Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Ensemble to Premiere New Work at Fleck Dance Theatre

Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company (EESDC), voted Toronto's Best Dance Company of 2015 by NOW Magazine readers, presents the world premiere of Épocas ('Eras') at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre as part of NextSteps from April 22-April 24. Épocas honours the tremendous influence of great artists that brought Spanish culture to the world in the 20th century.

This stunning evening journeys through time to pay tribute to many of the iconic figures who helped shape and influence the music and dance of Spain that we know and love today. The program is influenced, among others, by La Argentina's neoclassical Spanish dance of the 1930s, the immensely popular José Greco and his flamenco company (who Esmeralda Enrique performed with in the 1960s) and the 1970s flamenco revival best known for the celebrated Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and legendary flamenco singer Camarón, who often performed together.

Incorporating traditional flamenco dances and songs, old folk songs that have been integrated into the contemporary flamenco repertoire, ancient and classical Spanish dance and music, Épocas pays homage to great artists of the 20th century who brought these dances, music and songs to the world.

Joining the award-winning EESDC are two artists from Spain: Córdoba-born gifted dancer/choreographer of enormous charm, Rafael del Pino "Keko", makes his debut with the company while exhilarating singer Manuel Soto, from a family with a long flamenco tradition, returns to work with the ensemble for his fifth season.

In looking to pioneering Spanish artists of the twentieth century, Enrique and del Pino honour their tremendous influence by using these great performers' unique styles and talents as a springboard and inspiration to create new and vibrant offerings that reflect their legacies. The new choreographies will pay homage to these pivotal artists, incorporating snippets of music and movement from their repertoire while creating something entirely new.

The impressive dancers for Épocas are Pamela Briz, Paloma Cortés, Virginia Castro, Esmeralda Enrique, Noelia La Morocha and special guest Rafael del Pino "Keko."

Montreal native Caroline Planté, the first female flamenco guitarist to ever compose and record a cd, joins Toronto-based musicians Benjamin Barrile (guitar), Cuban-born in-demand percussionist Rosendo "Chendy" León, Jerry Caringi (accordion and keyboards) and Tamar Ilana (singer) who joins special guest Manuel Soto to round out the talented artists on stage for this evening of passionate and beautiful dance and song.

A little background on the most well-known of the artists EESDC is honouring:

La Argentina (1890-1936), Antonia Mercé y Luque, born in Argentina, rekindled the spirit of genuine Spanish dance and brought to it dignity and nobility. Known for her creation of the neoclassical style of Spanish dance as a theatrical art, she was the first to use music of the great Spanish composers such as Albéniz, de Falla and Granados. La Argentina gave Spanish dance her own special imprint and revolutionized the castanets not merely as musical accompaniment to regional dances, but as a genuine concert instrument. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjH5Tirus7k

José Greco (1918-2000) was known for popularizing Spanish dance on the stage and screen in America in the 1950s and '60s. Born in Italy and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Greco came to embody the art of Spanish dancing for many in performances that were reassuringly straightforward and entertaining. Frequent tours and television variety show appearances made him a household name. Greco's best-known work, El Cortijo, is a zapateado, choreographed to suggest the rhythm of horsemen on open plains. Esmeralda Enrique performed in Greco's company for two years in the 1960s and cites Greco as a great inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D3g1ZvR1io

In the 1960s and 70s, the virtuosic and enduring flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía (1947-2014) and iconic singer Camarón de la Isla (1950-1992) legitimized flamenco in Spain. De Lucía was the first flamenco guitarist to successfully cross over into other musical genres like classical and jazz and was known for his quick and fluent picados. Camarón's haunting voice seamlessly shifted from traditional flamenco to popular music, endearing him to all who heard him sing and in doing so, introduced the world to flamenco. Paco de Lucía and Camarón recorded ten albums together which are considered some of the most important and influential in Flamenco history.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKtAhJPZS6o&list=PL60ACF3A883D4BC9F

Flamenco, an art form like no other, speaks to the heart and touches the soul, and the award-winning Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company enthralls audiences with its imaginative choreography and artistic excellence. EESDC was founded in 1982 under the artistic direction of Esmeralda Enrique. Rooted in flamenco and Spanish classical dance, EESDC presents a style that holds both a classic and contemporary aesthetic in perfect balance while maintaining the values of traditional flamenco singing, dance and music. The Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company has been presenting an annual Toronto season since 1990. It has developed an ever-expanding repertoire that has earned both critical and popular acclaim. With unique, talented dancers and musicians from Canada and regular guest artists from Spain, the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company is recognized for the exceptional level of its productions, receiving three Dora Mavor Moore Awards in addition to numerous nominations over the years (17 and counting). Its last three Harbourfront Centre shows were the dazzling Letters to Spain (2015 - excerpt: https://vimeo.com/156910349), De Idas y Vueltas (2014 - excerpt: https://vimeo.com/121932042) and Portales (2013). Esmeralda Enrique reveals in her work a total mastery and love of Spanish classical dance and flamenco. She has been honoured with Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Outstanding Performance four times and for Outstanding Choreography in 2009 and 2015.http://www.flamencos.net

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