Laredoans will have an opportunity to experience the dance, guitar, and song of professional flamenco with the performance of Prendidos Flamenco by the Spanish dance company of Alfonso Losa.
Losa’s troupe will perform at the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts Auditorium on Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m.
Tickets to the performance are $50. In addition to the purchase of their own tickets, Laredoans are urged to buy/sponsor a ticket for fine and performing arts students who cannot afford one. Ticket information is available at (956) 489 – 6391.
Performing with Losa and company is Laredo’s own bailaora, Ileana Gomez, who resides in Madrid and performs professionally at various flamenco tablaos (venues). Gomez was the recipient of the XIX (19th) Concurso de Baile por Alegria at the Peña Flamenca La Perla de Cadiz in August 2018.
Other performers in the Losa company include Vanesa Coloma, who has worked under master dancers like María Magdalena, La China, El Guito and CIro. Coloma has appeared as a solo bailaora in “Sovinir” by Belen Maya; “Tauro” by Manuel Linan; “Camino Flamenco” by Alfonso Losa; “4 Adjetivos” and “Equilibrio Flamenco” by Jesus Carmona; and “Cinco Mujeres al Borde de Una Bata de Cola” by Yolanda Heredia. She has performed at numerous festivals worldwide, including the “Bieñal de Sevilla,” Festival de Jerez, as well as “Festival Flamenco de Albuquerque” and “Festival de Mimes.”
Like Losa, Coloma is considered one of the most important artists of her generation. She won the 2008 Premio Nacional de la Perla de Cadiz for her “Alegrias” as well as for presenting her concert “Flamenklorica” at the 2015 Certamen de Danza Española in Madrid.
Losa studied under Rafael de Cordoba and later at the Real Conservatorio de Danza in Spain. He refined his skills with great masters of the art, such as El Guito, Manolete, La China, Antonio Canales, and Javier Latorre.
Many distinguished flamenco performers regularly invite Losa to be their guest artist. He collaborated with the late singer Enrique Morete on his albums.
Losa choreographed in the production of “Magnificus” for Austrian director Andre Heller. He performed with the flamenco espectaculo “Carmen en la Memoria” with such dancers as Farruquito, José Maya, Juan de Juan, Farru, Pastora Galvan, and Remedios Amaya.
Losa’s production “Bailaores” premiered in the 2014 Fiesta de Jerez. That same year Farruquito invited him as guest dancer in the production “Improvisao.” He created and directed the “Festival Veranos Flamencos” in Amor de Dios with María Juncal. He participated in Carlos Saura’s “Flamenco Hoy” and premiered the “Senti2” show with La Lupi in Tokyo as well as in “Con-Secuencia” at the 2018 Jerez Festival.
SIDEBAR
A brief ceremony prior to the performance of “Prendidos Flamenco,” will recognize Dr. Martha E. Villarreal, principal of the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts, for the VMT’s most recent accolade, the Texas Medal of Arts Award (TMAA) conferred by the Texas Cultural Trust.
The award, which was made at a ceremony in Austin in February at the 10th biennial TMAA celebration, was also conferred upon internationally recognized choral ensemble Conspirare; singer and Broadway actress Jennifer Holliday; singer, songwriter, and guitarist Boz Scaggs; Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey; photographer Mark Seliger; visual artist Trenton Doyle Hancock; fashion designer Brandon Maxwell; novelist, journalist, and screenwriter Stephen Harrigan; and architects Elaine Molinar and Craig Dykers.
(The Texas Cultural Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to be the leading voice for the arts in education, advocacy, and economic impact in Texas, spotlighting the artistic excellence of our state. Programs of the Texas Cultural Trust include the biennial Texas Medal of Arts Awards, Texas Women for the Arts, the Texas Young Masters, Arts & Digital Literacy, and Art Can. The Trust also supports the programs of the Texas Commission on the Arts and other qualifying state agencies.)
