AR Flamenco Presents: Tablao Flamenco in the Century Room!
($15-$25 | 7pm show) In one of Tucson’s most intimate venues, experience the rawness and authenticity flamenco has to offer. This month we welcome two special guests traveling from Phoenix to perform.
Featuring: Yumi La Rosa (Baile) Max Parrault (Flamenco Flautist)
With: Misael Barraza Diaz (guitarra) Mele Martinez (Cante) Angelina Ramirez (Baile)
**Angelina Ramirez**
Angelina Ramirez is a flamenco movement artist and teaching artist living in Tucson, Arizona. Ramirez’s artistic work explores what it means to be a queer, latinx flamenca, practicing in a traditional Roma/gitano form of dance. As a teaching artist, she is interested in the intersections of arts and healing, focusing on work with elders of all abilities and integrated flamenco with autistic individuals. She is devoted to promoting accessibility and eradicating ableism, racism and bigotry by practicing and promoting dialogue, acceptance and community participation. In 2021 Ramirez received the Master-Apprentice Artist Award through Southwest Folklife Alliance for her dedication and commitment to Flamenco arts. She is a National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures fellow. In 2018 she received the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ Artist Research and Development Grant to support the development of her evening-length work /SER/. Ramirez is an original member of Yjastros, the American Flamenco Repertory Company and has toured with world-renowned, New York-based company Noche Flamenca. Along with teaching and performing Ramirez produces events and festivals and is currently the curator for the Traditional and Ethnic Dance Festival with the Southwest Folklife Alliance.
**Misael Barraza Diaz**
Born in Mexico, Misael is one of the most talented guitarists of his generation. While the artist holds several degrees in classical guitar performance – including a doctorate in musical arts – flamenco guitar has and always will be an intrinsic part of his musical identity. Originally self-taught, Misael went on to study in Spain with renowned flamenco guitarist and educator Oscar Herrero, where he polished his skills as a solo flamenco guitarist. Since then, however, he has become one of the prominent flamenco accompanists in the Arizona region, as his devotion to flamenco and its essence has driven his artistic growth throughout the years. As a result, the artist has performed with all of the major flamenco dance companies and artists in the area and continues to do so while developing a solo guitar career. Misael has released a flamenco guitar CD titled “Luz de Día”, to be soon followed by three more flamenco guitar projects currently being recorded and produced.
**Yumi La Rosa**
Yumi La Rosa has studied in Spain with renowned Flamenco artists including Rafaela Carrasco, Juana Amaya, Belen Maya, Leonor Leal, Isabel Bayón, and “La Truco”. Upon returning to Phoenix, Yumi joined Viva Flamenco directed by Lydia Torea as a company dancer, and later became a soloist with Mosaico Flamenco at Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. Yumi La Rosa was also selected as a soloist with the prestigious touring group, Calo Flamenco, directed by Martin Gaxiola. She was later invited to Mexico, India and Singapore to teach Flamenco workshops and to perform. Currently, she directs and performs at Tapas Papa Frita Spanish restaurant in Scottsdale as the featured dancer. She is also an Artistic Director for an annual theater production, Amor al Baile to give the public an appreciation of other cultures in general and of the richness of Spanish culture in particular.
Yumi La Rosa has been a flamenco instructor for all ages at her studio as well as throughout the valley; the School of Ballet Arizona, Yen-Li Chen Ballet School, and Arizona School for the Arts, Ballet Etudes, and etc.
**Max Perrault**
Based in Phoenix, Max Perrault has accompanied local and international flamenco artists, bringing his unique improvisational style to the stage and recording projects.