Theatre Flamenco, San Francisco

HISTORY

THEATRE FLAMENCO of San Francisco is the second oldest dance company in the Bay Area (after the SF Ballet). 

Founded in 1966 by Adela Clara, Theatre Flamenco was conceived during a flowering of cultural pride in the 60’s that led to the revival of Latino arts; the Company’s purpose was to fill what was then a dearth of Spanish dances in the Bay Area. 

Theatre Flamenco was the first American dance company to stage full productions of Spanish dance in the U.S., and is one of the oldest dance companies in California. Every year since its inception Theatre Flamenco has presented a home season of performances in San Francisco. 

Over the years, Theatre Flamenco has served as a beacon of cultural pride, a reservoir for the diverse traditions of Spanish culture, and a vital source for artistic collaboration. The Company is dedicated to the research, presentation and education of a full range of Spanish dance including classical, neo-classical, regional, folk and escuela bolera. 

In 2008, Theatre Flamenco’s long-time artistic director, Miguel Santos was recognized for his substantial contributions to the Bay Area and to the art of flamenco by the Isadora Duncan Dance Award (IZZIE) whereupon he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, an award for re-staging MISA FLAMENCO and a Lifetime Achievement Award from World Arts West Ethnic Dace Festival. Mr. Santos continues to work with Theatre Flamenco as a Board Member. 

Artistic director Carola Zertuche’s vision for Theatre Flamenco is that of a highly professional company that, in addition to the annual home season, has an annual touring schedule and presents a quarterly community outreach series. Renee Renouf observed in Ballet.co.uk (November 2008): “This is my first Theatre Flamenco season seen since Carola Zertuche assumed artistic direction; the ensemble has shifted from essentially a community-oriented emphasis to one leaning heavily on professional aspirations, limited to five dancers, and doing well by the change…If the changes progress in this spirit, the Bay Area might add a highly polished flamenco ensemble as well as Theatre Flamenco’s longevity to its roster of dance jewels.” 

In 2009, Theatre Flamenco’s Juan Siddi and Carola Zertuche have the honor of being nominated for the Isadora Duncan Dance Award (IZZIE’s) Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Performance for ENCUENTRO Theatre Flamenco 2009 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival weekend 1. The IZZIE award celebrates the richness, diversity, and excellence of the Bay Area dance the video above with Carola Zertuche & Juan Siddi. This dance was a 2009 Nominee for Most Memorable Dance from the Isadora Duncan Dance Committee.

Carola Zertuche - Artistic Director

Carola Zertuche entered her dance career in Mexico City’s Tablao Meson de Triana. Her studies have led her to such renowned teachers as Manolo Vargas; Ciro; Belen Maya; Andrés Marin; Israel Galván; and Jota Master, Pedro Azorín. She has been featured as a soloist in Pilar Rioja’s company “Reflejo Español” and danced with the Maria Elena Anaya Company under the artistic direction of Manolo Vargas. In addition, she has performed with many different companies such as “Los Tarantos “, La Tania’s Teatro Flamenco and Maria Benitez’ Company. Her dance has been showcased in such festivals as the Ethnic Dance Festival in San Francisco; the Santa Barbara Flamenco Festival and the Monterrey Mexico Flamenco Festival. The year 2002 found Carola touring Mexico and the U.S. with the “Sentido Flamenco” Show starring Alegría Suarez, Cano, Mercedes Amaya and Santiago Aguilar; in the same year Carola was nominated for the Isadora Duncan Award in the soloist category. In 2003 she toured with the Maria Benitez Company and presented her first full show of flamenco “El Color del Flamenco”. 

Most recently, 2005 witnessed her presentation of “Verde” with the participation of Pastora Galván and Jose Anillo. In October 2005 She danced as a guest Artist with Domingo Ortega Flamenco Company in Los Angeles and Andres Marin Company in the First Flamenco Festival in San Francisco. And in 2007 Carola she become Artistic director of Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco. In 2007and 2008 she was awarded Best Flamenco Classic in San Francisco Magazine and Best flamenco show in SF Weekley. In Spring 2008, she toured the Middle East with the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theater Company and Performed at the Summer Season in Santa Fe.

Miguel Santos - Company Manager

Miguel Santos has been with Theatre Flamenco since its inception, serving as principal dancer, choreographer, and since 1987, artistic director. He began his studies in classical ballet with Carmelita Maracci. His Spanish dance training began in Los Angeles in 1954, and soon thereafter he traveled to Spain where he studied with all the major flamenco teachers. Mr. Santos has performed with Teatro la Zarzuela of Madrid and both José Greco’s and Lola Montes’ companies.

While Mr. Santos was performing with the José Greco company, he appeared in the film Around the World in 80 Days. He has performed in La Traviata for the San Francisco Opera and for the Seattle Opera with Beverly Sills. 

Mr. Santos continues to refine his flamenco skills by taking master classes with José Galván, La Quica, Javier La Torre, El Guito, Merche Esmeralda, and José Antonio. A three-time NEA Choreography Fellowship recipient, Mr. Santos’ major works include Misa Flamenco, Concerto No. 2, and Regionalismos, among many others. Mr. Santos has served as a panelist for the California Arts Council. Miguel Santos was also recognized for his substantial contributions to the Bay Area and to the art of flamenco by the Isadora Duncan Dance Award (IZZIE) and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival for 2008. He currently teaches flamenco at the San Francisco Dance Center and is artist-in-residence at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Redwood City, California.

45 Years of Flamenco

In November 2012 Theatre Flamenco celebrated four decades of artistic evolution and perseverance with the world premiere performance event “45 Años de Arte Flamenco” (45 Years of Flamenco), a tribute performance that reflects Theatre Flamenco’s creative progression and the evolutionary art of flamenco dance.  The transition in styles – whether it is music, dance, costume and instruments – represent the growth and maturity of the society that connects with this art.

Carola Zertuche, Theatre Flamenco’s Artistic Director, confronts the traditional anniversary retrospective from a wide angle. “45 Años de Arte Flamenco” (45 Years of Flamenco) is rooted in the soul of flamenco with an eye on the past, present and most importantly, future. Rather than present highlights from the company’s extensive repertoire, Zertuche featured her world premiere productions, and pay tribute to the traditional dance performance of the founders through a series of original works inspired by Theatre Flamenco’s legacy.

Four dancers – Carola Zertuche (Artistic Director), Manuel Gutierrez, Juan Siddi, and Cristina Hall- joined by five musicians and two singers in a remarkable event that looks back at the roots of flamenco to the modern style we enjoy today.  Gypsy singers José Cortes and Kina Mendez was accompanied by percussionist Sudhi Rajagopal, pianist Alex Conde; violinist Treggar Otton; cellist Jesse Wolff.

To get updates of Theare Flamenco schedules of show visit http://www.theatreflamenco.org or call 415-826-2477