Peridance Contemporary Dance Company joins Postclassical Ensemble for Falla’s El Amor Brujo
La Amor Brujo Peridance Contemporary Dance Company
Igal Perry is at it again! I was invited to an open rehearsal of the Perry Contemporary Dance Company for the World Premier of Manuel de Falla’s La Amor Brujo. Mr. Perry’s choreography is some of the most innovative and exciting work in contemporary dance to date. The company is joining the PostClassicalEnsemble for this production as part of its Falla/Stravinsky program this December in Washington, D.C. Mr. Perry has incorporated the haunting voice of Esperanza Fernandez, the legendary gypsy cantaora, and also one of Spain’s pre-eminent flamenco artist. This will be Ms. Fernandez’s D.C. debut.
Esperanza Fernandez
This is a torrid tale of love, a Spanish Gypsy tale, which revolves around three main characters: Candela, young Gypsy woman, portrayed by Nikki Holck ; her lover Carmelo; and the spirit of her dead husband, José portrayed by Andrew Trego , which haunts the two lovers. Jose’s is jealous of Candela’s love to Carmelo, danced by Attila Csiki, which keeps him from relinquishing her; but in the end his own love for a young woman, Lucia, beautifully danced by Joanna DeFelice, which ultimately exorcises his demons of jealousy and brings peace to all involved. (Jose is exorcised by the Gypsy Ritual Fire Dance, the score’s most popular number).
Nikki Holck, Attila Csiki and Andrew Trego Peridance Contemporary Dance Company
Mr. Perry has incorporated classical flamenco and has combined it with his unique signature of contemporary ballet. The libretto by Gregorio Martinez, is based on Spanish folk themes, superstition and ritual. To honor Manuel de Falla’s music and Mr. Perry delved into its Flamenco origins and was able to relate the story to our own times without diluting the beauty and strength of its folk origins. He found the means for doing this by treating the story teller – in this case the Gypsy singer, Esperanza Fernandez — as a connecting link, intertwined with the characters and vocalizing the heights and depths of their emotions.
Attila Csiki and Nikki Holck
Falla/Stravinsky, a double bill featuring new, fully staged productions of Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo and Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, will be presented December 3 and 4, 2011, by PostClassical Ensemble in association with Georgetown University. The performances will take place at the university’s intimate, state-of-the art Gonda Theatre.
El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla
Esperanza Fernandez, cantaora
Lighting and set design by Robbie Hayes
Costume design by Deb Sivigny
Directed and choreographed by Igal Perry, with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company
PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez
Dancers:
Niki Holck, Lauren Jaeger, Midori Nonaka, Zach Taylor, Andrew Trego, Shay Bares, Atilla Csiki, Joanna DeFeice
El Amor Brujo/ The Soldier’s Tale
Saturday, December 3, 2011 @ 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday, December 4, 2011 @ 2:00pm
Georgetown University – Gonda Theater
37th & O Street, NW
Washington, DC
Tickets: $25 ($5 with Student ID)
Pre-concert presentations one hour before curtain time with Igal Perry, Angel Gil-Ordonez, and Anna Harwell Celenza, hosted by Joseph Horowitz.
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