Flamenco Fire

Flamenco Fire, Australia's only national flamenco company, is joining forces with Camerata – Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, acclaimed flamenco artists direct from Spain (including Olayo Jiménez, Andrej Vujicic and Francesca 'La Chica'), and Australia's finest flamenco musicians and dancers (including Andrew Veivers, Simone Pope and Kieren Ray) to celebrate two decades on stage.

Showcasing a retrospective of the past 20 years of Flamenco Fire productions while delving into the rich cultural heritage and diverse historical influences within flamenco, this 20th anniversary and world premiere gala is a celebration of the timeless art of flamenco.

Veinte Años explores the ancient textures of flamenco music, song and dance, woven together through an intricately orchestrated score that will transport you to the heart of España. Olé!

Flamenco Fire returns with Viva Sevilla – The Golden Age of Flamenco! Directed by composer / guitarist Andrew Veivers and featuring dancer Francesca 'La Chica' Grima, singer Olayo Jiménez and percussionist Andrej Vujicic - direct from Spain - performing alongside Australia's finest flamenco artists - dancer Simone Pope, singer Clara Domingo, guitarist Kieren Ray and violinist Shenton Gregory. Viva Sevilla is a beautifully crafted show that reveals the flamenco art form in all of its guises. From contemporary festive dances to heart wrenching traditional songs, to fiery guitar ensemble pieces, Flamenco Fire will transport you to España......¡Olé!   Viva Sevilla is the third instalment of a historically based flamenco trilogy that explores the cultural, geopolitical, and religious influences that, combined over a period of almost two thousand years, produce the various elements of the art form of flamenco.

The years known as the Golden Age of Flamenco, approx. 1850 - 1920, saw all of the elements that we now distinguish as flamenco come together in Sevilla and flourish. Sevilla had been the unofficial capital of Andalucia, in Southern Spain, for many hundreds of years and by the nineteenth century it had already been a relatively large and extremely cosmopolitan city for centuries. Flamenco, on the other hand, had been a private expression amongst farmers, peasants, miners etc. and those close to them. From the 1850s to the 1920s flamenco was introduced to the wider public for the first time in the environment of The Cafe Cantantes. Performers of flamenco became 'artists'. Performing in cafes, tablaos and eventually theatres and concert halls initially throughout Spain and then the rest of the world, these artists continued the flamenco tradition of absorbing the influences they encountered.

As with the other major periods of development in the flamenco story, explored in the previous two Flamenco Fire shows in this trilogy (Al-Andaluz and Gypsy Pathways), this Golden Age didn't blossom unaided. A fertile new ground of changing attitudes to political and religious authority, unprecedented economic, industrial, and population growth as well as challenges to long held social structures, empowered practitioners of an art form, who had been marginalised and persecuted for two millennia, to consolidate centuries of folk lore, influenced from cultures and stories from around the world, into what would quickly, but unexpectedly, become a Spanish national treasure.

Many challenges that exist in Australian society today were present in 19th century Spain. The concepts of nationhood, sovereign territory, the balancing of political and religious powers, cultural tolerance, the influences and difficulties in balancing the growth and decline of industries, the impact of migration on farming, mining and urban communities. Using the aesthetic of traditional flamenco combined with contemporary dance choreography, original composition and supporting visual and staging design, Viva Sevilla examines these cultural challenges within the Spanish historical cultural context and connects them to the contemporary Australian experience.

Celebrating the epic nature of the great gypsy migration, Gypsy Pathways delves into the rich and diverse cultures that the Romani people brought with them, with their kathak traditions from India, and encountered and integrated with their own, during their travels through Persia (now Iran) and North Africa. Many of these influences were ultimately to come together when they arrived in Spain, arguably adding the most crucial ingredients to what was to become flamenco.

Featuring the stunning talents of special international guests alongside some of Australia's finest flamenco artists, Flamenco Fire's Gypsy Pathways distils from eight centuries of tradition a compelling, passionate, and vibrant show that captures all of the excitement and drama of this part of the great Romani story.

'Each moment in this performance was a spectacle, each song a triumph and all of the dances were superb and electrifying. It is not in my habit to completely praise every aspect and element of something that I view and it surprises me with the degree to which this show was outside my comfort zone to be giving it a well deserved and highly enthusiastic five stars and faultless review.' (Brent Downes, Theatre People, Monday 6 February 2012)

'The artistic excellence brought to patrons through this show is proof that our global relationships are to be celebrated and admired. Gypsy Pathways is highly recommended.' 4.5 out of 5 stars (Sally Peters, ArtsHub, Wednesday 8 February 2012)

'This truly was an intimate display of artistry. As one, the audience erupted in cheers and "Ole!", and a standing ovation.' 4 out of 5 stars (Phil Reece, DanceHub, Friday 3 February 2012)

The creative vision of Sunshine Coast based Director/Composer and renowned Flamenco guitarist Andrew Veivers, Gypsy Pathways has been commissioned by Queensland producer Red Chair with the support of Arts Queensland, Brisbane City Council and QPAC. Veivers' compositional skills have been in high demand with recent commissioned compositional credits including 'Al-Andaluz' (Flamenco Fire 2010), a new translation of Garcia Lorca's 'Blood Wedding' (Sydney Theatre Company 2011), and a major orchestral work for this year's Woodford Folk Festival.

Drawing from the rich influences of over five centuries of Music, Dance and Culture, Al-Andaluz is many stories told together, always glancing backwards in time, with a gentle sense of movement through the centuries.

Tracing the evolution of flamenco from the last Moorish King (1492) to its 'golden age' in Seville (19th century), Flamenco Fire's newest production, Al-Andaluz celebrates the evocative mix of the sacred and secular music and culture of the Moors (the generic name given to the people of Islamic North Africa), the Sephardic Jews, the Gypsies and the Northern Europeans.

Told through compelling live music, passionate song, and dazzling, vibrant movement, Al-Andaluz captures the exotic clash of cultures that, over the centuries, provided the foundation of the great art of flamenco.

For many centuries these distinctly different peoples enjoyed a harmonious co-existence throughout the Iberian Peninsula, an area known then as Al-Andaluz and later as Spain. But with the surrender of the last Moorish king to the Catholic monarchs, and his departure from the Alhambra Palace in Granada in 1492, this harmonious co-existence gradually gave way to a strict and intolerant Catholic rule, culminating in the infamous Inquisition. This culture of fear drove the practice of 'outlawed' worship and cultural expression underground where it continued to thrive as a relevant and vital part of everyday life.

In the case of Andalucia – the southern most Province of Spain (a stone's throw from Northern Africa and the home of many ancient seaports) – these elements came together over time until by the middle of the 19th century, flamenco, as we know it today, had fully come into existence.

Al-Andaluz takes three cultural elements that find strong expression within the flamenco story – Architecture, Storytelling and Dress. Flamenco Fire uses these as the inspiration to develop new music and choreography, as well as the rearrangement and re-orchestration of traditional melodies and songs. The resulting narrative is driven by the representation, through music, song, and movement, of important transitional points throughout a 400-year evolution.

Sol de Otoño is an echo of the Autumn fiestas in Spain. A time of the wine harvest. A celebration of Passion, Light, Culture, and Tradition.

In 2008 Flamenco Fire Sol de Otoño (Autumn Sun) was showcased over 2 nights at QPAC's Playhouse before embarking on an 11 week Australian tour, supported by Playing Australia, Arts Queensland and the Queensland Arts Council. With 39 performances across 34 venues, Sol de Otoño made history as the most extensive flamenco tour (domestic or international) ever undertaken within Australia. The production also presented internationally for the first time with a 10-day tour of New Caledonia.

The ritual of the celebration of the new spring. A celebration of birth and life. A time for song and dance. Centred around beautifully crafted dance ensembles, and a fully choreographed lighting and stage display, Primavera Mia will transport audiences to the spring fiestas of Spain.

Launched at QPAC in 2009, Primavera Mia received rave reviews.

Primavera Mia toured extensively throughout Queensland in 2011 with a stellar collection of Australia's finest Flamenco artists including dancers Simone Pope and Natalie Slect and guitarist Damian Wright, the performances featured special guests direct from Spain - singer Olayo Jiménez and dancer – Sebastian Sanchez.

2019

Veinte Años - Concert Hall QPAC

2016

Viva Sevilla Touring - Brisbane, Caloundra, Gympie, Redcliffe, Cleveland, Toowoomba, Millmerran, Charleville, Quilpie, Dalby, Bundaberg, Sarina, Proserpine, Barcaldine, Longreach, Cloncurry, Hughenden, Rockhampton, Magnetic Island, Normanton, Burketown, Cairns

Viva Sevilla - Port Fairy Folk Festival

Viva Sevilla - Bleach* Festival

Viva Sevilla - Cremorne Theatre QPAC - 10 performance season

Viva Sevilla - Music By the Sea

Viva Sevilla - Woodford Folk Festival - 4 performance season

2014

Laneways 'STAMP' - Post Office Square (Brisbane)

2013

Al-Andaluz - Illawarra Performing Arts Centre - 3 night season

Gypsy Pathways Touring - St. George, Quilpie, Roma, Wandoan, Caloundra, Rockhampton, Proserpine, Atherton, Moranbah, Capella, Barcaldine, Springsure, Biloela, Maryborough, Oakey, Millmerran, Chinchilla, Warwick, Beaudesert

2012

Gypsy Pathways - Woodford Folk Festival

Primavera Mia - National Folk Festival

Gypsy Pathways - Playhouse, QPAC - 3 night season

2011

Primavera Mia Touring - Burketown, Mt Isa, Croydon, Innisfail, Ayr, Proserpine, Springsure, Yeppoon, Bundaberg, Redcliffe, Dalby, Quilpie, Roma, Kingaroy, Toowoomba, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Nambour Civic Centre

2010

Al-Andaluz – Woodford Folk Festival – 3 performance season

Primavera Mia – Redland Performing Arts Centre

Al-Andaluz – Playhouse, QPAC – 4 performance season

2009

Primavera Mia – Playhouse, QPAC – 3 night season

Sol de Otoño - New Caledonian Tour

2008

Sol de Otoño - 11-week Australian Tour

Sol de Otoño - Playhouse, QPAC - 2 night season

2007

Ontour Onstage (QAC) 4 week Queensland tour Townsville Civic Centre

2006

Noosa Long Weekend, Darwin Entertainment Centre, Boonah Cultural Centre, Capella Cultural Centre, Mackay Entertainment Centre, Burdekin Theatre (Ayr), The World Theatre (Charters Towers), Cairns Civic Centre, Moncrieff Theatre (Bundaberg), Gladstone Entertainment Centre

2005 & 2006

The Judith Wright Centre - 4 night season (Brisbane)

2005

Woodford Folk Festival - 3 night season Byron Bay Cultural Centre

2004 & 2005

Bicentennial Hall (Noosa)

2000 - 2004

The Brisbane Powerhouse - 4 night season (Brisbane)

1999

The Tivoli Theatre (Brisbane)