The vision of Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana is that of bridging cultures through flamenco. As a professional performing and teaching artist I have seen this vision manifest in FVCS' arts education work and in the touring dance company. In the arts ed work, I have watched school communities torn by racial prejudice bridge the gap of understanding through the art of flamenco. This has made a significant difference in the everyday lives of the children they reach. In the mainstage dance company FVCS unites Spanish and American artists to create dance and music of the highest caliber. FVCS is about fostering understanding between different cultures through the art of music, dance and song. They are successful in this endeavor. They inspire children and adults, employ artists, and better the lives of all the communities they visit via outreach, residencies, master classes, lecture demonstrations, and discussions. They bring international art to American communities large and small, and they are a model for inspired, applied arts education.
Flamenco Vivo has been bringing the art of flamenco to children and audiences for almost 30 years. I have personally benefited by being one of their dancers and teaching artists for over 20 years and their continued faith on my skills have helped me to survive as an artist in an environment where many do not appreciate the value of our contributions to society. Flamenco Vivo has employed composers musicians, dancers , lighting designers, choreographers and costumers and administrators during all this time, bringing the best in traditional flamenco and dance theater to the stage that I will never forget: such as For Whom the Bell Tolls at Symphony Space and Lorca at The Joyce. Thank you Carlota!
Carlota Santana has been bringing Flamenco Education all over the nation for 30yrs her dedication to keeping Flamenco Vivo alive is securing our future audiences. Thank you Carlota for not only keeping local and foreign Flamenco Artist on stage and expressing themselves through thier Flamenco Art, but also helping us grow by bringing Us together in collobaration of talents. Mil Gracias
Our work with Disabled students shows the impact Dance can have on a student's life! a few quotes::::
The Assistant Principal told us a story about a student:
“Marco, who just used to wander the halls all day and cause trouble… but during the flamenco dance residency he was really happy to practice every day, he got more involved in his classes during the program and got completely dressed up and even bought new shoes for the performance. This year he is much more involved in school and is even participating in our work program.”
The Principal also stressed the importance of how this program helps build student’s self esteem:
“S has always been so shy and inhibited, a real wall flower… now people look at her like ‘she’s a dancer’ and she is much more involved in school and less shy because of it.”