Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company Presents the World Premiere of De La Raíz

At the forefront of flamenco dance in Canada, the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company (EESDC) proudly presents the world premiere of De La Raíz - From the Root, an exquisite evening that showcases both the roots of flamenco and its proliferation as a vital contemporary art form embraced around the world.

Choreographed by two master artists - Artistic Director Esmeralda Enrique and returning Dora Award-winning guest artist Juan Ogalla of Spain, De La Raíz runs Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6 at Fleck Dance Theatre as part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps.

EESDC's season presentation highlights the legacy of flamenco's early cafés cantantes in Spain's Andalucía region (Sevilla, Cádiz, Málaga and environs) in the mid-1800s. Flamenco first took root amidst the great artists of these venues where singers, dancers and spectators gathered.

Ms Enrique notes, "Initially flamenco was experienced only in intimate settings, mostly at family gatherings or informally in taverns (many of which actually had signs prohibiting singing). The era of the cafés cantantes opened it up to a wider audience and forged flamenco into the art form that we know today: spontaneous, intimate, direct - and with unexpected outbreaks of pure music, song, dance and emotion."

De La Raíz connects that genesis to the artists who followed and who brought flamenco to all corners of the world, continually contemporizing it. In Act One, EESDC steps back in time to convey how this passionate art form took hold, gloriously evoking those late night cafés cantantes of the mid-nineteenth century that spawned those early popular flamenco artists. With Act 2, EESDC highlights a contemporary interpretation of flamenco that captivates artists of today.

The contrast of time and place between the two sections is achieved both through the sumptuous costuming and the selection of the letras (song verses) and rhythms. Each act beautifully showcases the choreographic range of Ms. Enrique and Mr. Ogalla as well as the virtuosity of the company dancers and musicians.

EESDC's powerful dancers - Juan Ogalla (guest artist from Cádiz, Spain who recently received the Pellizco Flamenco Award from the 2018 Festival de Jerez and who earned a 2011 Dora Award for Outstanding Performance, returning for his seventh appearance with the company), Esmeralda Enrique, Pamela Briz, Virginia Castro, Paloma Cortés and newcomer Alison MacDonald - are accompanied by the extraordinary virtuosic singer Manuel Soto of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (who returns for his eighth production with the company). Soto is joined by Montreal-based singer Marcos Marín, who returns to EESDC after many years, and musicians Caroline Planté of Montreal (one of the few female flamenco guitarists in the world who returns for her fourth season with the troupe and is also the Musical Director for the work) and guitarist Benjamin Barrile, returning for his fifth season. (Soto, Planté and Barrile were musicians on last year's An Iconic Journey: A Celebration of 35 Years, where the full ensemble - including the dancers - was nominated for a Dora Award for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition for Enrique's choreography of the piece Latidos (Heartbeats) as the footwork, palmas, canes and castanets all contributed to the sound).

In flamenco, the dance and the music are performed like a conversation, each influencing the other. In De La Raíz, flamenco's origins are front and centre with guitars, singers and percussion that highlight palmas (rhythmic hand clapping) and jaleos (shouts of encouragement essential in flamenco given by the singers to embolden the dancers). For De La Raíz, older styles such as a courtly baroque escuela bolera and a fandango with tambourines are presented, along with a myriad of flamenco dance techniques, both traditional and new.

Juan Ogalla is one of the most outstanding dancers of his generation. He made his professional debut in 1983 at the age of 11 in Las Calles de Cai at the Gran Teatro Falla de Cádiz in Cádiz, Spain. Since that time he has toured the world appearing with many of Spain's finest artists including Cristina Hoyos, Manuel Morao, María Pagés and Beatríz Martín. He joined Ballet Cristina Hoyos in 1992 and performed with her as a soloist and a dance partner until 2000. Following this, Juan performed and collaborated with artists in many countries including Japan, Brazil, Spain, Canada, and the United States. He has appeared numerous times with Caminos Flamencos, as well as a Guest Artist at the New World Flamenco Festival, Festival de Jerez, and Mont Marsan. In recent years, he has toured extensively with Soledad Barrio's Noche Flamenca. From 2008 to 2013 Mr. Ogalla performed annually as a dancer and choreographer for Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company. During these years, he was nominated for five Dora Mavor Moore Awards in the categories of Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding New Choreography. In 2011, he was awarded the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in EESDC's Espejo de Oro/ Mirror of Gold. Juan Ogalla recently received the inaugural Pellizco Flamenco Award from the 2018 Festival de Jerez. This award is given "to the artist who is able to offer an indescribable moment that transmits a special sensitivity."

ESMERALDA ENRIQUE is one of the most celebrated flamenco dance artists in Canada. Lauded internationally as a performer, choreographer and teacher, Ms Enrique has been honoured with Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Outstanding Performance four times and for Outstanding Choreography twice. She has been named one of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians and in 2014, the City of Barrie, Ontario dedicated their fifth annual Rhythmfest to Esmeralda in recognition of her contribution to dance in Canada and North America. Ms. Enrique is the founder of The Art of Flamenco Symposium, held in Toronto in 2011 and 2013. She was the recipient of the inaugural Young Centre for the Performing Arts Dance Award as Senior Artist in 2012, the year that marked the 30th anniversary of both the school she founded (Academy of Spanish Dance) and the company. Esmeralda grew up in the flamenco tradition, studying dance as a child and was working professionally by the age of 14. She toured North America with the famous company of José Greco and has appeared throughout Europe, the Middle East and Mexico with the distinguished dance companies of Paco Ruíz, Miguel Sandoval, Antonio Del Castillo, Sara Lezana and Cristóbal Reyes.

ESMERALDA ENRIQUE SPANISH DANCE COMPANY is valued for its important pioneering contribution to the development of flamenco in Canada. It peerlessly stands on the pillars of traditional flamenco singing, dance and music while beautifully balancing classicism with a contemporary aesthetic. EESDC has been presenting an annual Toronto Season since 1990 and has developed an ever-expanding repertoire that has earned both critical and popular acclaim. The company is recognized for the exceptional level of its productions, receiving three Dora Mavor Moore Awards in addition to 21 nominations over the years. Esmeralda Enrique and her exemplary company of dancers and musicians enthrall audiences with the contagious excitement and full depth of feeling that the passionate art of flamenco delivers. NOW Magazine readers voted EESDC Toronto's Best Dance Company for 2015. http://www.flamencos.ne