VIDA FLAMENCO

(Teresa Galan, Ana Salvatore, Milissa Mia, Enrique Marin, Taryn Van Wyk,

Hannah Brophy Bosch, Sanisha Naidoo & David Romero)

(Pic by Val Adamson)

In celebration of an impressive 35-year legacy, the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company promises to thrill audiences with a special gala season entitled Vida Flamenco (Life of Flamenco) at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from July 11 to 15, 2018.

With their high level of performance innovation, creativity and professionalism the Company has built a loyal and extensive following of Spanish dance in South Africa – whilst developing a style and ethos that is unique to Durban, where all its performers have come from.

Vida Flamenco is a celebration of 35 years of creativity and brings together a wealth of dance, music and choreographic talent. Highlights from previous productions will be re-visited, and the Company is collaborating with the arts community in Durban and South Africa by including past musicians and singers who have performed with them. Former Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company members, who have subsequently established their own dance companies in Johannesburg and Cape Town, will also perform in the production - these include Flamenco del Sur and Teresa Morena Dance Company.

Ramon Fernandez (son of Linda Vargas and Demi Fernandez, and member of the Company) who is currently making a name for himself dancing in Spain, makes a welcome guest appearance with his powerfully inimitable style as part of the celebration.

As the production looks back at its legacy it also finds a way to highlight the future and where the company is going with the inclusion of performances by Linda Vargas’s youth excellence project Siyanda Flamenco. This project comes out of groundbreaking teaching developments from several schools in KZN under the umbrella of STAMP Dance, which promotes inclusion and intercultural creativity in schools.

Another highlight is the reworking of the much-acclaimed 2004 production of Desert Flowers featuring special guest appearance by the Flatfoot Dance Company, which will bring together a range of contemporary dancers and musicians in a work that particularly locates Flamenco dancing and rhythm within the South African context. 

This bumper season explores the diverse range of the Company’s repertoire both musically and stylistically with compelling music by guitarist Demi Fernandez, Neil Gonsalves, Martin Sigamoney and Bryan Stone, who provide the musical soul that infuses the entire performance.

“I really cannot believe it has been 35 years since we first started performing in the University’s Lorca Festival at the Sneddon,” says Linda Vargas. “We have done so much, and worked with so many amazing artists over the years, we wanted to somehow showcase this diversity in this celebration. We are so deeply grateful to all the performers and crew who are involved, and also to the Embajada de España / Embassy of Spain for their support in staging this historic event. ”

Vida Flamenco: The Linda Vargas 35th Anniversary Gala Season runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on the UKZN’s Howard College campus from July 11 to 15, 2018.

Performances are on Wednesday to Saturday at 19h00 with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 14h30. Early bird ticket prices are R150 before July 9 (R130 students / pensioners) or R180 if booked from July 10. Block booking discount are R130 each for 10 or more tickets.  Seats in the last two rows for each performance are R130 (booked before July 9) or R150 (if booked from July 10). Booking is through Computicket.