Flamenco fan?
This Saturday, Nov. 16, audiences at the Lincoln City Cultural Center will join an international celebration of song, dance and musicianship through a concert performance by the duo Seffarine and their flamenco-loving friends.
The show, part of the center’s new “Voyages: Adventures in Music” concert series, will be a tribute to the “arte jondo” (deep art) that inspired UNESCO to declare flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The performance will feature the soulful Moroccan vocals of Lamiae Naki and the oud expertise of Nat Hulskamp, who tour together as Seffarine, along with Bernardo Gomez on bass and Darian Patrick on cajón and percussion. Flamenco dance and palmas will be performed by Sophia Solano.
Sophia is a second-generation flamenco artist and daughter of guitarist José Solano. Her earliest dance teacher was Rafaela de Cádiz, and at 18 Sophia moved to Spain for a semester to immerse in Spanish culture and study flamenco at the Universidad de Sevilla and Estudio Juan Polvillo. A few years later, she returned to Granada to study at the internationally-renowned school Carmen de las Cuevas where she took private and group classes in technique and choreography, learning primarily from bailaora María la Manzanilla. Over the past several years, Sophia has also taught beginning and intermediate flamenco dance in Newport and Eugene.
Flamenco is a combination of song, dance and music that is performed in many settings, including religious festivals, rituals, church ceremonies and private celebrations. It has its origins in interculturality, especially in the Roma culture and the Roma people. The UNESCO recognition of flamenco was formalized.
The Andalusian Regional Government declared the day after UNESCO's recognition on Nov. 16, 2010 as "Flamenco Day in Andalusia." The day is celebrated with a variety of activities, including conferences, exhibitions, concerts and shows. Spain also releases a video each year to celebrate the day.
Saturday’s show starts at 7 pm at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, located at 540 NE Hwy. 101. Tickets are $15 to $30. For more information and tickets, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.
Schedule of remaining Voyages: Adventures in Music concerts:
Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 pm — Ensemble Sangineto
Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7 pm — Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs
Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 pm — Windborne
Sunday, March 16, at 2 pm — Gamelan Sari Pandhawa
Friday, April 25, at 7 pm — Barbra Lica