Fanny Ara News

Spontaneous, authentic and commanding -- raw emotion is on tap this Saturday when the original contemporary flamenco production EL RETO 'THE CHALLENGE' presents a line-up of artists from the heartland of France, Spain, Israel, Cuba and Los Angeles for one night only show at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 8:00pm.

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos are delighted to announce the revival of one of their most popular programs, Canciones, featuring flamenco dance set to traditional and popular songs. Guest artists Marina Elana, Manuel Gutierrez and Jesus Montoya join the ensemble in interpretations of music by Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, The Police and many more. Canciones runs for only two performances over Thanksgiving weekend, November 29 - 30, 2014.

The dancers, musicians and singers of Forever Flamenco have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences for over two decades with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture. A roster of internationally renowned flamenco artists will pay tribute to Los Angeles flamenco pioneer Roberto Amaral tonight, Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.

The dancers, musicians and singers of Forever Flamenco have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences for over two decades with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture. A roster of internationally renowned flamenco artists will pay tribute to Los Angeles flamenco pioneer Roberto Amaral on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.

Forever Flamenco! presents Gabriel Osuna and Company on February 16, 2014 at 8 p.m. at the Fountain Theatre.

February Flamenco Dinner Theater at El Cid, the Los Angeles landmark that's an authentically replicated 16th century Spanish Tavern has been presenting world-class flamenco for over 50 years.

February Flamenco Dinner Theater at El Cid, the Los Angeles landmark that's an authentically replicated 16th century Spanish Tavern has been presenting world-class flamenco for over 50 years.

Forever Flamenco! heats up 2014 with an All-Star Flamenco Weekend, running tonight, Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, 19 at 8 pm at The Fountain Theatre.

Forever Flamenco! heats up 2014 with an All-Star Flamenco Weekend, running Jan. 17, 18, 19 at 8 pm at The Fountain Theatre.

Forever Flamenco! presents Antonio Triana & Company tonight, October 13, 2013 at 8 p.m. The October edition of the Fountain Theatre's acclaimed series brings performances by dancers Fanny Ara, Misuda Cohen and Manuel Gutierrez; singers Jose Cortes and Antonio De Jerez; and guitarists Alfredo Caceres and Antonio Triana - all under the artistic direction of Triana.

Forever Flamenco! presents Antonio Triana & Company on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 8 p.m. The October edition of the Fountain Theatre's acclaimed series brings performances by dancers Fanny Ara, Misuda Cohen and Manuel Gutierrez; singers Jose Cortes and Antonio De Jerez; and guitarists Alfredo Caceres and Antonio Triana - all under the artistic direction of Triana.

El Cid, continuing its celebration of 50 years of Flamenco dinner theatre, presents Flamenco Dinner Theatre everyFriday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. El Cid, the venerable Spanish-inspired restaurant and live music venue, located in Los Angeles' Silver Lake Sunset Junction neighborhood brings these highly exciting performances filled with dynamic rhythms from internationally and locally recognized artists.

The Fountain Theatre presents an all-star line-up of local, national and international flamenco artists to celebrate Forever Flamenco! founder Deborah Lawlor's 20-year dedication to producing, nurturing and broadening the art form in Los Angeles. Forever Flamenco! at the Ford, under the artistic direction of internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria Bermudez, takes place on Saturday, June 15 at 8:30 pm at the Ford Theatres in Hollywood. Since 1990, the dancers, musicians and singers of Forever Flamenco! have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco! returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture in a tribute to Lawlor. "Forever Flamenco! was born out of Deborah's love and total immersion into flamenco," says Bermudez. "Young dancers, up-and-coming dancers, seasoned professionals and international dancers - all of us have all come through Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. I took my first baby steps there." Forever Flamenco! at the Ford will be a once-in-a-lifetime gala event gathering some of flamenco's finest artists together on stage for the first time, including dancers Fanny Ara, Maria Bermudez, Alejandro Granados (from Spain), Manuel Gutierrrez, Timo Nuñez, Linda Vega and Yaelisa; singer/dancer Roberto Amaral; singers Jose Cortez, Ana de los Reyes (from Spain) and Jesus Montoya; singer/composer Pele de los Reyes (from Spain) of the Grammy-nominated group Navajita Platea; guitarists Adam del Monte, Jason Maguire, Antonio Triana and Ben Woods; and percussionist Joey Heredia. Watch for more surprise artists, as well as a few guests from Bermudez' flamenco puro company Sonidos Gitanos, which has been presented at the Ford by Lawlor and the Fountain eight times since 1995. Deborah Lawlor's Forever Flamenco! series plays monthly to enthusiastic crowds at the Fountain Theatre. She and the Fountain have presented Bermudez and her Sonidos Gitanos/Gypsy Flamenco Company from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, for eight summer engagements at the Ford - including, in 2010, its new off-shoot, The Chicana Gypsy Project - and in 2007 at the Japan American Theatre. The 2009 Ford season included Forever Flamenco!: LA Ole featuring an all-star cast assembled from Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. Lawlor began her career as a dancer, choreographer and actor in New York's "downtown" scene. After living in South India for five years, where she was involved in the initial development of the international township of Auroville, she created two full-length outdoor dance/theater pieces celebrating the community. She spent the next 10 years in Australia and France studying ancient cultures of India and Egypt and translating several books in these fields from French into English. Returning to the U.S. in 1986, she became deeply involved in the intimate theater scene and, in 1990, she and Stephen Sachs co-founded the Fountain Theatre, which is now in its 23rd season of theatrical and dance events. Lawlor is responsible for the Fountain's extensive dance involvement. The 1995 season included The Women of Guernica, Lawlor's flamenco-based adaptation of Euripides' The Trojan Women, which she also directed. She directed two one-act plays by Tennessee Williams and created and directed three full-evening dance-theater pieces for the Fountain: Declarations: Love Letters of the Great Romantics; The Path of Love, which she also directed in South India; and the dance opera, The Song of Songs, with music by Al Carmines. Actors Equity Association honored Lawlor with its Diversity Award, for her dedication to presenting work at the Fountain that is culturally diverse. Considered to be one of the foremost international flamenco artists in the world today, Bermudez resides in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, the "birthplace" of flamenco. There, she has worked with renowned artists such as Juana del Pipa, Andres Peña, Antonio El Pipa, Alejandro Granados, Navajita Platea, El Capullo and many others. She was honored by the artists of the city for her relentless dedication in exposing the artistry of this region. Bermudez' outstanding and critically acclaimed performances include the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre, Fountain Theater and the Music Center in Los Angeles; Central Park, Lincoln Center and the Joyce Theater in New York City; the Teatro Palacio das Artes in Brazil; Peña Cernicalos, Los Gallos and Teatro Lope de Vega and Festival de Jerez in Spain; guest appearances with the Santa Cecilia California; and numerous venues throughout the world. Most recently she formed Chicana Gypsy Project which draws on her Mexican-American heritage and her immersion into Adulucian Gypsy culture. Her life and career have inspired the award-winning documentary film, Streets of Flamenco. Forever Flamenco! at the Ford takes place on Saturday, June 15. Doors open for picnicking at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm. Reserved seating is $50 and $75; VIP tickets, which include preferred seating, pre-concert private VIP catered party with artists and a gift bag, are available for $100. Purchase tickets on or before June 8 and save $5. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 8 or more, please call 323 769-2147.

Forever Flamenco! presents Soleangeles, with a performance added tonight, April 15 at 8 pm. The Sunday, April 14th show is sold out.

Forever Flamenco! presents Soleangeles, with a performance just added on Monday, April 15 at 8 pm. The Sunday, April 14th show is sold out.

Forever Flamenco! presents Soleangeles - The mother song of flamenco, "Solea," is juxtaposed with (Los) "Angeles" to represent the hybrid mix of pure Gypsy flamenco and American jazz that has become the trademark of guitarist/artistic director Ethan Margolis. Headlining are two Gypsy performers from southern Spain: cantaora(singer) Kina Mendez and cantaor/bailaor (singer/dancer) Javier Heredia, plus top-notch flamenco dancers Fanny Ara and Cihtli Ocampo. Accompanying Margolis on guitar are Katisse Buckingham on flute, Hussain Jiffry on bass, Walter Rodriguez on percussion; and Ioannis Goudelis on keyboards.

The Vilcek Foundation will present Pivotal Works: The Vilcek Foundation Project, a four-night series of dance performances at Joyce SoHo from November 15-18, featuring the talents of the 2012 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Dance winner and finalists. The purpose of the Prize is to recognize contributions by foreign-born dance professionals in the United States. Leading off this program on November 15 & 16 will be the prize finalists Fanny Ara (France), Thang Dao (Vietnam), Alice Gosti (Italy) and Pontus Lidberg (Sweden). Showcasing a variety of dance styles, these choreographers will demonstrate both the cultural and artistic diversity of the contemporary dance field across genres such as modern, flamenco and experimental. Following the finalists program will be a two-night engagement, on November 17 & 18, by the Creative Promise Prize winner, Ivory Coast-born choreographer Michel Kouakou.

The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to name the 2012 winners of its Vilcek Prizes honoring the contributions of foreign-born artists and scientists in the United States. The Vilcek Prize for the Arts, this year awarded in the field of dance, is presented to Mikhail Baryshnikov, born in Latvia to Russian parents, for his body of distinguished work and his legacy of advancing the field of dance. The Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise is given to dancer and choreographer Michel Kouakou, originally of Ivory Coast, for his versatile and globally influenced performances and choreography.

Forever Flamenco! launches its ninth year with the Los Angeles debut of internationally acclaimed Compañia Manuel de la Cruz, presented by The Fountain Theatre in association with Vida Flamenca. Celebrated by critics everywhere for his deeply emotional performances, Manuel de la Cruz is recognized as one of today's most exciting Flamenco dancers. Under his artistic direction, de la Cruz brings to the stage the fiery guitarist Jason McGuire "El Rubio" of San Francisco's Caminos Flamencos; the raw grief and soul of Gypsy cantaor (singer) Jose Cortes from Almeria, Spain; and sultry dancers Fanny Ara and Melissa Cruz - all complimented by Gerardo Morales on cajon. Compañia Manuel de la Cruz captures the essence, purity, and integrity of one of the world's most complex and mysterious art forms.

¾ The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to name the 2012 winners of its Vilcek Prizes honoring the contributions of foreign-born artists and scientists in the United States.