank.

Antigona will be performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Noche Flamenca's Antigona opens today, October 23 and runs through October 25, 2014 at Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus. Curtain is 8pm. For tickets, visit uwworldseries.org or call 206-543-4880.

About Antigona - The idea to create a flamenco interpretation of the text and themes in Sophocles' classic play began when Noche Flamenca's Artistic Director Martín Santangelo encountered the Living Theatre's production of Antigone, and was struck by the battle between an individual, disenfranchised woman and the authority of the state and its patriarchy. The idea resurfaced in 2010 when Judge Baltasar Garzon was suspended from the Spanish court for his efforts to publicly honor those who fought against Franco, allowing families to bury their relatives previously left in mass graves. This breach of democracy struck Santangelo as similar to the conflict in Antigone, confirming his belief that the story is alive and relevant today. At its heart however, the story of Antigone resonates with the roots of flamenco, which is based not in any one culture or religion but on the strength of family. Antigone's story is her humanity and her quest to bury her brother regardless of the circumstances.

In collaboration with his wife and principal dancer, Soledad Barrio, who plays the role of Antigona, Santangelo began the development process for Antigona in 2012, working with the company in Spain for five weeks over the summer. Since that time rehearsals and workshops have taken place at the company's New York City studio, in San Juan Bautista at El Teatro Campesino, and at the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center. The final development phase will take place with the company in residence at the University of Washington in Seattle, prior to the world premiere with the UW World Series at Meany Hall.

Commenting on the UW residency, UW World Series Artistic Director Michelle Witt stated, "This project is a step towards the the realization of a new initiative to actively support the creative process of leading international artists, working across creative disciplines." One of the most exciting aspects of this project has been the opportunity to work with artists from outside the dance world who are exemplary in their own fields, including theater director Lee Breuer and visual artist Mary Frank. Santangelo believes strongly that collaborating has expanded his perspectives on developing theater and dance.

The themes in the work include catharsis, issues of dictatorship, repression, loss, the strength of family and female empowerment; strong themes not only in Sophocles but also in flamenco, all of which Barrio, in particular, is keenly aware of. Her mother's family lived through the dictatorship of Franco's Spain, surviving desperate hunger and civil war, yet proved themselves to be far stronger than their male counterparts. Barrio grew up with all of this in her blood and as one of the most powerful artists living today, in any genre, is ideally positioned to embody all of this in her performance. Antigone was the first feminine heroine written for the stage. She was not afraid to show her strength, her pain, and her passion, all attributes that are deep at the heart of flamenco.

About Noche Flamenca - Under the direction of Martín Santangelo, the award- winning Noche Flamenca has become Spain's most successful touring company. Formed in 1993 by Santangelo and his Bessie award-winning wife, Soledad Barrio, the company regularly tours throughout the globe. Performance highlights around the globe include regular seasons in New York City and Buenos Aires, performances in Greece and Egypt, annual tours to North America, and the company's 2002 and 2009 tours to Australia.??Hailed by critics everywhere for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances, Noche Flamenca is recognized as the most authentic flamenco touring company in the field today. Santangelo has successfully brought to the stage the essence, purity, and integrity of one of the world's most complex and mysterious art forms without the use of tricks or gimmicks. All aspects of flamenco - dance, song and music - are interrelated and given equal weight in the presentations of Noche Flamenca, creating a true communal spirit within the company - the very heart and soul of flamenco.??In support of its mission to educate and enlighten audiences about flamenco, the company offers extensive residency programs that reach out to people of all ages. With company members based in Spain, Noche Flamenca is registered as a US not-for-profit with its office and representation based in New York City. Noche Flamenca's artistic integrity has been recognized with awards from the National Dance Project (2006), the National Endowment for the Arts (2007 & 2008), and the Lucille Lortel Award for Special Theatrical Experience (2003), among others.

Creative Team

Martín Santangelo (Artistic Director & Producer) founded Noche Flamenca. He studied with Ciro, Paco Romero, El Guito, Manolete and Alejandro Granados. He has performed throughout Spain, Japan and North and South America, appearing with Maria Benitez's Teatro Flamenco, the Lincoln Center Festival of the Arts and Paco Romero's Ballet Espanol. He also appeared in Julie Taymor's Juan Darien at Lincoln Center. He choreographed and performed in Eduardo Machado's Deep Song, directed by Lynne Taylor- Corbett. He choreographed a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Denver Theater Center. He has directed and choreographed Bodas de Sangre, The Lower Depths, La Celestina, A Streetcar Named Desire, amongst many other productions in Spain and Buenos Aires. He has collaborated with many, many artists, but his most fulfilling collaboration has been with his wife, Soledad Barrio and his two wild daughters, Gabriela and Stella.

Soledad Barrio (Choreographer & Dancer) was born in Madrid. She has appeared as soloist with Manuela Vargas, Blanca del Rey, Luisillo, El Guito, Manolete, Cristobal Reyes, and El Toleo, Ballet Espanol de Paco Romero, Festival Flamenco and many other companies. She has performed throughout Europe, Japan and North and South America with such artists as Alejandro Granados, El Torombo, Isabel Bayón, Jesus Torres, Miguel Perez, Belen Maya, Manolo Marin, Javier Barón, Merce Esmeralda, Rafael Campallo, and Belen Maya, among others. She has won awards from over 15 different countries for her excellence in dance. She recently received a "Bessie" award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. She is a founding member of Noche Flamenca.

Lee Breuer (Consulting Director) is a director, writer, lyricist and founding member of Mabou Mines. Lee is best known for The Lost Ones (Beckett), The Gospel at Colonus (after Sophocles) with Morgan Freeman, Peter and Wendy with Karen Kandel, and Mabou Mines' DollHouse (Ibsen) with Maude Mitchell. He is a MacArthur Fellow, a Bunting and Guggenheim Fellow, a Chevalier de France and a Pulitzer, Tony, Grammy and Emmy nominee and has been awarded an Obie for Sustained Achievement.

Mary Frank (Visual Artist & Mask Designer) is a Guggenheim and Lee Krasner award-winning visual artist who was elected to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 1984. She has works in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Art at the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, the Arts Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Art at Yale University and the Jewish Museum. She has produced many paintings and works in other media, especially printmaking, which are in New York's Whitney Museum and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, among others.

Related Events

Pre-show lecture with Ruby Blondell, Professor of Classics (Adjunct in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies), University of Washington. Join us before the show with Professor Blondell to discuss Antigone and its relation to flamenco for this world premiere production. Each night from 6:45-7:30pm in Meany Hall. Ticket to performance required for entry.

Post-show Q & A with Noche Flamenca Artistic Director Martín Santangelo. Each night following the performance.

About UW World Series - The UW World Series is one of Seattle's leading performing arts organizations, presenting innovative, provocative, and diverse international artists in music, theater and dance. Over 500 visiting artists from around the world have performed as part of the UWWS. The eclectic mix of programming has given Northwest audiences a broad view of the world of performing arts, from sampling unique cultural traditions to experiencing innovative new works that expand the scope and direction of contemporary performing arts. The UW World Series' mission includes supporting the educational goals of the University of Washington by providing extensive arts learning opportunities for UW students and faculty, area school children and teachers, and members of the community at large.

Purchase tickets: Call 206-543-4880, or order online at uwworldseries.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the ArtsUW Ticket Office, located at 1313 NE 41st. Or fax your order to the Ticket Office at 206-685-4141. Tickets are subject to availability. Artists, dates, programs and prices are subject to change. Prices: Regular single tickets are $47-$52. Discounts are available for students, seniors (65+), UW Alumni Association members and UW employees. UW student tickets start at $10. Discount tickets are subject to availability.

Location and parking: Meany Hall is located on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington, on 15th Avenue NE between NE 40th and 41st Streets. Parking for Meany Hall is available in the Central Parking Garage (entrance at 15th Avenue and 41st Street). On-street metered parking is also available.

Accessibility: The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu. Disability seating with up to three companion seats per disability space is available for all UWWS events. Reservations for disability seating must be made at the time of purchase. Please contact the ArtsUW Ticket Office at 206-543-4880 for specific seating options and availability.