Press Release: En Camino
Flamenco Company grows roots in Cleveland –
no pandemic will stop them!
Abrepaso Flamenco, Northeast Ohio’s premiere flamenco music and dance company, premieres En Camino June 5th for an in-person matinee at Pilgrim Church and June 12th 8pm online.
Experience flamenco’s intensity, strength, and expressiveness with Abrepaso’s newest production, En Camino! The work features new choreography by Artistic Director Alice Blumenfeld (Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award recipient FY20) and new music by guitarist and singer Marija Temo (most recently seen on Telemundo’s La Voz). They are joined by versatile percussionist and composer Liam Smith, along with Abrepaso’s apprentices, who showcase the diversity of Cleveland, each expressing their unique selves and stories through this Spanish dance form.
The performance features two new traditional flamenco pieces, a garrotín, traditionally performed with a Cordobés hat and an alegrías, a joyful dance from the beach town of Cádiz. Two new pieces are built around the idea of folds and folding, what it means to fold in on ourselves or unfold and be vulnerable to life around us. Blumenfeld will dance two exciting and impactful solos, one her own choreography and one choreographed by Adela Campallo.
En camino translates to being on a path, or on our way. It represents that Abrepaso is indeed on our way, putting roots in Cleveland and on our way to growing a vibrant flamenco community here. As was true for most performing arts organizations, 2020 started with exciting momentum – we’d just incorporated as a nonprofit, we were supposed to perform at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Danceworks Series, then with the Akron Symphony. Those were both cancelled. The momentum came to a screeching halt.
Artistic director Blumenfeld rethought her approach – no global pandemic would stop her from working towards her vision. From outdoors flamenco to online, and then most importantly, she created a pre-professional training program, in order to build a company from scratch, from the ground up – rooted in flamenco’s deep cultural history and meaning, and pushing the boundaries, telling contemporary stories and addressing contemporary issues. The four trainees have diverse backgrounds, from a local Clevelander with Puerto Rican heritage to an immigrant from China. Each dancer brings their unique style, personality, and expression to flamenco; each one complements each other.
ABREPASO flamenco is a nonprofit 501c3 organization whose mission is to use flamenco to: connect people in a way language cannot; inspire people to chase their goals fearlessly; encourage a presence of mind, body, and spirit; and through our artistry spark creativity in all who engage with our work. Founded in 2016 in New Mexico, the company relocated to Ohio in 2019. They offer numerous educational programs and performances throughout the year.
Live Performance
Date: June 5th, 2021 2:00-3:15pm EDT
Location: Pilgrim Church
2592 W 14th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
$25
Limited seating. All Covid-19 recommendations in the State of Ohio will be followed. ADA accessible. Performance will last approximately 70 minutes with no intermission.
Online
Date: June 12th, 2021 at 8pm EDT, followed by a live-artist talk on Zoom, through June 22nd
If you cannot attend live, the video performance & artist talk will be available for 10 days after the premiere.
$20
Tickets available at: www.abrepaso.org/tickets
Press Contact:
Alice Blumenfeld
Artistic/Executive Director
505-363-2680