Home
About Cuadro Flamenco
Cuadro Flamenco will be a traditional performance framed by the Temple of Music and Art's intimate Cabaret Theatre.
Among flamencos, "cuadro" refers to the group of performers: singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists who perform in a traditional style, in a small space, where they are close to each other and keenly responsive to everything that's going on. The group becomes the orchestra to whoever takes the momentary lead. Soulful singing, complex footwork, spontaneous choreographic animation, percussive accents and punctuation points, and timely shouts of support are the instruments of the orchestra.
Essential rhythmic support is created by the "palmas" (skilled percussive handclapping) that flows through each piece and is at times interrupted by small or large explosions followed by sudden silence.
This earthiness, ebb and flow of rhythm, with bursts of chaos and resolve are what make cuadro flamenco so dynamic, dramatic and passionate.
The "cuadro" artists are intimately connected, always on edge and eager to accompany and perform with energy and purpose.
About the performance
The performance will be an hour and a half in length with a 10min intermission. The program will consist of dance and musical numbers, group choreographies and featured solo performances.
About the Theatre
The Cabaret Theatre is housed in one of Downtown Tucson's most elegant buildings, the Temple of Music and Art. Built in 1927, it is a southwestern classic, with white washed walls and a red tile roof. The Cabaret Theatre is an intimate space with a small proscenium stage at one end. Seating is arranged on risers and on the main floor. All seats are within very close proximity of the performers. The main entrance is up the stairs from the courtyard. There is an elevator for wheelchair access to the space.
About Parking
There is downtown street parking close to the Theatre and a public parking garage 3 blocks north on the corner of S. Stone Ave. and W. Jackson St. The entrance to the parking garage is located on W. Jackson St.
About Dinning
For a complete Spanish experience • Spanish Cuisine • Tapas • Paella • A Full Bar and just around the corner from the Theatre try:
Casa Vicente Restaurante Espanol 520.884.5253
Other nearby restaurants are:
Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant 520.622.7984
El Minuto Mexican Restaurant 520.882.4145
Barrio Food & Drink 520.622.629.0191
Café Poca Cosa 520.622.6400
El Charro Café 520.622.1922
2010's Featured Performers
Jon Banuelos started playing guitar at 19. He attended Santa Barbara City College where he studied classical guitar. He met Ismael Barajas in Tucson and after studying with him for 3 years he performed in his All Star Latin Jazz Band and cut 2 CD's. He studied with Jose Ramos at the American Institute of Guitar in NYC. He then left for Spain to live for 5 years where he studied under El Carbonero, Jose Luis Balao, Juan Diego,Parrilla de Jerez, and el Jookoo. He also studied jazz at the University de Cadiz. Currently, Jon lives in Tucson where he performs flamenco and classical guitar.
Misael Barraza-Diaz, of Hermosillo, Mexico, began his guitar studies at the age of eleven with the classical guitar professor Jesus Cota Saavedra. He has studied in Spain with award-winning flamenco guitarist, Oscar Herrero and was recipient of the 3rd place prize in the III Concurso Internacional de Guitarra Flamenca Niño Ricardo. He is currently a Music major at the University of Arizona and recently received 1st prize in the 21st Annual Leonard and David Schaeffer Memorial Guitar Competition.
Clay Emrick was born into a musical family and grew up surrounded by talented performers to learn from and look up to. Clay studied percussion at the New School for the Arts and upon graduating traveled to Mexico where he took up Latin percussion and African rhythm and dance. There he built instruments, taught youth workshops and played with Willy & Lobo, Zamir Belkazemi and Media Luz. Since his return in 2006 Clay has worked with many local artists performing in Phoenix, Sedona, and Tucson.
Macarena Giraldez was born and raised in Sevilla, Spain. Cultured in the art form since birth, Macarena is a self-taught flamenco singer and dancer. She now lives here in Tucson and performs regularly at Tucson's Spanish Restaurant and Tablao, Casa Vicente.
Jason Martinez, a flamenco dancer and cajón player, brings a unique style to the flamenco community. A native of Albuquerque, NM, Jason found flamenco through the dance program at the University of New Mexico, with instructors Eva Encinias-Sandoval and Pablo Rodarte. He has studied Flamenco in Spain and at the National Institute of Flamenco under Joaquin Encinias and Omayra Amaya. Jason became an original member of Yjastros, The American Flamenco Repertory Company in January 2001 under the direction of Joaquin Encinias. He currently co-directs Flamenco Del Pueblo Viejo with Mele Martinez.
Melani "Mele" Martinez grew up in Tucson, Arizona where she began studying dance at three years of age with Leticia Durazo. She became involved in flamenco under the instruction of Olivia Rojo and soon joined Rojo's company, Flamenco Y Más. Mele traveled to Seville, Spain to attend workshops with world-renowned artists Juana Anaya and Mailed Coral. She attended Festival Flamenco Internacional workshops in 1993 and was inspired by the effort of the National Institute of Flamenco in its dedication to the art form. She joined Yjastros, The American Flamenco Repertory Company under the direction of Joaquin Encinias in 2001. She co-directs Flamenco Del Pueblo Viejo with Jason Martinez.
Angelina Ramirez began studying Flamenco at the age of 9 with Deanna Pierce and Olivia Rojo. She has performed with Flamenco Y Mas , National Theater Company and Yjastors, the American Flamenco Repertory Company under the direction of Joaquin Encinias. In the summer of 2006, she traveled to Spain to study with world renowned artists, Angel Atienza and Isabel Bayon. She performed with Calo Flamenco Ballet de Martin Gaxiola in its production "Levanto." Angelina now calls Phoenix, Arizona home where she teaches and works with various Flamenco companies including Mosaico Flamenco and CBJ Flamenco Ensemble.
Special Guests
Vicente Griego, "El Cartucho," from the Embudo Valley, New Mexico, has devoted his life to the study of cante flamenco, the art of flamenco singing. In 1992, Vicente began touring the US, Canada and Latin America with the José Greco II Flamenco Dance Company where he was mentored by Caño Roto singer, Alfonso "Veneno" of Madrid, Spain. He also remains a pupil of acclaimed Granaino guitarist Chuscales with whom he performs weekly both locally and nationally. -"Vicente Griego 'El Cartucho' is striking for his deep sonorous wails that seem to come from a cavern, someplace deep within his soul..." -Anna Poplawska, Chicago Artist's News
Gabriel Lautaro Osuna was born to a family of artists and musicians in northern New Mexico. He was exposed to accomplished guitarists at a young age and has continued to study the art of flamenco guitar with respected masters both in the U.S. and abroad. El Viejin, Pedro Cuadra, Ramon Jimenez, Rafael Habichuela, El Entri, Juan Maya Marote and Miguel Angel Cortez are some of his most influential mentors. Gabriel has collaborated with various musical artists throughout the world including performances at the "World Expo" in Hannover Germany and at the "Saint Florent Middle Eastern Music Festival" outside of Paris. He has performed extensively in theater presentations and in "Tablaos" (small flamenco cabarets) including a season at the Gypsy caves in Granada. In New Mexico he has accompanied singer Vicente Griego and the great Jose "Chuscales" Valle and has taught at Festival Flamenco Internacional in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He currently resides and performs regularly in the Los Angeles area.