Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco
Annual Student Dance Showcase
FIESTA FLAMENCA 2019
Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco
Annual Student Dance Showcase
FIESTA FLAMENCA 2019
Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco
Annual Student Dance Showcase
FIESTA FLAMENCA 2019
Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco
Annual Student Dance Showcase
FIESTA FLAMENCA 2019
Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco and Arts Nest present
CUATRO
A Tablao-style Flamenco Dance and Music Performance
September 18-22, 2019
Audiences are invited to witness a unique improvisational experience featuring locally and internationally recognized Flamenco dancers and musicians: dancer Illeana Gomez (Texas and Madrid, Spain), dancer Sachiko “La Chayí” (Osaka, Japan and Minneapolis), singer José Cortés Fernández (Marseille, France and Los Angeles), and guitarist Alejandro Pais Iriart (Buenos Aires, Argentina and Madrid, Spain).
CUATRO will take place from September 18-22, 2019 at the Phoenix Theater in Minneapolis.
Flamenco, in its distinctly Southern Spanish tablao-style, offers a twist of spontaneity and skilled improvisation to traditional dance and music, which comes to life through the high-spirited collaboration between the dancer, singer, and guitarist performing together on stage.
Co-presented by Sachiko “La Chayí”, 2017 McKnight Dancer Fellow, and Minneapolis-based Arts Nest, CUATRO invites these artists to perform together for the first time in a series of six live performances. True to the roots of flamenco, the artists will perform a unique set for each show.
FEATURING:
Sachiko “La Chayí”, Flamenco dancer & Director (Minneapolis & Osaka, Japan)
Illeana Gomez, Flamenco dancer (Texas & Madrid, Spain)
José Cortés Fernández, Flamenco singer (Marseille, France & Los Angeles)
Alejandro Pais Iriart, Flamenco guitarist (Buenos Aires, Argentina & Madrid, Spain)
DATE & TIME:
Wednesday-Sunday, September 18-22, 2019
Wednesday-Saturday: 7 pm Doors, 7:30 pm Show
Sunday: 5:30 pm Doors, 6 pm Show
Saturday Matinee: 2 pm Doors, 2:30 pm Show
VENUE:
Phoenix Theater
2605 Hennepin Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
TICKETS (General Seating):
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Advance tickets: Adult $23 / Youth (Age 12 and under) $13
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At the Door: Adult $26 / Youth (Age 12 and under) $16
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NEW PRICE!! (THU-SUN ONLY) Buy 3 adult tickets, get ONE FREE when purchased in advance.
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Opening Night Special (WEDNESDAY ONLY): Adult $18 when purchased in advance.
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Group Discount: Groups of 10+ adults will get 10% off the price when purchased in advance.
Dance: Sachiko “La Chayí”
Dance: Illeana Gomez / Singing: José Cortés Fernández / Guitar: Alejandro Pais Iriart
Sachiko "La Chayí"
Dancer & Director
Osaka, Japan & Minneapolis
A native of Osaka, Japan, Sachiko “La Chayí” Nishiuchi is a Twin Cities-based Flamenco dancer, teacher, choreographer and organizer. Besides her work as an independent artist, her current projects include directing Twin Cities Flamenco Collective.
She has received recognitions and grants from Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota SAGE Awards for Dance, and New York State Flamenco Certamen.
Sachiko is the recipient of a 2017 McKnight Dancer Fellowship, administered by the Cowles Center and funded by the McKnight Foundation. She was a resident artist of Zorongo Flamenco under the guidance of director Susana Di Palma from 2003 to 2009. She lived and studied the art of Flamenco in Seville, Spain from 2010 to 2015 which became the foundation of her current dance and work.
Sachiko is a STOTT PILATES® certified Pilates instructor at SweatShop Health Club in St. Paul.
Illeana Gomez
Dancer
Texas & Madrid, Spain
Illeana Gomez has worked in various U.S. companies including Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe, and Theater Flamenco of San Francisco, and has been on several national tours, performing in such prestigious theaters as the Joyce Theater in NY. In addition, she co-directs La Juerga Flamenco Ensemble, producing theater productions in the Southwest United States, annually.
Illeana first encountered Spanish dance in her hometown of Laredo, TX. Since then she has studied with various artists in Spain at Amor de Dios in Madrid as well as with various artists in Seville including Juan Manuel Montoya “Farruquito,” Carmen Ledesma, Juana Amaya, Andres Marin, Alfonso Losa, and Yolanda Heredia to name a few. Illeana began her studies at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts under Joaquin Encinias. Under the mentorship of Eva Encinias, she was the first student in history to earn an MFA in Dance with a focus in flamenco.
Currently, Illeana resides in Madrid, Spain where she continues to refine her craft and artistry with flamenco maestros, as well as performing regularly por tablao alongside such artists as Lucky Losada, Enrique el “Piculabe, ” Saul Quiros, y “el Mistela" to name a few. In 2018 she was awarded third place in the prestigious dance competition Concurso Nacional de Baile por Alegrias in Cadiz, Spain.
José Cortés Fernández
Singer
Marseille, France & Los Angeles
José Cortés Fernández was born in the south of France in 1974 from an important gypsy family from Almería. At the age of ten, Jose began his career in Jerez de la Frontera where he won the "premio del joven aficionado del cante flamenco," accompanied on guitar by Terremoto hijo.
He was immersed in the world of flamenco with the greatest artists, such as Terremoto, Pansequito, Camarón de la Isla, Moraito Chico and Tomatito. Since then, he has shared the stage with the best artists, including Belen Lopez, Alfonso Losa, Sergio Arranda, Juan Ogalla, María del Mar Moreno, Antonio de la Malena, Manuel de la Malena, Mara Martinez, Andrés Peña, Pilar Ortega, Juan Carnona, David Paniagua, Juaniare, Niñp de Los Reyes and Carmen Ledesma. He has sung for the workshops of Israel Galván, Angelita Gómez and Javier Latorre.
In 2010, he moved to the United States and now works with many amazing artists such as Jason McGuire, Yaelisa "Camino Flamencos", Carola Zertuche "Teatro Flamenco", Melissa Cruz, and Cristina Hall. Recently, Jose was invited to be Antonio Carmona (Ketama)'s backup singer at the Nokia Theater for the Eva Longoria's Foundation. In 2014, Jose had the honor to sing for the San Francisco Opera in "Giselle". Since 2014, Jose has worked with the Aspen Ballet Juan Siddi Company with whom he toured in Hawaii and New Mexico, and had the honor to perform at the Joyce Theater in New York City last Spring.
An incredible and traditional artist, José Cortés Fernández surprises us now by taking a step forward in his conception of flamenco by making pure flamenco live alongside other genres.
Alejandro Pais Iriart
Guitarist
Buenos Aires, Argentina & Madrid, Spain
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Alejandro Pais Iriart has worked and toured with companies such as the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theater Company, Antonio Granjero’s flamenco company, Edwin Aparicio’s flamenco company, and with maestro Alejandro Granados, and has performed in such theaters as the Joyce Theater (NY), and Jacob’s pillow dance festival (MA).
Alejandro started guitar in New Mexico under Paul Nilsson, Luis Campos, and Luis Campos. He played as an assistant instructor at the University of New Mexico, under Eva Encinias-Sandoval. He has also had the opportunity to take various classes with renowned guitarists including Manuel Molina, Ramon Amador, Miguel Iglesias, Jesus de Rosario, El Entri, Alfredo Lagos, El Perla, and Canito.
Alejandro currently resides in Madrid, Spain where he regularly works at various tablaos alongside artists like Alejandro Granados, Juan Triviño, Juañares, “La Coneja”, Angel Gabarre, Eva La Lebri, and Inmaculada Aranda, to name a few. He continues to study a legendary maestro El Viejin. In 2019, he shared a stage with Flamenco greats including Pepe Habichuela, Estrella Morente, Argentina, and Montoyita in a homage to Perlita de Huelva. He is a founder and director of La Juerga Flamenco Ensemble.
Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco, in partnership with Arts Nest, is a fiscal year 2019 recipient of a Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.