A new production by Edwin Aparicio with guest artist Neli Tirado - a featured flamenco dance soloist with Riverdance and the María Pages flamenco dance company. A story of immigrants' struggles at home and an exploration of emotional travel to a foreign land. War, love and survival through flamenco.

Friday November 11, 2005, 8:00pm--Performance only $30
Saturday November 12, 2005, 8:00pm--Performance only $30/Performance plus Post-Performance Reception $50

To reserve tickets, call 301-984-3003.

Performance will take place at The American Dance Institute 1570 East Jefferson St in Rockville, Maryland. Nearest metro is Twinbrook on the Red Line. Directions

Starring Edwin Aparicio and Nélida Tirado

Special guests:
Anna Pastora Menéndez, Jesús Montoya, Ricardo Marlow, Marta Chico Martín, Alfonso Cid, Tamara Sol Flys

Post-Performance Reception following the November 12th performance will take place at American Dance Institute--catered by Jaleo/Bethesda.

Ticket availability is limited. Tickets for both Saturday performance and reception (wine and tapas) are $50. Those who wish to see the show only may buy tickets at $30.

Edwin Aparicio (Baile)
Mr. Aparicio began his dance career at the age of seventeen in Washington DC. He subsequently studied flamenco in Spain with La Tati and Tomás de Madrid.

In 2001, Mr. Aparicio made his flamenco debut at the legendary Casa Patas in Madrid. He performed with The Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center, under the direction of Plácido Domingo in El Gato Montés in 1997, and Don Giovanni in 2003.

Mr. Aparicio has performed as a soloist throughout the U.S. with companies such as the late “José Greco Spanish Dance Company”. Throughout his artistic life, Mr. Aparicio has shared the stage with such acclaimed artists as Chuscales, Silverio Heredia, Roberto Castellón, Pedro Cortés, “La Truco”, Elena Andújar, Carmela Greco, Pastora Galván and José Luis Rodríguez.

Mr. Aparicio toured the United States with Reynaldo Rincón’s “Romería Flamenca”, and was a featured artist in 2002 and a guest speaker and instructor in 2005 at the Chicago Flamenco Festival. Until 2004, he served as the Assistant Artistic Director of the “Arte Flamenco” Dance Company, where he was a choreographer, teacher, and performer.

For the past three years, Mr. Aparicio has been giving master classes throughout the U.S., including at the Flamenco In The Sun annual festival in Miami in 2004 and 2005, alongside internationally acclaimed masters Belén Maya and Pastora Galván. In the 2005 Festival, Bailes Ferrer Dance Company featured Mr. Aparicio’s choreography together with the choreographies by Belén Maya and Andrés Marín in the “Espejos Del Alma” in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale FL. Both 2004 and 2005 Festivals featured Mr. Aparicio as a guest performer together with nationally acclaimed Pedro Cortés (2004) and world renowned Pastora Galván and José Luis Rodríguez (2005).

Mr. Aparicio is the artistic director and choreographer of Encuentros, of the collaboration Bailes Inéditos, and of a nationally acclaimed production Intimo (in collaboration with Carmela Greco), with presentations in Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, and Chicago IL. Most recently, he performed with “Jóvenes Flamenco” as a soloist and a company member at the Centro Cultural de San Blas in Madrid, Spain.

Nélida Tirado (Baile)
Began her formal training at age six at Ballet Hispanico of NY where she trained in classical ballet, graham technique and classical Spanish dance/flamenco. Her dance training led her to become a scholarship recipient, member of the apprentice company and receive yet another scholarship - The Tito Puente Scholarship.

Barely out of her teens, Nélida was immediately noticed and was invited to join Jose Molina Bailes Espanoles and toured the US for the next several years. She joined Carlota Santana's "Flamenco Vivo" company and was soloist, dance captain for several years. In 1997, Nélida received an Artist in Residence grant from the New York Foundation of the Arts.

Her desire to continue learning led her to Spain in 1997 where she immediately began studying and performing professionally. She was offered a scholarship with the "Fundacion Cristina Hereen" in Seville but instead, joined Compania Maria Pages where she was soloist and repetidora (dance captain) performing at the Bienal del Arte Flamenco in Seville and doing major prestigious flamenco festivals within Spain, internationally and Spanish television. Clearly a successful dancer, Nélida has had the opportunity to work with many of Spain's major flamenco artists such as Antonio "El Pipa" in Gypsy Caravan, Juan Andres Maya, Manolo Marin, Manuel Soler, Antonio Reyes, Juan Manuel Canizares, Antonio Malena, La Tobala, and Marina Heredia.

Upon arrival to the US, Nélida has worked with the "Noche Flamenca and was featured flamenco star in the highly acclaimed show "Riverdance" on Broadway. Nélida’s intense grace and powerful style is what has attracted the attention of other dancers, critics and non-dancers alike. Her style is unlike any other causing critics to single her out time and again in her appearances at the Joyce Theater, Jacobs Pillow, and Lincoln Center. Ms. Tirado currently resides and teaches in NY and has just returned summer '05 from performing with Maria Pages in the Aichi Expo in Japan.

Anna Pastora Menéndez (Baile)
Ms. Menendez’s extensive performance credits include appearances with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony, The Washington National Opera, and The Baltimore Opera Company. In October 2002, she was invited to perform “Asturias” with renowned classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco as part of The Baltimore Symphony’s Symphonies With A Twist Series.

In July 2004, Ms. Menendez performed “Asturias” once again with Mr. Barrueco as part of The B.S.O.’s Summer Concert Series. Ms. Menendez studied flamenco dance with María Morales, La Tati, La Truco, and Merche Esmeralda. In 2001, Ms. Menendez was invited to perform with “The La Truco Flamenco Dance Company” at the annual Certamen (Competition), held at the Albéniz Theater in Madrid. She was the managing director of the flamenco collaboration Bailes Inéditos and Edwin Aparicio’s Encuentros. She has been an invited artist with Natalia Monteleon’s “Arte Flamenco Dance Company” for the past seven years.

Most recently, she was awarded an artistic fellowship for flamenco dance by the DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Menendez teaches locally at the DC Dance Collective and at the American Dance Institute. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Jesús Montoya (Cante)
Comes to you straight from Seville, Spain. Born into one of the oldest Gypsy Families, Jesus is steeped in Flamenco purity and power. He leaves audiences feeling enchanted, captivated and loved. Early widespread acceptance gave this young singing sensation the name "El Rey de Fandangos" at age 7. Word of mouth popularity earned him the beginning of a professional singing career by age 9.

At age 13, touring all of Spain had become second nature. Jesus was the featured singer for the legendary Fernanda Romero for many, many years. Always in demand, Jesus became the hottest ticket in Sevilla and it's surrounding provinces.

In 1990, at just 23 years of age, Jesus had become the people's choice with his commanding performances and was invited to tour America. Since then, Jesus Montoya has toured tirelessly with every single top major Flamenco Company throughout the U.S. & Canada captivating audiences worldwide. While widely known as "El Genio Gitano"/"The Gypsy Dynamo", concert media reviewers dub Jesus Montoya as "The Pavarotti of Flamenco".

Enjoying his stay in America, Jesus decided to make it his second home. He is acclaimed as "Thee Most Exciting, Explosive and Unforgettable Voice of Flamenco Music Today.......".

Flamenco USA Magagize recently reviewed Jesus in Boston writing.... "Jesus Montoya's energy cannot be contained even by his armour of gold chains. His tremendous spirit brings community and alegria (happiness) to the group. He punches the compas (rhythm) with percussive jaleos. With a voice that's zesty and full, painted with celebration and duende, Jesus is a complete fiesta!"

Richard Marlow (Toque)
Mr. Marlow has been playing the guitar since childhood. He received his degree in Music from the James Madison University in Virginia and went on to study flamenco guitar. One of his most influential teachers has been master guitarist Gerardo Núñez from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain.

Mr. Marlow has performed in various productions of “The Danza del Río Flamenco Company”, “Arte Flamenco” and with “The Ana Martínez Dance Company” alongside Paco de Málaga. He has played the guitar at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, at The Baltimore Museum of Art, at The George Washington University, and was featured in the John E. Marlow Guitar Series.

Recently, he received critics’ accolades for his performance in Bailes Inéditos and Encuentros with guest artists Jesús Montoya and Eliezer “La Truco”. Mr. Marlow is an accomplished flamenco guitarist, who performs nightly at numerous local venues.

Marta Chico Martín (Baile)
Marta Chico Martín began her flamenco studies in the United States in 1998 with Natalia Monteleon. She continued her professional flamenco training with Edwin Aparicio, El Tellez, and La Truco. In Spain, Ms. Martín studied with La Tati and Tomás de Madrid. Ms. Martín performs regularly with Natalia Monteleon’s “Arte Flamenco” and as a soloist in a variety of venues in the Washington DC area. Recently, Ms. Martín performed in an acclaimed production of Edwin Aparicio and Anna Menendez Bailes Ineditos and also Edwin Aparicio’s Encuentros.

Alfonso Cid (Cante Flamenco y Flauta)
Alfonso nació y creció en Sevilla, en el corazón de la geografía flamenca. Su madre una aficionada al cante nacida en Triana y su abuelo fueron sus primeras influencias. Tras el fallecimiento de su abuelo su amor y respeto por el Flamenco se intensificó. Esta experiencia le hizo darse cuenta de la hondura y belleza de esta forma de expresión del pueblo Andaluz y le hizo entender la necesidad de mantener y fomentar este arte para las generaciones venideras. También, desde 1987, tuvo la oportunidad de asistir a las actividades culturales de una de las más prestigiosas peñas flamencas de Andalucía, la Peña Flamenca Torres-Macarena, donde fue presentado gracias a su gran amigo Sergio Iglesias, hijo del presidente de dicha institución en aquella época.

Alfonso se inscribió en el conservatorio de Sevilla en 1990 en donde estudio solfeo y flauta durante cinco años.

Desde su llegada a Nueva York en 1997, Alfonso ha trabajado con un gran número de artistas flamencos, entre ellos: Pilar Rioja, Andrea Del Conte, Carmela Greco, Nélida Tirado, Sara Erde, Conja Abdesalam, José Junco, Oscar Valero, Carmen Romero, Edwin Aparicio, por nombrar unos cuantos. Guitarristas flamencos: Chuscales, Arturo Martínez, Carlos Rubio, Roberto Castellón, Carlos Revollar, Miguel de la Bastide.

Alfonso ha actuado en los siguientes teatros e instituciones: Town Hall con el World Music Institute, el Royal Albert Hall de Londres con la BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Sala Covarrubias en la Ciudad de México, Carnegie Hall ( Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall) , Joyce Theater, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Symphony Space, Merkin Concert Hall, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, The Spanish Theatre Repertory, Thalia Spanish Theatre, The Theater for the New City, El Taller Latino Americano y muchos de los tablaos flamencos del área urbana de Nueva York y estados circundantes.

Alfonso ha participado en programas educativos para escuelas y universidades, así como numerosos festivales de danza y música que le han dado la oportunidad de viajar por los Estados Unidos, Canadá y Puerto Rico.

Tamara Sol Flys (Baile)
Tamara Sol Flys took her first flamenco classes in Spain at age 10. After her family returned to the United States she continued her studies with Lydia Torea and later with Dini Román. Other influential teachers have been Carmela Greco (daughter of the late Jose Greco), Domingo Ortega, Manuel Reyes, La Tati, and La Truco at the famous Amor de Dios School in Madrid, Spain. Tamara travels annually to Spain to deepen her knowledge of flamenco, both for her own and her students’ enrichment.

A professional performer since 1993, Tamara’s first experience was as a member of Artes Bellas, the esteemed company of her teacher Lydia Torea. Since that time she has appeared in live and televised performances such as “Flamenco Fireworks” at the Phoenix Symphony Hall and the Tucson Convention Center, and “Sabor y Ritmo” at the Century Club in Los Angeles.

From 1997-99, Tamara had the opportunity to share the stage with such acclaimed artists as Elena Andujar and Maria Bermudez under the direction of accomplished choreographer Fred Darsow at Arizona State University.

She now performs throughout the Baltimore/Washington DC area, and teaches at the Peabody Preparatory and at Experimental Movement Concepts, both in Baltimore, MD. Tamara Sol Flys received a B.S. in Microbiology (magna cum laude) from Arizona State University, and she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

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