THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO PARTNERSHIP
FALL 2008
THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO PARTNERSHIP
Representing the area's vibrant Flamenco community, The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership is a grassroots arts organization dedicated to presenting quality Flamenco to audiences throughout Northern California. Productions feature visiting artists from Spain and provide a forum for the rich pool of outstanding local Flamenco performers. Currently the BAFP is in the planning stages of the Bay Area Festival of Flamenco Arts and Traditions which will take place in Feb/Mar of 2009. In 2005 the BAFP launched the first San Francisco Bay Area International Flamenco Festival with events including performances by Andrés Marín and Company from Spain and a Bay Area Flamenco All-Star Gala Showcase Benefit for Hurricane Katrina Relief. Ongoing projects include a dynamic and highly successful monthly series at Berkeley's La Peña Cultural Center as well as a series of dance workshops taught by world-class visiting artists from Spain. Highlights of recent productions have been the Diego del Gastor Centennial Tribute featuring SON DE LA FRONTERA; icon of Gypsy flamenco dance, Concha Vargas with legendary guitarist David Serva; Pure Gypsy Flamenco featuring Juan del Gastor and Arte y Pureza featuring the legendary Miguel Funi with Antonio Moya. Past events include the acclaimed dancers La Tania with Juanaire and Carola Zertuche; Gypsy guitar legend Chuscales; Roberto Zamora y su Arte Flamenco; cutting-edge flamenco rock band Flametal with dancers Fanny Ara and Melissa Cruz; Gypsy singer Antonio de Jerez from el Barrio de La Plazuela; Cristo Cortes and Los Gitanos de Marseilles; Zambomba, a Flamenco Holiday celebration in the tradition of the Andalucian gypsies, featuring Angelita Agujetas; and Arte y Pureza featuring Mari Pena & Antonio Moya, Cihtli Ocampo & Ethan Margolis and Luis Pena & Javier Heredia. Future projects include an exploration of the spiritual kinship between flamenco and the blues.
The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership's director, Nina Menendez of La Nina Productions,
is also active in the local flamenco community as a singer and has been
involved in flamenco for most of her life. As a young teenager in the
1970s, her favorite recordings were old 78's of La Nina de los Peines
and Tomas Pavon, live recordings of La Fernanda and Perrate de Utrera
with Diego del Gastor, and bootleg cassettes of Camaron de
la Isla accompanied by Paco de Lucía. Her work as performing artist and producer
allow her to share her profound respect for the art of flamenco with
Bay Area audiences. www.myspace.com/laninaflamenco
