Night of Flamenco Dance to Kick off Hispanic Arts Festival at Milagro 9/12

Welcome to Sevilla and a night of wondrous flamenco dance and music. The evening begins with Sevillanas, a traditional dance from Sevilla, and continues through more sophisticated forms of flamenco, with solos from both dancers and musicians, filling the room with the rhythm of palmas and the spirit of jaleo. Guest artists include Melinda Hedgecourth (dancer), Toshi Onizuka (cajón and guitar), Mark Ferguson (flamenco guitar), Lillie Last (dancer), Diana Bright (singer) and Laura Onizuka (dancer).

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL "LA LUNA NUEVA" (The New Moon)

In September, Miracle Theatre Group is pleased to present "La Luna Nueva", a two-week festival celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Like the new moon emerging from The Shadows, "La Luna Nueva" shines its light on new artists and new work across a variety of disciplines. Join us for passionate Spanish flamenco dance, jazzy Cuban filin music, bilingual poetry and songs from local authors and musicians, open mic nights and staged readings of plays under consideration for next season. For a complete schedule and event descriptions, visit www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.

ABOUT THE FLAMENCO ARTISTS

Melinda Hedgecorth began dancing at age eight in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Her first love was ballet and as a child she started performing in local theaters. In college she was exposed to more diverse dance forms including modern dance and flamenco. It was during this time that she began dancing with a company run by David and Debbie St. Charles of Alvin Ailey. She also met and studied with Tamara Carson who gave her key roles in her flamenco dance troupe "Ole". In 1997 she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and moved to Seattle to look for new opportunities. There she broadened her knowledge by studying and performing with "Carmona Flamenco." Anxious for more experience she was also dancing with groups in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Canada as well as appearing as a guest artist in Kansas City. In 1999 Melinda began yearly trips to Madrid and Jerez to cultivate a more profound understanding of flamenco at the source. There she studied with talented teachers such as Mercedes Ruiz, Belen Fernandez, and La Truco. Five years ago she moved to Sevilla and began to perform in the local tableaus (flamenco bars) as well as participating in a series of performances of young artists held in the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo. Although her imagination is spurred by artists such as Israel Galvan, (one of the most important innovators of modern flamenco today) she is also very conscientious about maintaining the roots of flamenco in her movement and expression. Today she continues her development as an artist in the cradle of flamenco but travels internationally to give workshops and performances as a guest artist or with her own group "Flamenco Mio".

Mark Ferguson was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He began studying the flamenco guitar in 1995. He has spent two years in Spain learning how to accompany flamenco song and dance. Mark spent one year as resident flamenco guitarist at the University of New Mexico and has toured with the Second Company of María Benítez. Mark has entertained audiences throughout the United States, Mexico and Korea. Mark has studied with many maestros, among them being: Pascual de Lorca, Flecha, David Serva, Chuscales, Juan Maya "Marote", Jason McGuire, Jesús Álvarez, Niño Jero and others.

Toshi Onizuka was born in Tokyo, Japan. At 20 years old, he began playing guitar. Inspired by the music of Al DiMeola, Paco De Lucia, and Django Reinhardt, Toshi sought to develop his own sound. Toshi realized that in order to achieve this, he would need to teach himself. He quickly became consumed with the guitar and devoted himself completely to developing his technique. In 1993 he moved to Sevilla, where he lived for five years. Based in Sevilla, Toshi immersed himself in the Spanish music scene, playing with as many musicians as he could, traveling to different parts of the country as well as Morocco. Two of those years Toshi spent performing and touring with the internationally acclaimed Flamenco fusion group Pata Negra. While in Spain, Toshi developed a fascination with rhythm which can be heard in his playing today. In 1997 he released his first solo CD, "Toshi", an effort that featured musicians from Spain and Brazil and included all original songs written and produced by Toshi. Toshi has appeared on the recordings of various artists including the internationally acclaimed singer Gino Vanelli. He has collaborated with a variety of local artists including Lawson Fusao Inada, Oregon's 2006-2008 Poet Laureate, Portland Taiko, Bobby Torres, and AaRon Meyer. In January 2008 he was featured on OPB's Oregon ArtBeat and has been featured on KMHD's Home Grown Jazz and Home Grown Live and has taken the stage at numerous northwest events such as The cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Art in the Pearl, the Dragon Moon Festival, and the Sandy Summer Concert Series. Toshi released his second solo CD, "Voy Con Fusión" in September 2008, a creation which he describes as a musical stew consisting of flamenco, jazz, rock, and hip hop. Toshi has become known for his keen improvisational skills and his distinctive sound that uniquely combines flat picking with dynamic percussive sounds made on the surface of his guitar. Critics have said that Toshi makes it seem as if "two guitars were playing," Pamela Ellgen, The Asian Reporter, that his "fingers move like a butterfly fluttering its wings as he shows how he plays his flamenco-flavored jazz-fusion music," Rob Cullivan of the Gresham Outlook, and that "Onizuka has found it in his way-talented heart to bless Portland with his classy, delicate playing," Max T. Malt of the Willamette Week. Toshi's music isn't easily categorized and can't be limited to a specific genre; he prefers to think of it as a truly international sound that knows no borders and has no boundaries. Toshi currently resides in Portland, Oregon where he performs nightly with local talent such as Israel Annoh, Damian Erskine, Mariano Deorbegoso, Jon Hughes, Phil Baker, Reinhardt Melz among others, at various local venues.

Laura Onizuka is known for her strong technical skills, attention to detail, and passion as both a performer and instructor. Her students have described her as, "phenomenal, inspiring, calm, patient, and amazing." by her students. She has performed throughout the Portland area with artists such as Toshi Onizuka, Greg Wolfe, Danny Romero, Tarik and Julia Banzi of Al-Andalus, Reinhardt Melz and Diana Bright. She has trained in Sevilla, Madrid, and Jerez, Spain with artists such as: La Truco, Miguel Cañas, Matilde Coral, Manuel Liñan, Marcos Flores, Inmaculada Ortega, Angeles Gabaldón, Ricardo López, María López, Felipe Mato and María Bermúdez. Laura holds a Master of Arts in Education and is skilled in teaching both adults and children. She believes in the importance of continuing her own flamenco education and continually expanding her knowledge of flamenco as an art form.

Lillie Last's interest in flamenco was sparked by a poster publicizing a fiesta. After a decade of study, she continues to develop her skills as a dancer in an art form that is complex musically and culturally. Lillie's strength is improvisation, allowing her to connect with the singers and musicians honestly and sincerely. She travels to Spain regularly to gain inspiration from artists such as: Pastora Galvan, Manuel Linan, Adela Campallo, Chiqui de Jerez, Ricardo Lopez, Maria Bermudez and Felipe Mato.

Diana Bright has been a flamenco aficionado for six years. Her focus has been the power and the complexity of the cante and how it interplays withthe baile and the guitarra. Diana's teachers have included great singers and dancers of Jerez de la Frontera such as; David Lagos, Ana de los Reyes, Miguel Resendo, Domingo Ortega, and Maria Bermudez. Also, Encarna Enillo from Cadiz, El Veneno and Rafael Campallo from Sevilla, and Fabiola Perez from Utrera. Some of her greatest flamenco influences continue to be the guitarists that accompany her singing.

Flamenco performances: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 (festival continues through Sept. 25; for full schedule, see www.milagro.org)

WHERE: Milagro Theatre, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon 97214

ADMISSION: $20 from 503-236-7253, www.pdxtix.net/milagro or the PDX Ticket Network box office at the Hollywood Theatre daily 1-9 p.m. (prices for other festival events vary; staged play readings are free)

MORE INFORMATION: 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org