José Porcel's Spanish Company Performs Flamenco, Modern Ballet
October 26, 2005
Internationally famous dancer José Porcel comes from Andalucía, a region of southern Spain that is the birthplace of flamenco–the folk art that combines singing, guitar playing and dancing in an explosion of emotions. His Ballet Flamenco José Porcel–a troupe of 10 dancers plus guitarists, singers and percussionist–performs a colorful combination of traditional flamenco and modern ballet. The company, with Porcel as artistic director and sometime choreographer and dancer, performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Eisenhower Auditorium on the Penn State University Park campus.
Tickets for the Center for the Performing Arts presentation are on sale now at $29 for an adult, $14 for a University Park student and $19 for a person 18 and younger. For tickets and information, visit www.cpa.psu.edu or phone (814) 863-0255. Outside the local calling area, dial 1-800-ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at Eisenhower Auditorium, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; Penn State Tickets Downtown, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays; and Bryce Jordan Center, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
"A flamenco performance gives the spectator an overwhelming sensation of happiness, a joyful and sensual mood that no other form of dance is capable of evoking," asserts the writer of the company's biography. "Because flamenco contains all of the vitality, sunniness and passion of the Spanish people, it is a folkloric celebration where, even when theater art is being provided, irresistible erotic appeal and irrepressible energy remain intact."
The program includes about 10 works, several of which feature Porcel as soloist. Paco Arriaga, who like Porcel is a native of Sevilla, composed the music for each of the pieces. Arriaga, a guitarist who has accompanied the leading flamenco singers and dancers of our time, performs on stage with Porcel and company.
In 1991, Porcel choreographed his first flamenco work, under the direction of flamencologist Federico Torres, at the Teatro Principal in Alicante. He directed and danced in his first flamenco company at the Expo de Sevilla in 1992.
Porcel joined the Ballet Nacional de España in 1994 and went on to dance as a soloist and premier dancer in many ballet and flamenco works. In 2000, the Sevillan danced as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Later that year, he performed on tour around the world with the Compañía Española de Antonio Márquez. He toured with the same company throughout the United States during the 2001-2002 season.
The Penn State International Dance Ensemble Endowment sponsors the performance. WTAJ-TV10 is the media partner, while radio station Lite 94.5 is the media sponsor. Artistic Viewpoints, sponsored by the Center for the Performing Arts Community Advisory Council, provides insight from Porcel and is offered free to interested ticket holders in the Eisenhower Auditorium Conference Room one hour before the performance. Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available at no charge to ticket holders.
Support Toys for Tots: bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Eisenhower Auditorium collection bin when you attend a November performance.
Contact: Laura Sullivan
(814) 863-6379