(Linda
Vargas. Pic by Val Adamson)
The Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company, in
collaboration with jazz musicians Neil Gonsalves (piano), Demi Fernandez
(jazz/flamenco guitar) and Bryan Stone (percussion), will present their
exciting new production More Flamenco,
More Jazz to Durban audiences.
More
Flamenco, More Jazz presents new fusion
choreographies and compositions which will provide an even more exhilarating
experience for Durban audiences in the intimacy of the UKZN Jazz Centre. Spectacular
new costumes together with pulsating rhythms and exhilarating music and dance,
will provide audiences with a feast for the senses! Gonsalves and Fernandez will
also present a limited edition of their first collaborative CD due to be
launched in 2014.
Linda Vargas is the founder and director of
the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company. She has choreographed numerous flamenco
dance productions as well as the opera productions La Traviata, Amal, Faust, Salome and Carmen. She co-founded the international organization Alianza
Flamenca and is a member of its Board of Directors, as well as its panel of
international examiners. She currently lectures at UKZN and performs, examines
and conducts educational and corporate workshops both nationally and
internationally. Her educational dance workshops in schools and for NAPTOSA
assist teachers to incorporate dance in the formal school curriculum. Vargas
holds a Masters Degree in Education as well as B.A. Honours in Drama, LISTD and
Final Diploma (ISTD, London) and PDB.
Neil Gonsalves holds a Masters degree in
Music and currently lectures at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has
performed in various national music festivals with numerous South Africa jazz
and Afro-beat luminaries as well as his own band, Tonk. He has also toured
internationally, including a four year stint as part of Johnny Clegg’s band. He
has released a solo album North Facing
which represents a blend of modern South African and Nordic jazz.
Demi Fernandez was born in Brazil of
Spanish parents and spent many years living and performing in Flamenco Tablaos
in Spain. He has also appeared as leading flamenco guitarist with numerous
South African and international Spanish Dance Companies. He is resident
guitarist for the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company and has composed musical scores for several
SABC TV productions and also appeared in numerous productions including Guitars for Africa in Durban and at the
Grahamstown National Arts Festival. He also currently lectures in the
University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Jazz programme.
More
Flamenco, More Jazz runs at the Centre for Jazz and
Popular Music on the UKZNs Howard College campus from November 27 to December
1. Performances nightly at 19h00 and on December 1 at 15h00. Entrance fee is
R100 (R80 students/pensioners). Bookings through Linda on vargas@telkomsa.net or 031 201 0750
(mornings only). Tickets are limited for each performance so advanced booking
is advised to avoid disappointment.
Posts
