The show will run from 23 August to 1 September and will include two new pieces facilitated by La Rosa's artistic director, Carolyn Holden. These will give the dancers (including Ché Adams, Maria Cortes, Deidré Jantjies, Thandolwethu Sam, Luvuyo Simandla, Ndumiso Tafeni, and Lisa Ventura) an opportunity to create short solos for themselves. There will also be rotating choreography and performers, resulting in a unique audience experience at each show.
"I have chosen the context of a peña to stage this production, giving the audience a fly-on-the-wall view of how a peña might look and feel," Holden says. "Given the fact that in South Africa, there are many flamenco dancers, while flamenco musicians and singers are few and far between, this is an approximation of a South African peña experience."
All this will be performed to live music from Bienyameen Camroodien on flamenco guitar, Robert Davids on cajón and percussion, Robert Jeffrey on guitar and cello, and Heather Roth on flute and saxophone. Loreán Swartz's vocals will also be supported by members of La Rosa's Vocational Training Programme.
Peña Flamenca is showing at the Masque Theatre in Cape Town. Tickets cost from R55 to R65 and are available from webtickets.co.za. There are also discounts for the Masque Theatre Club and booking by calling +27 (0)21 788 1898 during office hours or emailing az.oc.ertaehteuqsam@sgnikoob. For more information on La Rosa, go to www.larosa.co.za
