Queens Theatre in the Park Presents Nelida Tirado Flamenco 11/28

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) in association with Mario A. Torres Productions (MATP) presents Nélida Tirado Flamenco: TOMAAA!!! on Friday, November 28, 2009 at 8pm in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. Tickets are $33 and are available at www.queenstheatre.org or by phone at 718-760-0064.

The passion and fury of flamenco is brought to life by Nélida Tirado Flamenco. Known for her intense grace and commanding style, and hailed as "magnificent" by The New York Times, Nélida Tirado has earned a worldwide reputation as a force to be reckoned with in flamenco. Tirado formerly trained with Ballet Hispanico and Spain has worked with Compania Maria Pages, Noche Flamenca, and featured in "Riverdance" on Broadway and Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" 2007. Come experience the music, the rhythm, and the fiery qualities of flamenco from the feet of a genius.

Dancers: Damaris Ferrer, Leslie Roybal, Alicia Flor de Campo, Rocio Sanchez.
Musicians: Pedro Cortes and Christian Puig (guitarists), Felix de Lola (singer)

There will be a post performance wine and cheese reception and Q&A, with wines generously donated by Casa de Vinos.

Nelida Tirado began her formal training at age six at Ballet Hispanico of NY where she trained in classical ballet, graham technique and classical spanish dance/flamenco. Her dance training led her to become a scholarship recipient, member of the apprentice company and receive yet another scholarship, The Tito Puente Scholarship. Barely out of her teens, she was immediately noticed and was invited to join Jose Molina Bailes Espanoles and toured the US for the next several years. She joined Carlota Santana's "Flamenco Vivo" company and was soloist, dance captain for several years. She was original member of the Metropolitan Opera's Spanish Ballet and performed in Franco Zeferelli's "Carmen at the Met and toured Japan. In 1997, she received an Artist in Residence grant from the New York Foundation of the Arts. Her desire to continue learning led her to Spain in 1997 where she immediately began studying and performing professionally with Juan Andres Maya in Granada. She was offered a scholarship with the "Fundacion Cristina Hereen" in Seville but instead, joined Compania Maria Pages where she was soloist and repetidora (dance captain) performing at major prestigious flamenco festivals within Spain and Spanish television such as the Bienal del Arte Flamenco, Festival de Jerez, Festival de Otono, Festival de la Guitarra in Cordoba and the Flamenco Festival USA .Shes performed nationally and internationally throughout France, Italy, Uk, Japan and Germany. In 2000, she was part of World Music Institute's "Gypsy Caravan 1" with Compania Antonio El Pipa. Clearly a successful dancer, she has had the opportunity to work with many of Spain's major flamenco artists such as Fernando Romero, Manolo Marin, Manuel Soler, Antonio Reyes, Juan Ogalla, Isabel Bayon, Manuel Linan, Pastora Galvan, Juan Manuel Canizares, Antonio Malena, La Tobala, and Marina Heredia. Upon arrival to the US, she worked with Noche Flamenca and was featured flamenco star in the highly acclaimed show Riverdance on Broadway and the show Jarocho touring Mexico and China. During the summer of 2005, she represented as a solo artist, Compania Maria Pages in The Aichi Expo in Japan. She was recently chosen to participate in The E-MOVES choreography showcase at Harlem Stage and presented her first solo concert June 2007 Flamenco Pa' Dos with guest artist David Paniagua at The Peter Jay Sharpe Theater at Symphony Space. Also an accomplished Latin dancer, she's also had the privilege of working with the late greats Tito Puente and Celia Cruz doing Tito Puentes 100th album tour, performing with Tito for President Bush in the Ford Theater and doing Orquesta de La Luz "Somos Diferente" video. Nelida, recently hailed as "magnificent" by The New York Times, is known for her intense grace, and powerful style. Ms. Tirado currently resides in NYC, was just awarded a grant from HarlemStage's Fund for New Work, received the 2007 BRIO award for artistic excellence from Bronx Council of the Arts and was featured as one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2007.

Tickets are available:
* Online at www.queenstheatre.org.
* By phone at 718-760-0064, Tue-Sat, 12-6pm.
* In person at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.

* Multi Show: Order any three or more shows and earn the multi show discount price. This discount is available for any show this season. There is no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase at this discount. If you are already a Theatre or Dance Subscriber or have purchased at least two shows this season, you have already earned this discount on additional ticket purchases.
* Groups: Contact group sales associate Barbara Matovu at 718-760-0064 x128 for groups of 15 or more.

Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.
By Subway: Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point stop. Exit and turn left after passing through turnstile, walk downstairs on the parking lot side and follow the theatre shuttle signs. Take free trolley to the Theatre. Trolley runs for one hour before and after all performances.
By Car: Take the Grand Central Parkway to exit 9E (from Manhattan) or 9P (from Long Island) and follow the signs for the Theatre. Free parking in adjacent lot.

About Queens Theatre in the Park
Queens Theatre in the Park is committed to presenting performing arts that provide audiences with the highest quality work. QTP also produces new plays, with a concentration on up-and-coming directors and playwrights. QTP has broadened the experience of its core audience to include works by under-recognized artists from around the world and works that tap into the diverse communities of Queens.

Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the New York State Pavilion designed for the 1964 World's Fair by Philip Johnson. The Pavilion was converted to a theatre in 1972 and was operated by various organizations until 1985. QTP was officially established in 1989 with the full support of the community and the Queens Borough President. After a $4 million renovation that brought full ADA compliance, the Theatre officially opened to the public in 1993 in a facility that allows it to stage productions equal to those of any Off-Broadway house in Manhattan in its 464-seat main stage theatre and its 99-seat studio theatre. What was then a small cabaret-style theater with an operating budget of under $500,000 has transformed itself into a major performing arts center with exhibition galleries with a projected operating budget of $3.9 million for FY2009.

QTP became an independent nonprofit in 1997. It is a member of the Cultural Institutions Group receiving support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Theatre presents and produces 300 performances annually. QTP serves 100,000 people annually who reflect the rich demographics of its community population. Currently 75% of the Theatre's constituency is from Queens. In addition to its own season, QTP frequently provides its space for use by community arts organizations and local promoters.

QTP has recently completed a $ 23 million physical transformation of the Theatre. This major capital investment has added a 75-seat cabaret performance space with a full service cafe and kitchen facility; created a dramatic new 3,000 square foot lobby/reception area; provided new visitor amenities and improved the facility's accessibility. These improvements have transformed Queens Theatre in the Park into a destination for the residents of the borough and beyond.

Queens Theatre in the Park events are made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Presented in association with Mario A. Torres Productions.

Sponsored by the American Express Cultural Heritage Series.

Funding is provided by The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Jerome Robbins Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and the New York Community Trust/Lila Acheson Wallace Fund for the Arts.

For more information, visit www.queenstheatre.org.