Who's who: Ryan Rockmore, Mary Baird, Xianix Barrera, Carol Basilio, Edu Duyos, Alfonso Cid [singer], Cristian Puig [guitarist] La Generación del 16 seeks to bring new voices to the New York flamenco scene. While a great deal of impressive traditional work is performed and created in this city, there are few opportunities for flamenco artists to experiment, perform innovative choreographies, and share their contemporary concepts with the community. Funding this show will allow the collective of five dancers and three musicians to stage these works and further New York's contribution to the future of flamenco. Support helps create costumes, pay artists, rent the theater, and have rehearsal space. This collaborative, experimental project arose out of a questioning of the meaning behind thecafés cantantes in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Such locales were modeled after Parisian cabarets and can be compared to American Vaudeville theaters, as well. These locations had an important influence on flamenco through the development of codified, organized palos and defined movement aesthetics for both men and women. By taking flamenco out of private parties and familial settings, the art form began to take on a truly performative nature and exacerbate a performer-spectator relationship with set choreographies and elaborate costumes. The dancers were typically female, bailaoras, accompanied (or led) by male singers, cantaores, and guitarists. The show also uses the Generaciones del [19]27 and [18]98 as foundational influences because of their desire to collaborate in groups, refer to classic or historical works, and find balances between the intellectual/sentimental and traditional/experimental aspects of art. La Generación del 16 intends to question stereotypes and traditions of the art form while still respecting its legacy and history, both globally and locally. Shows at 8:00PM on February 25th through the 28th.
$20-$25