Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana to Make Joyce Theater Return with World Premiere of FRONTERAS

One of the world's leading flamenco companies, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, will return to The Joyce Theater for the first time since 2013 with the world premiere of FRONTERAS, an evening-length commissioned work from collaborators José Maldonado and Karen Lugo, from June 21-26. Tickets, ranging in price from $10-$65, can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at West 19th Street. For more information and to read about The Joyce Theater's detailed health and safety protocols, including required face-coverings and proof of vaccination policies, please visit www.Joyce.org.

The highly traditional, often solo art form of flamenco is once again pushed beyond its boundaries when Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana returns to The Joyce Theater this season. The world premiere collaboration from José Maldonado and Karen Lugoentitled FRONTERAS, meaning "borders" or "barriers," asks audiences to examine what is stronger: what unites us or what separates us? With all of the obstacles humans face-geography, language, race, religion, gender-the company demonstrates with their signature fervor and passion that the art of flamenco transcends these barriers to create a heritage of art for humanity.

Accompanied by live, original music from award-winning guitarist José Luis de la Paz, the star-studded international cast-including the work's creators Maldonado and Karen Lugo, the latter in her New York City debut-unleashes their individual flair to keep the legendary spirit of flamenco thriving and more thrilling than ever.

José Maldonado was first commissioned by Flamenco Vivo in 2017, following an artist residency in 2016. His first commissioned work for the company, Pa' Triana Voy, was part of the program for Flamenco Vivo's 35th anniversary celebration at BAM's Fisher Hall in 2018. Maldonado and Lugo previously collaborated, along with Nino de los Reyes, on AMORENTE, a tribute to legendary flamenco singer Enrique Morente

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana honors the traditions of flamenco while advancing its evolution as a contemporary dance discipline. Called "The Keeper of Flamenco" by Dance Magazine, founder Carlota Santana was honored by the King of Spain with "La Cruz de la Orden al Merito Civil" for excellence and dedication to maintaining the flamenco art in the United States. The company has premiered over 30 original works, offering commissions to outstanding choreographers from the U.S. and Spain. To provide access for more audiences to experience flamenco's inherent sense of pride and be moved through live performance, they perform annual seasons in dual home bases of New York City and Durham, NC, and tour nationally to over a dozen cities per year. Flamenco Vivo promotes flamenco as a living art form by integrating contemporary themes while upholding traditional movements and palos (styles/rhythms), and supports a range of artistic viewpoints and creative experimentation in service of advancing the form.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Karen Lugo (Co-Choreographer) is a Mexican flamenco dancer who has a deep knowledge of and respect for tradition while being curious and inventive. She has participated as a soloist in many of the world's most important festivals, including the Flamenco Festival of Jerez, "Jóvenes Flamencos" in Madrid's Teatro Español, "Los Veranos del Corral" in Granada, the SGAE Foundation's "Flamencos y Mestizos" in Madrid's Sala Berlanga and in the city of Úbeda, the Festival Flamenco Ibérica Contemporánea, and the Flamenco Festival Cuidad de Jaén. As a choreographer, she received the First Prize in Flamenco Dance from the International Festival of Almeria. Under the direction of Javier Latorre, she performed in Carlos Saura's film Flamenco, Flamenco and in the show El Duende y el Reloj as Prima Ballerina. She also performed as a dancer, soloist, and choreographer in the shows FLAMENCONAUTAS in Jerez Festival 2018 and Lorca x Bach in Jerez Festival 2020, directed by Javier Latorre and produced by Shoji Kojima. Her unique and personal style has led her to collaborate with great artists such as Pepe Habichuela, Jorge Pardo, Chano Domínguez, Juan Gómez Chicuelo, Josemi Carmona, Javier Massó Caramelo, Yelsy Heredia, and Ojos de Brujo, among many others.

José Maldonado (Co-Choreographer) was born in Barcelona and received his degree in Spanish Dance and Flamenco from the Professional Conservatory there. At 18, he moved to Madrid to study with María Magdalena, Paco Romero and La China, who helped form him and dedicate himself to flamenco. He became a member of several different companies, varying in style from the most traditional to the most contemporary: Javier Latorre, Antonio Canales, María Pagés, Blanca Li, Guito, Rocío Molina, Rafaela Carrasco, Marco Flores, Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, and Carlos Chamorro. Maldonado continued his development performing at various tablaos such as Casa Patas, Corral de la Morería, Café de Chinitas, Villa Rosa y las Carboneras. José received first prize for Best Solo Choreography (2013) and Group Choreography (2015) at the Madrid Certamen de Danza Española y Flamenco. Maldonado has worked with Guadalupe Torres and Manuel Liñan, acting as assistant director and choreographer. He produced his first full work, Andrea, in 2014. In 2016, he collaborated with Antonio Canales and Carmen Angulo to produce Bodegon, fusing dance, baroque music, and painting with flamenco. Maldonado is the winner of the 2019 Premio Artista Revelación at the XXIII Festival of Jerez, an award for best up-and-coming artist. His most recent work, Galeria, debuted at the 25th Festival of Jerez.

Jose Luis de la Paz (Composer, Lead Guitarist) is an award-winning guitarist and composer whose original music ranges from traditional to experimental flamenco and other forms. In 1995, he was lauded as one of the best guitarists in Spain in Felix Grande's "Agenda Flamenca." He was the musical director and composer for Ballet Cristina Hoyos (star of Carlos Saura's films) for 10 years, and he has accompanied numerous legendary flamenco singers and dancers, like Carmen Linares, Jose Mercé, Arcángel, Argentina, Manolo Marin, Antonio Canales, Farruquito, Concha Buika, and Belen Maya. Though his practice is rooted in the traditional form, Jose Luis' work pushes beyond the parameters of flamenco and extends into world music, as exemplified in his recent collaboration with the composer Colin Farish on East of the Evening Star. He is known for his profound knowledge of the tradition and the roots of flamenco, his desire for research and experimentation, and his contemporary approach to flamenco music. A virtuosic artist, Jose Luis is considered one of the best guitarists working today.

ABOUT The Joyce Theater

The Joyce Theater Foundation ("The Joyce," Executive Director, Linda Shelton), a non-profit organization, has proudly served the dance community for almost four decades. Under the direction of founders Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, Ballet Tech Foundation acquired and renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. Opening as The Joyce Theater in 1982, it was named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther's clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to build the theater. Ownership was secured by The Joyce in 2015. The theater is one of the only theaters built by dancers for dance and has provided an intimate and elegant home for over 400 U.S.-based and international companies. The Joyce has also expanded its reach beyond its Chelsea home through off-site presentations at venues ranging in scope from Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, to Brooklyn's Invisible Dog Art Center, and to outdoor programming in spaces such as Hudson River Park. To further support the creation of new work, The Joyce maintains longstanding commissioning and residency programs. Local students and teachers (K-12th grade) benefit from its school program, and family and adult audiences get closer to dance with access to artists. The Joyce's annual season of about 48 weeks of dance now includes over 340 performances - both digital and in-person - for audiences in excess of 150,000.

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana brings the world premiere of FRONTERAS to The Joyce Theater from June 21-26. The performance schedule is as follows: Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Friday 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; and Sun 2pm. Tickets, ranging in price from $10-$65, can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at West 19th Street. For more information and to read about The Joyce Theater's detailed health and safety protocols, including required face-coverings and proof of vaccination policies, please visit www.Joyce.org. For more information about Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, please visit www.flamenco-vivo.org.