Winner Of Spain's Top National Dance Award On Stage At World-Renowned Repertorio Espanol This Month

International Flamenco sensation, Olga Pericet, was awarded today with the National Dance Award for 2018 in Spain. This award represents the highest recognition in dance for her versatility and projection on stage.

The choreographer and 'bailadora' is now positioned as one of the most relevant figures in Spanish dance in history. Robert Federico the Executive Producer of Repertorio Español states:

"To have this jewel of a dancer here at Repertorio for the 4th time is the greatest honor and the greatest validation for the mission of Repertorio as a home for the greatest Hispanic and Latinx artists".

Olga Pericet continues for a limited run with her new production "Enfoque" at Repertorio Español until October 21st. "Enfoque" is a celebratory tribute honoring Carmen Amaya's vast scope and passion while simultaneously showcasing Olga Pericet's own unique and powerful technique.

PERFORMANCES:

Wednesday, October 10, 2018 7:00 PM

Thursday, October 11, 2018 7:00 PM

Friday, October 12, 2018 8:00 PM

Saturday, October 13, 2018 8:00 PM

Sunday, October 14, 2018 3:00 PM

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 7:00 PM

Thursday, October 18, 2018 7:00 PM

Friday, October 19, 2018 8:00 PM

Saturday, October 20, 2018 8:00 PM

Sunday, October 21, 2018 3:00 PM

ABOUT Carmen Amaya, "QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES"

Spanish dancer/singer Carmen Amaya went down in history as one of the greatest and most influential flamenco performers of the 20th century. The Barcelona native was famous for her singing, but she was even more famous for her dancing -- and long after her death, Amaya's dance moves have continued to influence young Spaniards who study flamenco dancing. Amaya was born into a family of gypsies in Barcelona on November 2, 1913 and grew up in the Somorrostro section of the city, which was considered a poor slum back then, but is now full of pricey beachfront real estate. Although Amaya had no formal training as a dancer, she learned a lot about flamenco from her family, including her father, a flamenco guitarist named "El Chino", and her aunt, "La Faraona". And she also learned a lot about flamenco at Bar de Manquet, a working-class flamenco hangout where she was first hired to dance in 1924 at the age of ten. Bar de Manquet was where Amaya met Escudero el Gato (Escudero the Cat), a famous gypsy dancer from Madrid who was the brother of flamenco guitarist "El Pelao Viejo". Escudero el Gato's dance moves had a major impact on Amaya, who became a celebrity all over Spain when she was in her teens, and became even more famous in her twenties. Amaya was 22 when the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, and she left Spain to get away from that conflict. During her 11-year absence from Spain, Amaya traveled all over the world and danced in New York City, Paris, and Lisbon, Portugal and performed in a long list of Spanish-speaking countries that included Cuba, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile. Amaya became such an international celebrity that in 1944, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt invited her to perform in the White House; Amaya also performed for British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the '40s. Amaya returned to Spain in 1947, and by that time, the Spanish Civil War was over; the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, aka "El Generalíssimo," was firmly in place and would remain until his death in 1975.

OLGA PERICET - DANCER, BAILAORA & CHOREOGRAPHER

Olga Pericet is one of the most adventuresome artists in flamenco today, having studied at the Conservatory of Córdoba as well as a guest artist in prestigious dance companies like Nuevo Ballet Español and the Ballet Nacional de España, among many others. Her art has taken her across the globe to international festivals in Washington, New York, Miami, London, Sevilla, Madrid as well as in Netherlands, China, France and Australia just being a few. She currently tours with three shows, "A Thorn That Would Be A Rose"," "Body Infinite" and her new production "Focal Point." Her many awards include the Villa de Madrid Award for best dance performer (2006), the Pilar López National Flamenco Award, the MAX award for choreographing, the first prize in both choreography and music in the Flamenco and Spanish Dance Choreography Contest in Madrid (2004), Best Female Dance Performer nomination for the 15th Performing Arts MAX award (2012), MAX award for the Best Female Dancer for "Footprints" (2015) and the Critics Award of Festival de Jerez (2017).

COMPANY

ANTONIA JIMÉNEZ ARENAS (GUITARIST)

Antonia Jiménez Arenas (Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, 1972) is a guitarrist & composer of flamenco, having studied under Enrique Vargas. As a composer, she has collaborated on a variety of productions with Manuel Liñán, Rocío Molina and Belen Maya among others, as well as regular international tours with Marco Flores and Olga Pericet. She composed the music for the production "De flamencas" by Marco Flores, winner of the Critic's Award at the 2013 Jeréz Festival. As a guitarist, she has participated in a great number of international festivals in Jerez, Madrid, Luxembourg, Zurich,Toulouse, Seville, Geneva and many more.

INMA "LA CARBONERA"

Her artistic name goes back to her beginnings in the Carboneria de Sevilla. Following for numerous regional concerts of Andalucia and Europe. She has worked with different companies in Asia, Europe and Latin America. She currently collaborates with dancer José Galán "Mujeres luz", piantist and composer Alejandro Cruz Benavides, Amazonian Dance Theatre Company with the director Juana Casado and dancer Olga Pericet. productions as guest artist with Pino Sagliocco, Joaquin Cortes, Spain National Ballet and Andalusia Ballet.

MANUEL LAVI

Cantaor born in La Plazuela de Jerez, the birth place of many great flamenco artists such as La Paquera, Los Agujetas and Los Moneos among others. He began his singing career early on as a child. At 12 years old he had his first performance and in 1998 he had his professional debut accompanying dancers Andres Peña and Mercedes Ruiz for 6 months in Japan. In 1999, he traveled to Barcelona to form part of Tablao El Cordobes for 5 years, alternating with artist like Antonio Canales, Duquende, Belen Maya and La Tolea. In 2004 he returned to his birth place, Jerez de la Frontera, and continues to collaborate with national companies. In 2011 he began to work with Olga Pericet's company and continues being a fundamental part of the company. Currently, he is a cantaor for Fuensanta La Moneta, Manuel Liñan y Olga Pericet.

TICKETS AND GENERAL INFORMATION

By phone: 1-212.225.9999 | Online: repertorio.nyc/olga

In person: 138 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

(Between Lexington and Third Avenues. Subway: # 6, N or R to 27th Street)

Monday 8:00am-6pm| Tuesday - Friday 8am-8pm|Saturday 10am-8pm|Sunday 10am-7:00pm

Tickets start at $35

Discounts available for people over 60 years of age, Military and students with valid identification.

ABOUT REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL

Founded in 1968 by stage director René Buch and the late producer Gilberto Zaldívar, REPERTORIO has presented an unparalleled body of theater that promotes and divulges the rich heritage of Hispanic theater. Spanish masters like Calderón, Lope De Vega and García Lorca, renowned playwrights from Latin America and the growing body of American writers who capture the Latino experience in the U.S.-from Portland, LA, NYC, Washington DC, Texas, Washington Heights, Denver and Chicago-- are all at home in REPERTORIO's programming. As well, the company has presented acclaimed translations of plays by Edward Albee, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Gian Carlo Menotti and Noel Coward.

The Company presents a rotating repertory of 13 different plays, musicals and dance concerts in over 300 performances every year. Its productions are seen by over 50,000 people annually at its home, the historic Gramercy Arts Theatre and on tour. Every year, approximately 20,000 students are introduced to the heritage of Spanish language theatre through its education program, ¡DIGNIDAD!.

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