Noche Flamenca Presents INTIMO At The Joyce Theatre

Noche Flamenca returns to The Joyce Theater (175 8th Avenue) with Íntimo, a flamenco performance exploring the possibilities and limitations of human relationships, and set to original, live music, February 13-25. Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Martín Santangelo and globally acclaimed dancer Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca honors the raw and rapturous art of flamenco while stretching tradition to explore the human experience in its many varieties. Barrio, whom The New York Times has deemed "one of today's great dancers of any genre," performs with a cast of exceptional flamenco dancers and musicians, many hailing from Spain.

The evening opens with "La Ronde," inspired by the structure of the Max Ophüls' 1950 film and the dizzying carousel of romantic and sexual relationships it presents. The "purest" form of flamenco includes a guitarist, a vocalist, and a solo dancer-but true to Noche Flamenca's boundary-pushing and emotionally probing style, in "La Ronde," Santangelo explores the complex dynamics of intimate relationships. "La Ronde" itself is made up of a series of duets, with inspiration derived from Arthur Schnitzler, Ingmar Bergman, and Anton Chekhov.

With Martín Santangelo's artistic direction and choreography by Soledad Barrio, Íntimo continues with solos from Andalusian flamenco dancer Juan Ogalla, and Soledad Barrio, who will perform her tragic and cathartic signature piece, "Soleá." With Íntimo, Santangelo, Barrio, and the company continue to draw from the realm of dance-theater, a hallmark for the troupe that recently staged their wildly successful, internationally-toured Antigona.

Noche Flamenca's process starts with the music; narrative inventions stem from the songs and lyrics, composed in Íntimo by Santangelo, Eugenio Iglesias, Salva de María, David 'Chupete' Rodriguez, and Hamed Traore, with vocal arrangements from Manuel Gago, Carmina Cortes, and Emilio Florido. Santangelo and the company members begin choreographing following the composition process, marrying movement to the structures they've created with guitar and voice. Though narrative may not be rendered linearly or literally here, strong emotional narratives emerge in Íntimo, reflecting the nuances of relationships W. May recognize from canonized works of art, and from our own lives. Sexuality, control, loss, and brotherhood are among the many themes traversed in the relationships evoked through these captivating performances.

The intuitive and intimate nature of Santangelo and Barrio's partnership-as husband and wife, and as longtime collaborators-makes the idea of duets in flamenco all the more organic. Says Santangelo, "Soledad and I have a wonderful way of communicating. I approach ideas from an associative and experimental perspective. When I'm in rehearsal, I'll try everything and anything to get to it. Soledad is intuitive and corporally brilliant. She takes an idea and realizes it physically. For our adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone, I researched and developed for three years to be able to fully express my vision, and in rehearsal, I tried many different approaches to each scene. Soledad read the play and right away said, 'I got it. I know who she is.' We have two different ways of working, and we understand each other deeply. I talk and she listens; she dances and I watch."

Performances are February 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30pm; February 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 at 8pm; and February 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 2pm at The Joyce Theater, 175 8th Avenue, New York, NY. Note: Soledad Barrio will not perform in the Saturday matinee shows. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased in person or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800; all other tickets can be purchased at joyce.org. Programs and prices subject to change.

Under the direction of Martín Santangelo, the award-winning Noche Flamenca has become one of the world's most successful touring companies. Formed in 1993 by Santangelo and his Bessie award-winning wife, Soledad Barrio, the company performs regularly in New York City and tours worldwide, including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Egypt, and throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Canada.

Hailed by critics everywhere for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances, Noche Flamenca is recognized as the most authentic flamenco touring company in the field today, expressing the rigorous, spell-binding aesthetic of flamenco that exceeds the highest artistic expectations. Santangelo has successfully brought to the stage the essence, purity, and integrity of one of the world's most complex and mysterious art forms. All aspects of flamenco-dance, song, and music-are interrelated and given equal weight creating a true communal spirit within the company: the very heart and soul of flamenco.

Photo Credit: Zarmik Moqtaderi