DANZA EL VITO RITUAL FIRE DANCE - CARMEN FLAMENCO
Saturday 9th November 2.00pm (Doors Open 1.30pm)
Deakin Edge Federation Square
Corner of Swanston Street & Flinders Street, Melbourne
TICKETS: Adult $45, Concession $40, Student $35, Child U 16 $30, Group 8+ $35
BOOKINGS: Web: http://eventopia.co/elvito (plus booking fee)
Phone: 0438 881 985
El Vito Chamber Group featuring Nicholas Young, Internationally acclaimed, Award Winning concert pianist and ‘Young Steinway Artist’ and Internationally renowned 10-string virtuoso Spanish Classical and Flamenco Guitarist Matthew Fagan continue their ground-breaking tour collaborations including SOLD OUT show at the Sydney Opera House, and are joined by special guest Flamenco Dancers Laura Uhe and Fernando Mira and world percussionist Marek Podstawek combining musical passion and innovative dance choreography in an exciting new performance.
Fernando has starred in Baz Luhrmann's production of Strictly Ballroom the Musical from 2013-2018 in the UK and USA and in Don Quixote with The English National Opera and with Opera Australia productions of Othello and Carmen in Melbourne in Taiwan.
Laura Uhe has performed flamenco dance in Opera Australia productions of Carmen. Laura also appeared in Vic Opera’s international production of Carmen in Sydney and Melbourne. Flamenco dancers from Laura's Flamenco School, Flamenco Dancer Melbourne will also feature in the show.
Featured music includes Spanish classical to flamenco and Tango to Modern Jazz, infusing the exhilarating traditional flamenco elements of Spanish Guitar with classical masterworks from Bizet’s classic opera CARMEN, Concierto de Aranjuez- J Rodrigo, Ritual Fire Dance - M De Falla, Asturias Issac Albeniz into stunning new arrangements accompanied with Laura and Fernando’s unique fusion of Flamenco and Classical Dance.
The group captures the raw, authentic combination of flamenco dance and music, creating an intimate connection with the audience through their superb technical ability and emotionally fiery execution.
Please refer to biographies of Matthew and Nicholas at https://www.matthew-fagan.com/spain-tango-piano
Laura Uhe – Flamenco Dancer
Trained in classical ballet (RAD) from the age of 4, at 14 Laura became a member of the Perth City Ballet Youth Company, touring Scotland and the U.K. Laura began studying Flamenco and Spanish Classical dance in 1985, initially in Perth with Deanna Blacher, then in Canberra with Gunta Hamra and later with Charito Saldana, Ana Romero and Mario Orbitani in Melbourne.
Laura has studied under Antonio Vargas (Strictly Ballroom and joined The Antonio Vargas Flamenco Dance Theatre Company and performed in many productions including Harvey Goldstein/Vic Opera’s international production of Carmen in Sydney and Melbourne. She then went on to study intensively in Spain with Master Teachers including Carmela Creco, La Tati, Ciro, Sara Baras, Rafaela Carrasco, and classical Spanish under Paco Romero in Madrid.
Laura played the role of gypsy Flamenco Dancer in Carmen with Opera Australia in 2009, 2010 and was Dance Captain in this production in 2014. Laura has performed extensively in theatre productions, festivals and corporate events throughout her career. Laura was guest Choreographer and Flamenco teacher for Chunky Move Contemporary Dance Company in their production of ‘Wanted – Ballet for A Contemporary Democracy’.
Highlight performances include the Melbourne Festival of the Arts, Latin Summer at the Arts Centre, Brunswick Music Festival, Port Fairy Festival, La Casa De Bernanda Alba at the Malthouse Theatre, and Suena Flamenca – a collaboration with flamenco artists from Sydney Melbourne and Spain.
Laura has toured throughout Australia performing and teaching workshops and master classes. She has been a guest teacher at VCASS, VCA, the Australian Institute of Classical Dance Summer School, Dance World 301, Casa Del Flamenco (Adelaide) The Flamenco Centre (Canberra) The Dance Factory (Perth), Estudio Nuevo (Perth) and the Cecchetti Ballet Associations’ Summer School.
In addition to her own classes Laura regularly hosts guest teachers from Spain to conduct workshops for students and teachers to further develop their knowledge and skills in the art of Spanish Dance and Flamenco.
Laura is a qualified teacher with a B.A and Dip Ed from ANU and LA Trobe University. She also teaches music and dance to children in schools and kindergartens around Melbourne.
http://melbourneflamenco.com.au/
Fernando Mira – Flamenco Dancer
Please not that Group pictures are of Fernando's performances in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom the musical and are not a reflection of this performance.
With over forty years experience in flamenco, Fernando has performed and taught extensively throughout Australia and abroad. Highlights performances include Don Quixote with The English National and Victoria State Operas and Othello and Carmen in Melbourne and Taipei with Opera Australia.
His latest achievement includes a dancing and acting role in Baz Luhrmann's production of Strictly Ballroom the Musical where Fernando originated the role of 'Rico' from its inception in 2013 till 2016. In 2017 Fernando was the only member of the company who was asked to join the production in Leeds UK and later Toronto Canada, finally completing its journey at West Ends Piccadilly theatre in 2018.
Some of Fernando's film and television experiences include the popular 1996 TV series of Man from Snowy River, Australian Motion picture Amy, Noah’s Ark, True Love & Chaos, The Today Show, Australian comedy series Soul Mates and Funky Squad.
Other highlights include Solo performances at the, Melbourne International Arts Festival the Victorian Arts Centre and the National Art Gallery.
Special Guest performance in Sevilla, Spain, for the Andulusian Government and for National Tourism of Spain at the Palladium Crown Casino, Melbourne.
Fernando has been teaching flamenco since the early eighties from his own studios in Fitzroy Melbourne to the Council of Adult Education, at various schools throughout Victoria and returning to his former dance school where he studied Ballet at the Victorian College of The Arts teaching all aspects of Flamenco. In the late 1980’s, Fernando travelled to Spain to further his studies and performed at various ‘tablaos’ (Flamenco cabarets) throughout Madrid and Seville. Fernando is Now giving dance classes with his long time dance partner Laura Uhe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=92&v=qpJyAkE763A
STRICTLY BALLROOM REVIEWS
"In a scene-stealing performance, Fernando Mira delivers an intense and authentic flash of danger as Rico, master of the pasodoble. A superlative arrangement of Magnifico is a particular highlight, partnered with Fernando Mira’s showstopping pasodoble."
Samuel Payne Entertainment Focus 2016
"The astonishingly controlled but supremely passionate turn from Fernando Mira as Rico, Fran’s father who teaches Scott an invaluable lesson about the difference between dancing with your head and dancing with your heart. Vital, stern and impossibly magnetic, Mira proves to be an unstoppable force of nature, one that very nearly steals the show. He focuses stillness as the Ballroomers channel sequins. It’s an amazing counter-point and the Paso Doble sequence with Lips is a true coup de théâtre."
Stephen Collins Live Theatre UK 2016
The evening’s most electrifying sequence takes place at Fran’s house when her father, Rico, and family laugh at Scott’s attempt to dance a paso doble and show him how it should be done: with feeling, not technical brilliance. As Rico, the father who comes to understand that his daughter must follow her own dance, Fernando Mira stops the show.
The Guardian UK
By far the best turn however comes from Fernando Mira as Fran’s father Rico who throws shapes as sharp as knives as he shows Scott how the Paso Doble is really done. His performance is steeped in passion, danger and brilliance:
The Telegraph UK
"Most electrically, Fran’s father Rico (Fernando Mira) teaches Scott the paso doble in the first-act finale “Magnifico” and it brings the house down. Mira, a holdover from the Australian cast, is an extraordinary flamenco dancer, and he and Eve Polycarpou as Fran’s grandmother hit just the right tone of knowing camp."
Karen Fricker "Toronto Star"
'Fernando Mira...brings the house down'
The Daily Mail UK
