Spain Meets Canada - Albaflamenco.com

Spain Meets Canada
Flamenco Festival 2007
Presented by Alma Flamenca
Concert and Workshops
Sept. 21- 25, 2007
For Info, phone: 306.651.ALMA
Email: alba_flamenco@hotmail.com
www.albaflamenco.com
Upcoming Events
Concierto Flamenco
"Cachito de Corazon"...featuring flamenco professionals from Spain
and Canada
Where: Broadway Theatre
When: Friday, September 21st 2007 at 7:30PM
Tickets: available at the Broadway Theatre 306.652.6556
Flamenco Workshops
for Baile (dance), Guitarra (guitar) and Cante (voice)
Where: YMCA of Saskatoon
When: Saturday, September 22 to Tuesday, September 25 2007
Workshop Registrations: 306.651.alma (2562) OR
alba_flamenco@hotmail.com
In Person Registration: Thursday, August 30th 2007 from 6:30PM
to 9:30PM
Fall Flamenco Classes
Where: YMCA of Saskatoon
In Person registration: Thursday August 30th, 2007 6:30PM to
9:30PM
Info: 306.651.alma (2562) OR alba_flamenco@hotmail.com
Vancouver Flamenco Festival…see Kari Alba performing
in collaboration with Compania Flamenco Rosario
Where: Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, 649 Cambie Street
When: Saturday, September 29, 200
Tickets: 604.737.1174 OR www.flamencorosario.org
Tapas & Flamenco Shows
“Casa de Alba”...featuring Alma Flamenca and special guest artists
Where: YMCA of Saskatoon
When: Fridays** January 25 **February 22**March 28** 2008
Tickets: 306.651.alma (2562) OR www.albaflamenco.com OR
alba_flamenco@hotmail.com
To Register:
Workshop Schedule
*** September 22-25, 2007***
@ the YMCA of Saskatoon
(#25 - 22nd Street East --next to TCU Place)
Early registration is highly recommended as each
class is limited to 15 students. The deadline for all
registration and deposit fees is Thursday,
September 13, 2007. Anyone wanting to register
after this date will pay a $15.00 registration fee in
addition to the course fee. Along with the signed
and completed registration form, students must
pay the non-refundable deposit fee. The remainder
owing of the full workshop fee must be received no
later than September 13, 2007 or they will not be
allowed to attend the course.
Saturday & Sunday September 22 nd & 23rd
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Beginner Dance
12:00 – 1:00 Guitar (Beg/Int.)
1:00 – 2:00 Cante (Beg/Int Voice)
2:00 – 3:00 Intermediate Dance
3:00 – 4:00 Advanced Dance
Monday & Tuesday, September 24th & 25th
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Beginner Dance
6:00 – 7:00 Cante (Beg/Int Voice) *memorial room
7:00 – 8:00 Guitar (Beg./Int.) *memorial room
7:00 – 8:00 Intermediate Dance
8:00 – 9:00 Advanced Dance

The Artists
Katerina “La Greca” – Dancer
Katerina, “La Greca”, brings to us an
impressive background in flamenco
performance and teaching. She received
her flamenco training from many of the
great Flamenco masters, including
Manuél Betanzo, Rafaela Carrasco,
Belén Maya, Andrés Peña, Pilar Ogalla,
Isabel Bayón, Juana Amaya, Israel
Galván, and Angeles Gabaldón. She
trained at the Academy of Spanish
Dance & Flamenco with Tomás Zybura from 2000 to 2004. She
has also received extensive training in ballet, jazz and
contemporary dance. Katerina’s most recent solo Flamenco
performance was in her own production “Peinate tu con mis
Peines”, with singers Ana Gómez and José Ligero, and
guitarists Raúl Cantizano and A.Gavilán. Katerina has also
performed with a variety of dance companies, including
Compañía Andaluza, Compañía El Roete Compañía Hussler,
Compañía Amanecer and Compañía Lobo-Dance-Theater. We
look forward to learning from Katerina, who has taught classes
and workshops internationally, including Spain, Korea, Belgium,
and Germany.
José Vega Jurado “Niño del Puente - Guitarist
Hailing originally from Cádiz,
Spain, José Vega Jurado
“Niño del Puente”, recently
moved to Canada to bring his
experience as a professional
guitarist and show coordinator
abroad. José is extensively
involved with Montreal &
Toronto Flamenco, performing
at Peña Flamenca in Montreal,
University of Toronto, the León de Oro Theater with Angela
Españadero, Embrujo Flamenco in Toronto and the Montreal
Flamenco Festival, and he has taught at many workshops. On
other international journeys, he performed in the International
Music Festival in Qatar with the Flamenco Group “Desde la
Cuna del Arte”. Back home in Spain, José participated in
“Caminos del Flamenco” for the Government of Cádiz with
Andres Peña, Diego Gomez and Agujetas Chico, and he
directed his own show in Casa Patas Madrid, “Flamenco en
Cádiz” with Carmen Jara, Juan Villar, Jesule Losada, Angela
Españadero, Leo Triviño, Marcos Flores and la Saga de los
Villar. He also performed in TV program “Ratones Colorados”, a
one-month tour in Andalucia with Flamenco Show “Nochebuena
Flamenca del Barrio de Santa María”. He has performed in
“Sala Cardamomo”, sharing the stage with Diego Amaya, Jesús
Losada, Luis El Zambo, etc, and several other performances in
Barcelona, Jerez and Madrid.
Hedi "El Moro " Graja - Singer
Born with a foot on each bank of the
Mediterranean sea, Hedi "el
moro " Graja is a multidisciplinary artist.
First introduced to flamenco through
dance, he finds his ultimate way of
expression in the cante flamenco. El Moro
is an absolute autodidact, his singing is the
fruit of his thorough knowledge of flamenco and of his great
sensibility. He first started singing in the typical "fiestas privadas"
in Spain where he lived for over 4 years, to go on performing in
France with different groups. He recently moved to North
America, where he currently works with Montreal artists and
founded the flamenco company La Otra Orilla with dancer
Myriam Allard.
Kari Alba, “La Aceitunita” - Dancer
Kari Alba, “La Aceitunita,” the artistic
director of Alma Flamenca, has been living
and breathing Flamenco for many years,
ever since she stumbled upon the Flamenco
movie “El Amor Brujo” on television when
she was eight years old. She pursued her
Flamenco training in Andalucía, the
southern region of Spain from which
Flamenco emerged. Alba has spent a total of 4 years in Sevilla,
the hotbed of Flamenco in Spain, mentoring with some of the
best dancers as well as attending the Teachers’ Specialization
Course at La Fundación; she returns every year to hone her
skills with the following most prominent flamencos such as
Beatriz Martin, Juana Amaya, Andres Marín, Matilde Coral,
Adela Campallo, Pastora Galván, and Mercedes Ruíz. Kari Alba
has been consistently recognized as an exceptional Flamenco
performer. She has performed internationally and across
Canada alongside such notable performers as Manuel Gutierrez,
José Cortés, Juan Cortés & Ricardo Diaz of Flamenco Sur
(Spain); El Zantito, Zamná Urista-Rojas & José Ramirez (Spain);
Sabas (Mexico). Alba’s impeccable technique combined with an
ability to convey the deep emotion and passion of the dance
inspires audiences in Prague, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto,
Regina, Saskatoon and all over Saskatchewan.
Amantes de Flamenco
Amantes de Flamenco is Saskatoon’s
own semi-professional flamenco
group consisting of selected advanced
students of Alma Flamenca. In
addition to the long-term mentorship
of Kari Alba, Amantes members have
also trained and performed with
flamenco artists from Spain and
Canada. Amantes performs regularly
in a variety of shows, including the annual Alma Flamenca Expo
and the biannual Spain Meets Canada Flamenco Festival, and
are invited to perform at many other venues, including Ness
Creek Music Festival, Dare to Dance, FolkFest, dinner shows
and other professional engagements. In 2001 and 2004 they
were awarded a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board to
bring Flamenco Masters from Spain to Canada.
Flamenco Workshops
Dance Classes
All classes will be taught by Katerina, consisting of three
different levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. All
students ages 10 and up will learn both choreography and
technique. It is strongly recommended that each student
observe classes at a higher level in order to gain a better
understanding of the different flamenco forms. Also, each
dance student, with or without singing experience, is
encouraged to register for Cante (singing) class at a reduced
cost in order to learn the intricate relationship between Cante
and Baile (dance). Bring a tape recorder to all class.
Cante (Singing) Classes
Taught by El Moro, this class is intended both singers interested
in learning how to sing flamenco, and dancers who wish to gain
a deeper understanding of the song structure and how it blends
with the guitar & dance. This class would also musicians who
would like to experiment with creating the cante sound with
instruments besides the human voice. For example, Flamenco
cante has been performed with the violin and flute.
Guitar Classes
Jose will be instructing this class, which will be geared towards
guitarists at a beginner/intermediate level. Some experience in
guitar (e.g. classical, jazz, flamenco) is helpful, but not
necessary. Students will learn some basic flamenco Palos
(forms.)