GET YOUR TICKETS FOR CAFÉ DE CHINITAS NOW!

Event: “Café de Chinitas”
Artist: Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre
Venue: Norman Rothstein Theatre,
950 W. 41st at Oak Street, Vancouver
When: Saturday October 28, 2006
Time: 8:00pm
Tickets: $30 students/seniors or $35 adults
How to get tix: www.ticketmaster.ca or call 604-280-4444

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FLAMENCO FOOTWORK AND CHINESE MELODIES FUSE IN
MOZAICO FLAMENCO’S CAFÉ DE CHINITAS

VANCOUVER, BC: When you think about musical counterparts for Flamenco, classical Chinese music might seem a surprising inclusion on the shortlist of ideal candidates.

But that’s precisely the combination that Vancouver’s Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre and the renowned Orchid Ensemble intend to explore in their upcoming production Café de Chinitas— and prove that Flamenco footwork and lyrical Chinese melodies are well-suited through mutual depths of expression and some surprising historical ties. The performance will mark the first time this particular ‘East meets West’ combination will be seen on a Vancouver stage.

On Saturday, October 28th at 8 PM, Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre transports the audience in the Norman Rothstein Theatre to an enchanted café where red-golden cheong sams and Asian melodies fuse with Flamenco’s virtuosity and bravado. This memorable evening of dance theatre features Project Director Kasandra, Artistic Director Oscar Nieto, guitarist Peter Mole, and the Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre company. Also on the bill: guest artist Keiko Ooka—a tantalizing professional Flamenco singer from Madrid originally from Japan—and Santa Barbara-based dance soloist Pablo Pizano.

Café de Chinitas takes its name from an actual Spanish locale: in the mid-18th century, Café de Chinitas was a Flamenco singers’ coffee shop in the city of Malaga in Southern Spain. Built with Moorish arches and columns, balconies lined the lateral walls and huge mirrors glamorized the establishment; its stage attracted many of the era's famous Flamenco artists. Historians surmise that the name Café de Chinitas arose from Andalucia's extensive commerce with the Orient (primarily the Philippines ) during this era. Many Asian women, commonly known as ‘chinitas’ would regularly attend the cafe, leading to its eventual name.

An appreciation for multiculturalism comes naturally for Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre, whose dancers represent a diverse range of backgrounds including Spanish, Mexican, English, Chinese and Filipino. “[Café de Chinitas] is an opportunity to prove that our Canadian company can perform Flamenco at the highest calibre with great artistic integrity, and in a way that reflects our own cultural identity,” says Kasandra.

The evening will unfold with many traditional and contemporary Flamenco dances including Solea, Caña, Solea por Buleria, Alegrias, Tangos and Bulerias. Tickets are $37.10 and are available through Ticketmaster (604-280-4444 or www.ticketmaster.ca).

Formed in 1972 by legendary Flamenco dancer Oscar Nieto, Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre has been a moving force in the world of Spanish dance for more than 30 years, continuously pushing the outer edges of the artistic envelope and fusing dance, music and culture. For more information about Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre, visit www.mozaicoflamenco.com/company.

MEDIA: For high-resolution images, interviews, or more information, please contact Sabrina Mehra at 604.488.4474 or sabrina@sabrinamehra.com.