FEATURE SHOW

CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS
BALLET FLAMENCO SARA BARAS’S
BAY AREA PREMIERE OF SABORES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25
AT ZELLERBACH HALL

Dancing a fine line between exquisite and raw, the passionate and powerful Sara Baras returns with her company, Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras, to Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Saturday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. For two evenings, Baras will perform the Bay Area premiere of her latest creation, Sabores (Flavors). Known throughout Spain as a superstar flamenco dancer, Baras has been honored with the country’s most prestigious dance award, the Premio Nacional de Danza. Hailed for her intense and elegant spirit, Baras will perform with her company of ten dancers and six musicians plus musical director José María Bandera. Covering various flamenco emotions, Sabores draws inspiration from a variety of dance forms, such as tangos, seguiriyas, tanguillos and bulerías, creating a flavorful palette and a feast for the senses. Sabores is “a perfectly presented show of faultless flamenco” (The Evening Standard, London) and had its world premiere in Paris during the 2005 Flamenco Festival. The program also features two guest dancers/choreographers, José Serrano and Luis Ortega.

Tickets available through the Cal Performances Ticket Office at Zellerbach Hall; at (510) 642-9988 to charge by phone; at www.calperfs.berkeley.edu; and at the door. Price: $28/$38/$56

SARA BARAS
Sara Baras was born in Cadiz, Spain in 1971 and began training at her mother’s flamenco school at age eight. At 18, she won first prize in a television talent contest and began to gain recognition for her extraordinary gifts as a dancer. By 1998, she had established Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras; the company's first production was Sensaciones, a journey through palos, traditional forms of flamenco that have no plot but emphasize the feminine aspects of the dance. The second production, titled Sueños, premiered in April of 1999 in Jerez, Spain. Paris’s Le Figaro called Baras “the most sensational discovery on the women’s [flamenco] scene—her dance is sculptural and magnificent, her footwork of a virtuosity rarely attained by a female flamenco dancer.” An audience favorite, Sueños toured Europe, United States, South America and Asia. With Sabores, her third production, she finishes a trilogy of work begun with Senaciones. Recognized for her youth and beauty as well as for her talent as a dancer and choreographer, Baras was named the “Face of Andalusia” in 2002 and represents the Tourism Council of the Andalusian government. She was honored with a stamp issued by the Spanish postal system and has gained a reputation as a fashion-forward celebrity.

BALLET FLAMENCO SARA BARAS
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras, founded in 1998, includes two guitarists, two singers, a percussionist and a violinist creating syncopated rhythms that work in symbiosis with the dancers’ explosive footwork and choreography. The award-winning company has toured extensively. In 2002, they made flamenco box office history by selling out every night of a five-month show in Madrid, where Baras now makes her home.

In addition to Baras (director, chroeographer, dancer), the company includes dancers Alicia Fernández, Cecilia Gómex, Ana González, Charo Pedraja, María Vega, Raúl Fernandez, José Galán, Raúl Prieto, Daniel Saltares and David Martín. The band is made up of Bandera (musical director, guitar); Mario Montoya (guitar); Miguel de la Tolea and Saúl Quirós (vocals); Antonio Suárez (percussion); and José Amador Goñi (violin).

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras Saturday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Zellerbach Hall are priced at $28.00, $38.00 and $56.00. Tickets are available through the Cal Performances Ticket Office at Zellerbach Hall; at (510) 642-9988 to charge by phone; at www.calperformances.net; and at the door. Half-price tickets are available for purchase by UC Berkeley students. UC faculty and staff, senior citizens and other students receive a $2 discount, and UC Alumni Association members receive a $3 discount (Special Events excluded). For more information, call Cal Performances at (510) 642-9988, or visit www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Click on the show for calendar details. Check show information with venue.

Flamenco Dance
Technique & Choreography
Taught by ~ Mónica

New Session Begins March 19, 2007!
Monday Evenings
Beginning 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Intermediate/Advanced 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

San Francisco Dance Center
26 - 7th Street at Market, 5th Floor
San Francisco
For more information & registration (415) 330-9075
Pasionflamenca@gmail.com
www.flamenco-dance.com

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
GINO D'AURI
We are extremely saddened to announce the passing of a Great Musician, Artist and Dearest Friend, GINO D'AURI.
The Flamenco world has lost one of the Best Guitarists, Artists and Musician of his generation and the 20th Century. We will miss his artistry, great sense of humor, sensitivity and love of his art. Those of us who had the pleasure and honor of working with him, will never forget him. He lives on in our memories and hearts.
~ Carolina Lugo, Carolé Acuña y
Richard Tonkin
Brisas de España Flamenco
Dance Company


Singer Jesus Montoya & Gino D’Auri

Gino D’Auri was born in Rome and toured the World many times with many of the greatest Flamenco Artists of the 20th Century. He played in a style that moves the heart and cuts to the very soul of the music. Gino, says “For me, the music is a limitless expression of improvisation and the need to express feelings about every day life.. When you improvise you can’t allow yourself to think about anything other than the feeling of the moment. That is where great music comes from.”
He was featured in numerous concerts with many of the leading Flamenco Dance Companies in the United States with Lola Montes and Spanish Dancers, Luisa Antonio Triana and eight world tours with Jose Greco whom he appeared eleven time with on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson . For many years he regularly performed at the Flamenco night club “El Cid” on Sunset Blvd, in Los Angeles. His last performance in the Bay Area was with Carolina Lugo’s Brisas de España in 2005 He is an accomplished concert artist and composer and has recorded several CD albums for Hearts of Space/World Class Records including “Gino D’Auri FlamencoPassion and Soul” as well as for many Hollywood films. He trained in Flamenco and Classical music in his native country and traveled to Spain to continue his studies with his good friend Ricardo Mino and many other.

Romani Links and Resources

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SF Flamenco is an online community center and magazine working to support and showcase the entire flamenco community in the greater San Francisco Bay Area by providing a promotional media interface representing flamenco culture, arts and artists to facilitate public awareness and understanding. This California on-line flamenco magazine, includes event listings, an artist directory, flamenco artist support and resources, historical and education resources, art, nightlife and resources on local, U.S.A., Spanish and international flamenco art and culture. If you are a local flamenco performer, find out about the free Feature Articles, and Performer's Network. Site created as a community arts project by Jason Engelund, El Pintor.