Direct from Spain!
The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership presents

Legendary flamenco guitarist DAVID SERVA with Icon of Gypsy flamenco dance CONCHA VARGAS
joined by singer CARMEN DE QUINTIN, dancer CLARA MORA and guitarist DANIEL STAFFLER

SAT, AUGUST 18, 8:30pm
LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER
3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Box Office hours: Wed-Sat. 1-6pm
(510) 849-2568 ext. 20
Online Tickets at www.showboxoffice.com

SUN, AUGUST 19, 8pm
KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER
320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz
Tickets: Streetlight Records
939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
(831) 421-9200
Online Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com

Featured dancer, Concha Vargas is an icon of Spanish Gypsy culture. Through her dance she transmits a legacy of a grassroots art passed down from generation to generation. Known for her dynamic, fiery style she has performed all over the world and is a frequent guest artist of Antonio "El Pipa" and Company (Gypsy Caravan). She and her teenage daughter, singer Carmen de Quintin are directly related to both of the two most important Gypsy flamenco families of Lebrija, a small town at the very epicenter of flamenco history. Guitarist David Serva, who lived in Berkeley in his youth, returns to visit the Bay Area after living in Spain for the last 40 years where he has gained recognition as one of the leading accompanists of Gypsy flamenco.

Read the Ballad of Gypsy Davy, by Carl Nagin.

Read Amit Barso's article on Concha Vargas.

 

GUITAR INSTRUCTION WITH DAVID SERVA
David Serva will be offering guitar instruction during the month of August. For further information call Paul at (510) 524-1850

DANCE WORKSHOPS WITH CONCHA VARGAS
Concha will be offering workshops throughout the month of August in cities including San Rafael (8/4th-5th), Santa Cruz (8/6th-16th), San Jose (8/21st-24th) and Berkeley (8/25).
For further information see:
http://www.laninaflamenco.com/WORKSHOPS.html

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

CONCHA VARGAS, dancer, is directly related to both of the two great Gypsy singing families of Lebrija, the Pininis and the Peñas. Her heritage is the pure Gypsy Flamenco that is the root of her dynamic, fiery style. She has performed all over Europe, Japan and the US for over 25 years and has worked with such flamenco greats as dancers El Guito and Mario Maya, guitarist Pedro Bacán and singers La Macanita and Curro Fernandez. In recent years she has been a featured guest artist with Antonio “El Pipa” and Company performing with them in both the US and Europe.
Concha Vargas, video on YouTube.com

DAVID SERVA has accompanied such historical figures of flamenco as Juan Talega, Manolito de María, La Perla de Cádiz, Anzonini del Puerto and Fernanda de Utrera, more contemporary artists including Manuel Agujetas, Miguel Funi, Manolete, Mario Maya, and Blanca del Rey, and younger figures such as Joaquín Ruiz, Soledad Barrios, and Jose Torres de Morón. He plays in Flamenco nightclubs and festivals all over Spain and has participated in the Bienal del Arte Flamenco de Sevilla with Gypsy flamenco artists from the towns of Morón and Lebrija. He was first guitarist for several years for the acclaimed company "Noche Flamenca," and has received two grants from "Meet the Composer" for collaborations with choreographers. His solo concert in Toronto (Son Gitano en America) is available on compact disc, and he has also recorded extensively with three generations of the Agujetas family of singers from Jerez de la Frontera, with Antonio Vizárraga, and with Rafael Jiménez "El Falo".

CARMEN DE QUINTÍN, singer and dancer, is the daughter of Concha Vargas. Still in her late teens she is an expressive singer and dancer, steeped in the traditions of her family and attuned to the latest trends in modern flamenco. She performs regularly throughout Andalucía, Spain.

CLARA MORA has performed flamenco with the companies of Ramón de los Reyes, Estrella Morena, José Molina, Noche Flamenca, Los Canasteros and Flamenco Vivo, in flamenco nightclubs in New York, San Francisco, Madrid and Seville, and in solo concert. She has shared the stage with such pure flamenco artists as Miguel Funi, Pepa de Utrera, José Torres (of Son de la Frontera) and la Repompa de Málaga.

DANIEL STAFFLER Daniel Staffler was born in the U.S. but lived and performed for many years in Spain. He has played for many of the great flamenco singers such as Manuel Agujetas, Rancapino and even for the legendary Camaron de la Isla. While living in Spain he toured throughout Europe as first guitarist for the National Ballet of Madrid. In the U.S. he has toured extensively with the National Endowment for the Arts Program and has been featured as guest soloist with the Denver Symphony performing an original flamenco composition. Certainly some of his most rewarding artistic collaborations --both currently and when they first played together 40 years ago-- have been with his dear friend David Serva. Daniel presently composes and teaches in Santa Cruz, California.