DESERT FLOWERS
Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company on the vFringe
Available until the 31st July 2020 on www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
The Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance company has a special treat in store for lovers of dance and music around the world. We are very excited to join the vFringe programme of the National Arts Festival by presenting a never-before-seen recording of our 2018 performance “Desert Flowers”. Along with being able to watch a world-class performance we also offer the added incentive that by purchasing a ticket you will also help raise funds for our home province of KZN Dance Teachers who have (and will continue to have) their income affected by COVID-19.
“Desert Flowers”, choreographed by Linda Vargas, is a reworking of the much-acclaimed 2004 production of the same name for “Vida Flamenco” the 35 year anniversary celebrations of the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in July 2018. Featuring special guests: Flatfoot Dance Company, Senta Duffield, Katherine Anderson and Kevin Ellis, it brings together a diverse range of dancers and musicians in a work that particularly locates Flamenco dancing and rhythm within the South African context. With a compelling score arranged and composed by Demi Fernandez, it also features musicians Neil Gonsalves, Martin Sigamoney and Bryan Stone.
We had been thinking of a way during this global pandemic to help out our friends and colleagues who have had their income affected, and the vFringe of the National Arts Festival is a perfect platform to allow you to watch a recording of a production that we are very proud of and speaks to our current times and at the same contribute to a very worth cause. Tickets cost only R25 and all proceeds will be distributed to teachers in need in the province.
You can access “Desert Flowers” on the National Arts Festival’s vFringe (as well as the full curated programme) through their website https://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za – vFringe content will be available for the whole month of July. Users will need to register their details and then be able to purchase a ticket through their secure online platform.
“Desert Flowers” acknowledges the sponsorship of the Spanish Embassy of South Africa & The KwaZulu-Natal Performing Arts Trust in supporting the production of “Vida Flamenco” of which “Desert Flowers” was a part of.
Ends
Issued by Wesley Maherry
on behalf of the Linda Vargas Flamenco Dance Company
Artist Biographies:
LINDA VARGAS has performed for SABCTV, the Spanish Embassy in SA, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and been invited numerous times to perform as guest artist globally. She has choreographed various opera productions including, La Traviata and Carmen as well as her critically acclaimed “Desert Flowers” (2004). Recently Linda has explored the fusion of flamenco with Indian, African, Brazilian, Celtic, and Jazz musical genres and has presented numerous productions. She co-founded the international flamenco dance organization Alianza Flamenca in 1996 and is a member of its Board of Directors and Examiners. She facilitates corporate and educational workshops, performs, teaches and examines dance all over the world. Her qualifications include: Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma: ISTD London (dance performance) and Licentiate Teachers: ISTD London Cecchetti Method (classical dance). She lectured at UKZN for over 8 years and currently lectures social cohesion and diversity at DUT. She is the founder and director of STAMP Dance and her educational workshops and performances at schools promote a better understanding of dance and culture.
DEMI FERNANDEZ is a Flamenco guitar maestro who was born in Brazil to Spanish Parents and spent many years living and performing in Flamenco Tablaos in Spain. He has also appeared as leading flamenco guitarist with numerous South African and international Spanish Dance Companies. He lectures music at UKZN and has composed musical scores for several SABC TV productions and also appeared in numerous productions including “Guitars for Africa” in Durban and at the National Arts Festival.