Flamenco dance comes to TCCC

Spanish culture comes to Western North Carolina in a whirl of color when the Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company performs at Tri-County Community College on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.

This is the first time that our area has been exposed to the drama and emotion of flamenco. This emotion will be brought to life on stage by professional dancers, a singer, and a guitarist.

Flamenco is an inherently multicultural art form. It arose in Andalucía, the southern region of Spain, evolving from the interaction of many cultures including the Moorish, Jewish, Spanish, and especially the Gypsy--that inhabited this area for centuries. Flamenco is one of the most popular Spanish art forms because of the great intensity of its music and its energetic dance, that reveal a vision of life full of pride, passion, honor, love, sorrow, and death.

The universality of these themes, along with the cultural diversity of Flamenco's origins, touch on the many cultures present in the Americas. The richness of this traditional art form enhances the lives of all people who experience it -- whether they are living in the Americas, Spain, or any place in the world.

The Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company is one of the leading Spanish dance companies in the United States. Founded in 1983, they are based in New York and in North Carolina and have performed to sold out audiences around the world.

Tickets are available now for the public performance at TCCC's Enloe Building on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seating is $35 and general admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for TCCC students and for children 12 and under.

During their visit, the company will also be conducting a weeklong arts-in-education residency at Hayesville Elementary School, where they will hold workshops to teach students Spanish history, culture and language by using Flamenco dance as the focal point.

"We're very excited to have Flamenco Vivo come to our school," said Matt Rogers, principal of Hayesville Elementary School. "I have talked to people at other schools who have had the group in and they say it was a wonderful experience and that we're in for a real treat."

"Our students and teachers are looking forward to them working with our fourth grade and the kids are excited about the opportunity."

The fourth grade students will learn a routine and perform a dance with the group during the tenth annual Children's Theatre, where they will also be performing.

The Tri-County Community College Foundation sponsors the Children's Theatre each year for local schools to attend. This year nearly 1,000 area fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students are expected to attend the April 27 performance from Andrews, Hayesville, Hiwassee Dam, Marble, Martin's Creek, Peachtree and Robbinsville.

The Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company is coming thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council and the support of these local businesses: Carpet Mart, Cox and Son Roofing, Inc. of Hayesville, Debra Laney of Murphy, Family Life Chiropractic Center of Murphy, Farley Insurance of Murphy, First Citizen's Bank of Murphy, Hughes Electric Paint & Supplies, Inc., Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, Frankie McMillan of Murphy, ShoeBooties Café of Murphy, Snap On Power Tools of Murphy, Tri-County Community College, Wag-ABag, and Mrs. JoAnn H. Woody of Hayesville.

To purchase your ticket for the public performance, drop by the McSwain Building on the TCCC Main Campus from 8:00 a.m. * 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday or in the Harper Building after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. In Graham County, tickets are available at TCCC's Graham County Center. For more information, contact Dotie Ortega at 828-835-4208.

Proceeds from the performance will benefit the Tri-County Community College Foundation, which supports the needs of the college.