Spanish and Flamenco Festival receives grant

Solero Flamenco and Houston Spanish and Flamenco Festival founders Irma La Paloma (left) and Jeremy García will be among the workshop instructors and performers for the 2012 festival. (Photo by Lorie García)

Solero Flamenco, a Houston-based flamenco performing company, has been awarded a grant from Humanities Texas for its work in bringing Spanish and flamenco arts to the community through the Houston Spanish and Flamenco Festival.

"We have an amazing group of highly educated, highly motivated music educators who are putting together exemplary programs that are competitive on a regional and state level and would be celebrated at any college or university," said Kelly Chapman Simons, San Jacinto College assistant vice president of resource development, in a news release. "The funding we are receiving from the Humanities Texas grant is testimony to their motivation, their personal efforts and most importantly, the powerful impact these programs are having on student success."

The dance company, in collaboration with San Jacinto College South and the Consulate General of Spain, has worked to expand on last year's inaugural festival with more workshops and performances to learn song, guitar, dance, percussion and castanets.

This year's festival has been expanded to four days, from May 23-26, and includes new youth programs and humanities presentations. Workshops will also be presented in all levels of flamenco song, guitar and dance, with an entire day dedicated to "Flamenco for Kids/Teens."

Spanish flamenco singer and guitarist Salvadora Galan will perform in the festival's opening concert on May 24. Maestro Teo Morca, a renowned flamenco dancer, choreographer and workshop instructor, will perform May 25. The culminating event on May 26 will feature the Omayra Amaya Flamenco Company, led by Omayra, the great-niece of the legendary Carmen Amaya.

The festival will be held in the Marie Spence Flickinger Fine Arts Center at the SJC South Campus, located at 13735 Beamer Road. For a schedule of events, workshop registration and ticket information, visit www.houstonspanishandflamencofestival.com.