Latest Concerts: Of Essence and Time/De La Esencia y El Tiempo

It's been a whirlwind of a time since I returned from Tallahassee (and yes, all these posts are on the same day...I've had a hell of a time with technology lately). On September 1st we debuted "Of Essence and Time/De la Esencia y El Tiempo" alongside Susana Behar and a wonderful cast of musicians including Ariadna Barbe-Villa, Reza Filsoofi and Romulo Bernal. The work was commissioned by the Guava Rugelach Festival and Next @ 19th under the direction of Jenni Person. In it, we explore the common roots shared by Sephardic Music and Flamenco.

About the concert “Of Essence and Time” is a concert commissioned by Next@19th that seeks to expand a traditional aesthetic without loosing the essence and authenticity of Jewish culture present around the world, taking special interest in Sephardic manifestations. This concert utilizes common elements present in both Andalusian and Sephardic cultures, transforming and shaping them in order to create a new sound and visual universe, an integral part of the musical life of the artists that make up the ensemble. In J. L. Rodriguez’s compositions, we can appreciate the innovative and experimental character of this project, both in the use of the voices and audio archives rescued from various parts of the Mediterranean geography and Andalusia, as well as in original compositions like “Fuego y Jazmines.” The artist’s search for new compositions born of contact with other artistic voices is evidenced in the medieval poem “Katav Stav”, where original music was created for Susana Behar’s voice, therein joining flamenco and poetry aesthetics. The evening also includes several traditional Sephardic songs (La Serena, Los Bilbilikos, Adio Kerida) adapted and recreated for the style of this concert, as well as several Andalusian popular songs that are believed to have Jewish origins (Seguidillas Biblikas, Peteneras). The vision is in encompassing them all in a current musical aesthetic. This concert would not be complete without Niurca Marquez’s choreography and dance. Her visual representations are a reflection of this cultural memory as transformed through the centuries. Through the de-construction of traditional flamenco elements, they illustrate how this culture’s essence is alive and present. This aesthetic, somewhere between contemporary flamenco, traditional Sephardic music, popular Andalusian music and other Mediterranean influences, creates a new and particular sound that results in “Of Essence and Time”. Thank you to all who came out and shared such a wonderful evening with us. And now we find a way to tour this thing! Take a look and tell us what you think...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY9YHst1E-4

Residency with Liz Lerman and Jawole Zollar

For those who have been keeping track, just wanted to share some pictures and thoughts with you. I was asked a few months back to work with Liz Lerman and Jawole Zollar in one of their "Must Do Now" Residencies. In this case we were in the wonderful facilities at FSU in Tallahassee. I am still surprised they were willing to face the challenges of including a flamenco dancer in the group of artists. Yes, the usual, shoes were an issue to work around, sound was unexpected and didn't always fit and the many ways in which the body is present was constantly evidenced. All in all though, it was an amazing experience. The work which looks at Poverty and its implications has given me much to think about. Primarily as it pertains to issues of gender and the allostatic load. I wonder about how we position ourselves and what that means in the larger scheme of things. On a structural level it's brought me to wonder about positioning what I do as a Contemporary Flamenco artist in a post-modern aesthetic. The process was expansive and I'm still dusting myself off. Overall just thinking still and formulating...more to come on this in the future. I'm sure the fact that Ralph Lemon was also sharing space with us has something to do with it all. For now the pictures... In them you'll see Keith Thompson, Amara Tabor-Smith, Martha Whitman, Samita Sinha, Nia Shand and the wonderful FSU grads/students who so graciously gave of their time and artistic voices. Thanks Lauren, Tabytha, Trent and Yamal! All photos were taken by Aubrie Rodriguez

From Liz Lerman's Website: I have known Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women for over 25 years. Finally we are doing a project together. Initiated by the Shalom Center to honor the friendship of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Abraham Joshua Heschel, we have becme inspired by their texts to make a dance, a lecture series, and to animate with performance prayer breakfasts, teach ins, freedom schools and other organizing tactics fo the civil rights era. The project began in New Orleans last summer at Urban Bush Women's Summer Leadership Institute and picks up again in January with a week in residence at the Manhatten JCC. In April we will be at Center Stage in Baltimore. Follow the project here or at UBW website link. Here is my current favorite text from Rabbi Heschel: "It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion--its message becomes meaningless." ― Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism. Jawole will also be in Miami at the end of October. For those of you who are around, check out the information through the South Campus of Miami Dade Colllege!

Residency at Inkub8, Houston and much more!

Hello all.It's been a very hectic few weeks, but we are enjoying every minute of it as much as we can.We are currently in Houston where I have been busy with another segment of my Feldenkrais Training, teaching classes and preparing for our upcoming performance. All the information is below and we are really looking forward to it! Please do call and make your reservations as it is filling fast.




The concert at the Colony Theater on April 21st was a wonderful success. Many thanks to Mary, John and Gary and all the others at Tigertail and the Colony for making this happen. Neil de la Flor (whose pictures you are seeing) was kind enough to review the show. To see what he had to say visit:

http://www.knightarts.org/community/miami/rodriguez-and-marquez-are-nu-flamenco

It was a bitter-sweet good-bye on the 29th of April as Bailes Ferrer gave it's Farewell Concert at the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Theater in Davie. After 18 long years the company has closed it's doors. In many ways the company is responsible for the fact that Jose and I are working together today, so I take a moment to say thank you to Damaris Ferrer for her years of support and most importantly friendship. I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear of her, but for now...

I finished the residency at Inkub8 and I must say I am very proud and happy to have gotten most of what I intended done! I don't have the videos of the final showing, but here are some pictures. I would like to take this moment to pay tribute to one of the dancers who was working with us who passed away recently. Sharoni you will be missed. I only hope to capture some of your spirit in the final piece.







Here is a link to Neil's write-up on the month:
http://www.knightarts.org/community/miami/miami-made-marquez

Artist-in-Residency at Inkub8 Performance Space

It's been a while...mostly because we've been so busy.

In a nutshell:

February 11 and 12th we debuted "Resonancias" our new work about the elements of memory that linger in our work at the University Center for the Performing Arts with Susana Behar.

Februrary 20-March 11 I attended ACA's Residency with Liz Lerman. Wow is all I can say...what an incredible experience! Jose came to visit during the last few days and we got to dive into much of the touch-ups on "Resonancias" and some of the ideas for "the History House."

and as soon as I got back we jumped into editing "the History House: Huelva." Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd-59_N6qNY

An in April...

http://www.inkub8.org/Inkub8/Residency.html

Just past the half-way point of my residency and it feels like a month already. I must say work on "the History House" is going much better than expected. Murky possibilities are now clear ideas that I can tackle and actually turn into something tangible. The labs were incredibly informative and gave me a taste of what it would be like to keep some of this work as ongoing investigations in movement here in Miami. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who came and were so willing to dive right into this "deconstructed flamenco." I am amazed by the layers of information that surface and the multiple narratives that happily coexist in our city and its dancers/performers.

So far I've had visits by a few visual artists interested in getting inspired, or simply spurred by their curiosity who have generously shared space and ideas. Some of us may even experiment with some 'interference' in some of the final showings. After all, you don't know if it works unless you try it.

2nd Saturday was a great place to start putting some of the work out there. Some of it worked, some of it didn't and some will have to wait till June to be revisited. Nonetheless, I FINALLY FOUND THE FLAMENCO STANDARD I WANT TO USE! Yes, it was elusive, but finally it's here...and I'm loving every minute of tearing it apart.

Last Sunday we had a wonderful, draining and incredibly informative workshop. Thanks to three very generous actors, I was able to re-inhabit some spaces I had stepped away from since arriving in Miami. They actually put themselves at the mercy of my experiment and I must say it did not turn out half-bad. We explored sensory awareness, self-perceptions and spontaneous movement first and then moved on to tearing apart some of the text they are working on. A special thanks to Liz and the Dance Exchange for their Toolbox and thank you to Jose Manuel, Pepe and Luis who were willing to dive into their own personal narratives with such gusto. There is more to come and I will keep you all posted.

Thus far the critical inquiry has been extensive and I am looking forward to this very packed stretch. I have a feeling there are many more ideas and unexpected turns ahead.

UP NEXT:

"Deconstructing Flamenco and what it all means" facilitated by Elizabeth Doud and with a small improvisation to highlight some of the undefined spaces we're inhabiting to discover more about who we are, what are we trying to say and what does it mean in a city like Miami. TODAY, April 18 at 6pm.

I've invited a little of everything...traditional, conventional, experimental and totally unrelated. It's the only way to really get the conversation going.

also looking forward to the Critical Response Process on Monday April 23rd at 6pm, facilitated by Jenni Person (Artistic Director, Next @ 19th). Jenni has also worked with Liz and has been so kind as to dive into this undefined space to help us make a bit more sense of it. I don't want it to become about the work, I'm more interested in making the process accessible to artists in Miami who have not had a chance to experience it. I love that both audience and performers are active participants in prompting critical inquiry. It really is a great system to get your juices flowing and I'd love to have you participate.

I'd love to make this a regular happening, so don't miss out on the conversation!

Off to do some more research on cultural memory...tonight I get to watch a movie...


AND THIS SATURDAY...

Flamenco Workshops in Houston

Hello all...

I'm back in Houston and loving every minute. Lots going on, so take a moment to get the info on upcoming events.

Jose and I will be performing at the studio of Lucia & Valdemar in SE Hosuton
Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 5pm
More info is available at www.flamencoinc.org
7016 Culmore Dr.
Houston, TX 77087
RSVP at 832.721.0357
RSVP is a must as this is a small house and we will probably have to do a second show that day, so make sure to RSVP!


Two workshops will be happening at Sirroms Dance Studios:

Beginners Technique:

Monday, September 19, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday, September 21, 6pm-7:30pm
Monday, September 26, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday, September 28, 6pm-7:30pm

Intermediate/Advanced:

Tuesday, September 20, 6pm-7pm
Thursday, September 22, 6pm-7:30pm
Tuesday, September 27, 6pm-7pm
Thursday, September 29, 6pm-7:30pm

$120 for each level (5 hours of class)
$230 for both levels (10 hours of class)

There is also a single class rate and I will be available for privates lessons (general and bata de cola). Please go to http://www.flamencobuzz.net/Southwest.html for more information.

See you there!!!

Bata de Cola Workshop in Vienna

So next on the map....

Bata de Cola in Vienna...

We will be doing much work to loosen ideas and patterns with the bata and hope you will enjoy what I have prepared...as always, come open...

Intensivkurse mit Gastlehrern
August

Intensiv Bata de Cola mit Niurca Marquez (Sevilla)
13.-17. Aug.

Niurcas spezieller Unterrichtstil zeichnet sich durch genaues Wahrnehmen und Erklären der Bewegungsabläufe aus, die dann, gezielt eingesetzt, unglaubliche Veränderungen im Tanz bewirken und die Bata spielerich einen Teil von uns werden lässt.
Kurs A: Bata-Technik sa-mi jeweils 18:00-19:30,
Kurs B: Bata-Choreografie sa-mi jeweils 19:30-20:30
Preis: Kurs A: € 135,-, Einzeleinheit: € 31,-, Kurs B: € 95,- Einzeleinheit: € 20,-
Preis Kombipackage: Kurs A und Kurs B: € 230,-
Achtung: Kursplätze sind limitiert: rasch anmelden!

Sommerangebot: Wer einen Kurs bei Niurca bucht und auch beim Workshop mit Juan Carlos Lerida (18.-21.8., Choerografie- und Improvisationklassen im Studio Manhardt, Neubugasse) einen Kurs besucht, bekommt für einen Kurs bei Niurca Marquez und für einen Kurs bei Juan Carlos Leredia jeweils 10,- Ermässigung. Also insges. 20,-
Infos zum Workshop Juan Carlos Lerida und Anmeldung bei:
Julia.Petschinka@gmx.at, tel: 0699-11902509, web: http://jupe.twoday.net

Creativity is a funny thing....

The last three weeks have been insane, but that also means there is much going on...

Upcoming appearances:

Friday, July 8th
FLAMENCO IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT!
35 NE 40th Street
Show time: 9pm-11pm

Saturday, July 9th
MESON DE CASTILLA
(yes folks...I am venturing to dance 'vertically' as my husband says...in a space so small it's a challenge just to move)
57th Avenue and 11th Street
Show time: 9pm - 12am

For those who want to know, I'll be dancing Guajira and Tangos

And two more great images from Tom Tracy!