Amargo's 'Tiempo Muerto' Travels from Spain to Town Hall 9/20, 21

Direct from Spain, an exceptional and exciting event occurs when Rafael Amargo with his 18 member company perform “Tiempo Muerto” with two special performances at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, between Broadway & Avenue of the Americas/6th Ave) on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, September 21 at 3:00 pm.  After flirting with modern dance, break-dance, aerial theatre and cinema, Rafael Amargo returns to the most flamenco essence with "Tiempo Muerto", the sixth show in his career.

 The production is Choreographed & Directed by Rafael Amargo; with a Music score by Juan Parrilla & Flavio Rodrigues and with Lyrics by Rafael Amargo.  The Costumes Designer is Amaya Arzuaga; the Lighting Designer is Nicolas Fischtel (A.A.I.); with Music Direction by by Juan Parrilla & Flavio Rodrigues; Stage Photographs by Jesus Vallinas; Studio Photographs by Bernardo Doral; and Art Design by Barbeito & Manrique.  The Executive Producer is David Lopez. It is a production of Amores Que Matan S.L. (Spain).  Maestro Artist Management is presenting the spectacular show in NYC.     www.maestroartist.com

Rafael Amargo is one of Spain’s top flamenco dancers. Enjoying movie star status in Europe, Rafael is a regular face on glossy magazine covers throughout the continent, and has been photographed by Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz and Christopher Makos to name a few.  He is a versatile award winning dancer and choreographer. Whilst he adheres to the purest flamenco style, he has assimilated other types of dance, influenced by his studies in New York at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.

A young flamenco star with a great track behind him, Rafael was born in Granada in Andalusia, the heartland of flamenco. He studied with some of the best, including Mariquilla, Maite Galán, Alejandro Granados, Ciro, Manolete, El Guito, Antonio Canales and Adrián Galia.  He began ballet and classical Spanish dance training at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid after seeing “Carmen” with Antonio Banderas.  He was able to complete this training with his experience as a solo dancer in the dance companies of Antonio Canales, El Güito, Luisillo, María Rosa, Mario Maya, Rafael Aguilar, La Chunga and in Karine Saporte´s contemporary dance company.  During the period he spent in Japan, he danced in the prestigious Flamenco tablao, and he was the choreographer for such Japanese dance companies, as Yuirko Yoda´s, Etsuko Saito´s and Chizuko Otsuka´s.

1997 Rafael Amargo started his own company, Nacencia, and showed that he is quick and efficient at creating stage shows that strike up a connection with audiences. He has performed in the most important theaters, festivals and shows worldwide. He has received 4 Max Awards (Highest distinction of the Spanish Scenic Arts): 2 awards as Best Dancer and Best Dancing Show for “Amargo”, one Best Dancer Award for “El Amor Brujo”, and one Best Dancer Award for “Poeta En Nueva York”, a show which has also been awarded as Best Show of the Decade by the readers of EL PAIS (Spains’ most important newspaper). He has also received the "Positano Leonide Massine Prize", in recognition for his work as a choreographer and a dancer. This award is the most important given to dance in Italy, which has been previously awarded Rudolf Nureyev, Maurice Bejart, Lindsay Kemp and other stars of the dance world. Rafael is the choreographer for the new London spectacular musical, “Zorro” with music by The Gypsy Kings.

Tickets for Rafael Amargo “Tiempo Muerto” are $45, $55, $75, $85 & a few premium orchestra locations at $95.  Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster (212) 307-4100 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com; and at The Town Hall Box Office.  For Information (24/7) please call  (212) 840-2824.