'Soul Encounters: Flamenco Meets Jazz' Comes to the Alden, 5/11

The shared heritage of jazz music and flamenco dance will be explored at a special, one-night performance of Furia Flamenca's new work "Soul Encounters: Flamenco Meets Jazz." The show will be held at The Alden in McLean at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Tickets are $25/$18 for MCC tax district residents. The theatre is located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

"Soul Encounters" explores the common souls of pure flamenco and pure jazz music and intersects them in New World style. Both arising from the pain of oppression and joy of life, both passionate and emotional art forms, the production explores flamenco's and jazz's origins with gypsies in Spain and slaves in America, celebrating their differences, then fusing old and new worlds as one. "Soul Encounters," which premiered at a local venue earlier this year, has been expanded into a full, evening-length work and features live performances by jazz and flamenco ensembles.

DC's own Furia Flamenca expresses the ferocity and passion of flamenco in a unique style that combines the dance form's gypsy heritage with modern flamenco choreography, creating an elegant balance of motion and energy that makes the group's performances enthralling and entertaining. Founded by director Estela Velez in 2003, the company has taken the best elements of its dancers' backgrounds (flamenco, ballet, Middle Eastern, modern and tap, to name a few) and melded them into a sumptuous feast for the eyes, ears and heart. The company is a Resident Arts Partner with the Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets can be purchased in person at the Alden Theatre Box Office, or online at www.aldentheatre.org. For more information, call 703-790-0123, TTY: 711.