“Forever Flamenco! at the Ford” Celebrates 20 Years

The Fountain Theatre presents an all-star line-up of local, national and international flamenco artists to celebrate Forever Flamenco! founder Deborah Lawlor's 20-year dedication to producing, nurturing and broadening the art form in Los Angeles. Forever Flamenco! at the Ford, under the artistic direction of internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria Bermudez, takes place on Saturday, June 15at 8:30 pm at the Ford Theatres in Hollywood.

Since 1990, the dancers, musicians and singers ofForever Flamenco! have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco! returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture in a tribute to Lawlor.

"Forever Flamenco! was born out of Deborah's love and total immersion into flamenco," says Bermudez. "Young dancers, up-and-coming dancers, seasoned professionals and international dancers - all of us have all come through Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. I took my first baby steps there."

Forever Flamenco! at the Ford will be a once-in-a-lifetime gala event gathering some of flamenco's finest artists together on stage for the first time, including dancers Fanny Ara, Maria Bermudez, Alejandro Granados(from Spain), Manuel Gutierrrez, Timo Nuñez, Linda Vega and Yaelisa; singer/dancer Roberto Amaral; singersJosé Cortez, Ana de los Reyes (from Spain) and Jesus Montoya; singer/composer Pele de los Reyes (from Spain) of the Grammy-nominated group Navajita Platea; guitarists Adam del Monte, Jason Maguire, Antonio Triana and Ben Woods; and percussionist Joey Heredia. Watch for more surprise artists, as well as a few guests from Bermudez' flamenco puro company Sonidos Gitanos, which has been presented at the Ford by Lawlor and the Fountain eight times since 1995.

Deborah La wlor's Forever Flamenco! series plays monthly to enthusiastic crowds at the Fountain Theatre. She and the Fountain have presented Bermudez and her Sonidos Gitanos/Gypsy Flamenco Company from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, for eight summer engagements at the Ford - including, in 2010, its new off-shoot, The Chicana Gypsy Project - and in 2007 at the Japan American Theatre. The 2009 Ford season included Forever Flamenco!: LA Olé featuring an all-star cast assembled from Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. Lawlor began her career as a dancer, choreographer and actor in New York's "downtown" scene. After living in South India for five years, where she was involved in the initial development of the international township of Auroville, she created two full-length outdoor dance/theater pieces celebrating the community. She spent the next 10 years in Australia and France studying ancient cultures of India and Egypt and translating several books in these fields from French into English. Returning to the U.S. in 1986, she became deeply involved in the intimate theater scene and, in 1990, she and Stephen Sachs co-founded the Fountain Theatre, which is now in its 23rd season of theatrical and dance events. Lawlor is responsible for the Fountain's extensive dance involvement. The 1995 season included The Women of Guernica, Lawlor's flamenco-based adaptation of Euripides' The Trojan Women, which she also directed. She directed two one-act plays by Tennessee Williams and created and directed three full-evening dance-theater pieces for the Fountain: Declarations: Love Letters of the Great Romantics; The Path of Love, which she also directed in South India; and the dance opera, The Song of Songs, with music by Al Carmines. Actors Equity Association honoRed Lawlor with its Diversity Award, for her dedication to presenting work at the Fountain that is culturally diverse.

Considered to be one of the foremost international flamenco artists in the world today, Bermudez resides in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, the "birthplace" of flamenco. There, she has worked with renowned artists such as Juana del Pipa, Andres Peña, Antonio el Pipa, Alejandro Granados, Navajita Platea, El Capullo and many others. She was honored by the artists of the city for her relentless dedication in exposing the artistry of this region. Bermudez' outstanding and critically acclaimed performances include the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre, Fountain Theater and the Music Center in Los Angeles; Central Park, Lincoln Center and The Joyce Theater in New York City; the Teatro Palácio das Artes in Brazil; Peña Cernicalos, Los Gallos and Teatro Lope De Vega and Festival de Jerez in Spain; guest appearances with the Santa Cecilia California; and numerous venues throughout the world. Most recently she formed Chicana Gypsy Project which draws on her Mexican-American heritage and her immersion into Adulucian Gypsy culture. Her life and career have inspired the award-winning documentary film, Streets of Flamenco.

Forever Flamenco! at the Ford takes place on Saturday, June 15. Doors open for picnicking at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm. Reserved seating is $50 and $75; VIP tickets, which include preferred seating, pre-concert private VIP catered party with artists and a gift bag, are available for $100. Purchase tickets on or before June 8and save $5. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 8 or more, please call 323 769-2147.

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