June 8 and June 15, 2007

IMAGENES DEL ORIENTE
Flamenco Footwork, Chinese Melodies and Fashion Fuse in an Exotic Production of Mozaico Flamenco’s Café de Chintas

Event: Café de Chinitas “Imagenes del Oriente”

Performers: Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre & The Orchid Ensemble

Date: Friday June 8 and June 15, 2007

Time: 8:00pm

Venue: Edie’s Hats in the Net Loft at Granville Island
4-1666 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver

Cost: $35 for June 15 performance only. June 8 by invitation only.
Hors d’oeuvres are included. Bar will be open for purchase.
To ensure intimate setting, seats are limited to 60 per night.
Box Office: 604.683-4280 or www.ediehats.com

VANCOUVER, BC: A multicultural cast in modern Chinese-Western costumes and high fashion cocktail hats. Not the first image that comes to mind when thinking of traditional Flamenco dance. But step into Edie’s Hats on the evenings of June 8 and 15 and a blend of flamenco guitar and exotic Chinese music will transport you to an opium dream gone awry.

This unusual blend of cultures is precisely what results when Vancouver’s Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre and the renowned Orchid Ensemble perform "Imagenes del Oriente" in the first of their ‘Café de Chinitas’ tablao series.

The name ‘Café de Chinitas’ comes from a historically significant cafe in 19th century Spain which was an opulently decorated, architecturally dramatic building with a stage that attracted the era’s best Flamenco artists. The area’s extensive commerce with the Orient attracted many Asian women (known as ‘chinitas’) to the café, leading to its eventual name. Later, the café was immortalized by poet, writer and musician Federico Garcia Lorca (1898 – 1936), who wrote the famous Petenera song that will be the opening act of the show. Click for more info.

On June 8 and 15, Edie's Hats will be transformed into the famed and enchanted Café de Chinitas of Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetry. The doors will open to reveal a hazy boudoir and patrons draped in exotic Spanish silk shawls don hats from another time to share cocktails and conversation. The music of the Orchid Ensemble will permeate the café with the wailing erhu and ethereal strumming of the zheng, creating a musical reverie.

The show will feature ten dance vignettes in an intimate, café style atmosphere, reminiscent of the old Café Cantante during the golden era of Flamenco. This memorable evening of dance and interactive theatre features the artistry of Project Artistic Director Kasandra La China, joined by performances from her mentor and legendary Flamenco artist Oscar Nieto, guitarist Peter Mole and the Mozaico Flamenco Dancers. Also on the bill are Juno award nominees, The Orchid Ensemble, featuring Lan Tung (erhu/vocals), Jonathan Bernard (marimba) and Gelina Jiang (zheng). A colourful cast of performers add to the dream-like ambience and mistress of ceremonies, Edie Orenstein, will guide guests through the evening.

Haunting Asian melodies fuse with Flamenco’s bravado in true Vancouver style. The show is sponsored by Chinatown-based designer Ochi Fashion and Edie’s Hats, both outfitting cast and staff to reflect the cultural fusion while lending the fantasy some colour and panache.

"We aspire to create a local following for the Café de Chinitas series as a true representation of who we are,” says Kasandra La China. "Café de Chinitas is an opportunity to demonstrate that a Canadian company performs Flamenco at the highest caliber with great artistic integrity. It is a pure reflection of our cultural identity.” Multicultural appreciation comes naturally for Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre, whose dancers represent a diverse range of backgrounds including Spanish, Mexican, English, Chinese and Filipino.

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.

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GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY:

Edie’s Hats Venue & Flamenco Fashion www.ediehats.com

Sayo Nickerson Silver Sponsor

Ochi Fashion Chinese-Western Fashion Fusion 604-683-3698

Inside Out Solutions Artistry & NAO Make Up www.insideoutsolutions.com