Date: February 5th 2008

Hi, it's me Miguelito, keeping you informed of the latest flamenco events for the Washington DC area. It's been quite a while since I sent out one of these to my mailing list, I know, but it's still better than me sending out too many, right?

Anywayz, if you haven't heard already Lisner is having is 8th annual flamenco festival and I highly recommend you buy tickets now before they sell out, and they will!

Here's the schedule in brief:

Thursday, February 7th
The always popular Flamenco Dance On Stage ... Starring YOU!
The 7pm beginners workshop will be taught by Sara Jerez-Marlow (with guitar accompaniment by me, Miguelito) and the 9pm workshop for more experienced dancers will be taught by Ana Martinez (with guitar accompaniment by Paco de Malaga). There will be a Spanish wine and cheese reception between the workshops at 8pm. More info at http://lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=418

Saturday Feb 9th, 8pm
Cuatro Esquinas (Four Corners): Carmen Linares, Miguel Poveda (voices), Juan Carlos Romero (guitar), Pastora Galván (dance)
Two of flamenco's leading singers, Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda, share the stage in a virtuosic vocal display ranging from the Gypsy roots of flamenco to contemporary innovations.Linares, one of the great names in flamenco, has been celebrated worldwide for over 30 years for her exquisite style; Latin Grammy nominee Miguel Poveda has become an important figure in the new generation of flamenco vocalists.In their new show, Cuatro Esquinas, they will joined by the remarkable guitarist Juan Carlos Romero and Pastora Galván, a commanding young dancer in her Washington debut. More info at http://lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=371

Sunday Feb 10th, 7pm
Tomatito Quintet
The dazzling Gypsy guitarist Tomatito is noted for his mastery of the compás and his elegant style. In his teens, he began a long partnership with singer Camerón de la Isla, which lasted until Camerón's death in 1992. Since then he has become one of flamenco's most highly regarded solo guitarists and received several Latin Grammy Awards. In this performance, he will be joined by his musical ensemble and the dynamic Gypsy dancer Jose Maya, a rising star in flamenco. More info at http://lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=387

Tuesday Feb 12th 8pm
Gala Flamenca: Mujeres...Merche Esmeralda, Belén Maya, Rocío Molina with special guest Diana Navarro. Directed by Mario Maya.
This all-star gala, featuring three generations of dancers, is dedicated to the women of flamenco. The program, entitled Mujeres, is comprised of the legendary Merche Esmeralda, acclaimed for her mesmerizing performances for the National Ballet of Spain and Carlos Saura's Sevillanos and Flamenco; the innovative and soulful dancer Belén Maya, known for her work with Mayte Martín and the Dance Company of Andalucía; and Rocío Molina, a highlight of the 2005 festival who was called "a brooding treasure" (The New York Times).
Appearing as guest artist is the extraordinary award-wining singer Diana Navarro in her Washington debut. The show is directed by renowned dancer and choreographer Mario Maya. More info at http://lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=388

Thursday, Friday Feb 14, 15, 8pm
Ballet Flamenca Eva Yerbabuena - Santo y Seña (Signs and Wonders)
Eva Yerbabuena returns after her acclaimed appearance here in 2002. Hailed as "a revelation" (New York Times) and a major force in flamenco today, she is a consummate artist known for her breathtaking solos and dramatic footwork. She has enraptured audiences throughout the world and won every prestigious Spanish choreographic award, including the National Dance Prize. Her company of dancers and musicians will present the Washington premiere of her new show, Santo y Seña (Signs and Wonders). More info at http://lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=389

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If you haven't been out to one of the local tablaos, here's a select list of weekly shows:

8:30pm and 9:30pm Mondays at Cafe Citron located at 1343 Connecticut Ave NW DC. 21 and over after 10:00pm--bring ID! Call 202-530-8844. Featuring singer Gerard Moreno, guitarist Miguelito and dancer (usually Maria or Sara Jerez-Marlow). One of my favorite places because of the festive ambience. It's very lively and the coziness of the place encourages friends and fellow flamencos to spontaneously join us for some Sevillanas or a patada of bulerias.

10:00pm Mondays at Ozio Lounge located at 1813 M St NW DC (near Dupont Circle). 21 and over--bring ID! Call 202-822-6000. Featuring rumba group Duende Camaron. Very intimate atmosphere. A lot of my friends go here (including me) after my show at Cafe Citron and carry on until 1:00am doing palmas and dancing to Gipsy Kings style repertoire.

7:45pm and 8:45pm Tuesdays and Thursdays at Las Tapas located at 710 King St in Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-836-4000. Featuring a guitarist (Tuesdays with Miguelito, Thursdays with Richard Marlow) with two dancers. This place has one of the best stages in the area: it's raised about 4 feet off the ground so you can see appreciate a full view of the dancers no matter where you sit.

7:30pm Wednesdays at Cubanos located at 1201 Fidler Lane in Silver Spring, Maryland. Call 301-563-4020. Featuring guitarist Torcuato Zamora and dancer Maria. Another intimate atmosphere and excellent Cuban food!

8:30pm and 9:30pm Fridays at Cabanas located at 3050 K St NW DC in Georgetown. Call 202-944-4242. Featuring guitarist Miguelito with two dancers. The show takes place in the spacious dining room. But you can also watch the show from the bar. Sometimes my singer friend Hector Marquez joins us onstage.

8:00pm and 9:00pm Saturdays at Tapeo located at 1301 S. Joyce St in Arlington (Pentagon City). Call 703-416-6431. Featuring guitarist Miguelito with one or two dancers and occasional guest guitarists and singers. Excellent tapas. Reserve a table by the stage for the best view or just sit at the bar.

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OK, that's the DC flamenco scene in brief. For more information, visit my website at http://www.dcflamenco.com and don't forget to visit my blog at http://www.dcflamenco.com/blog (which I updated more often than the rest of my website!).

-Miguelito