The art of dance and music mixed with the fire of Spanish culture is coming to Laredo College. From July 30 to Aug. 3, the LC FlamencoFest will bring the harmony and passion of the world-renowned American Flamenco Repertory Company: Yjastros, to the Laredo community with a weeklong fiesta.
The FlamencoFest will see legendary dancers and musicians who have toured around the world performing at Laredo College and conducting workshops for those interested. The unique culture of the LC and South Texas communities is a hotbed for an art form that begs to be experienced on the stage and off.
With five workshops for different levels of experience, anyone in the community can begin learning the steps and notes that make up this wonderful song and dance. The Flamenco workshops will be split into three categories: Beginners/Beginners Adult, Beginners/Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced. The two other workshops are dedicated to Guitarra and Cante.
The entry price for each workshop is $100, but a discount is available for those interested in taking more than one workshop. Those interested in two courses will pay $175, while those registering for three will pay $250. The courses will be conducted by accomplished performers Andrea Lozano, Kayla Lyall, Ileana Gomez, Mario Febres and Vicente Griego.
On Aug. 2, Yjastros will perform on stage at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center Theater. An unforgettable evening of music, vibrant colors and intricate footwork will come together in a spectacular showcase. The performance is named ‘Pa’ Mi Raza’ and is a must-watch for our local families and dance enthusiasts.
Tickets for the performance vary based on location. Left and right balcony seats are available for $25 and center balcony for $30. Left and right orchestra seats are $40, while direct orchestra seating is $50. Regardless of location, the music and the dancers’ steps will reverberate in participants’ bodies and souls.
The FlamencoFest will be capped off with an intimate tablao held at the Kazen Student Center on Aug. 3. A tablao’s unique built-in intimacy among dancers and musicians has made fertile ground for master artists to emerge for generations.