Watch flamenco for free
PREVIEW
What: Victoria Flamenco Festival When: July 24 to 30 Where: Downtown venues include Cameron Bandshell, Centennial Square, Metro Studio, Hermann’s Jazz Club Admission: All shows at Centennial Square and Cameron Bandshell are free. Flamenco guitar performance at Hermann’s on July 28 is $25/$30; July 29 performance with Carmen Romero at Metro Studio is $$35/$40. For full schedule/ticket information, see victoriaflamencofestival.com
The good news: There’s a cornucopia of flamenco dance on offer in Victoria next week.
The even better news: Most of it is free.
Centennial Square hosts a series of free, noon-hour shows from Monday through Friday. There is another free performance on Friday at Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Victoria Flamenco Festival is presented by the Flamenco de la Isla Society. Here are the details on the free shows:
• Pasion Flamenca: Centennial Square, Monday, 12 p.m. — Veteran Victoria dancers, singers and a guitarist present new solo works and “fun fiesta pieces.”
• Rueda: Centennial Square, Tuesday, 12 p.m. — This local, seven-member troupe started out with a focus on traditional flamenco, paying homage to great artists of the past.
• LaLuna: Centennial Square, Wednesday, 12 p.m. — Another Victoria ensemble, LaLuna has both professional and novice dancers performing contemporary works.
• Harry Knight: Centennial Square, Thursday, 12 p.m. — Not yet in his teens, this Calgary guitar wunderkind started playing at the age of four and has performed more than 170 shows (including 11 consecutive nights playing to crowds of 20,000 at the Calgary Stampede). Knight will be joined by guest guitarist Gareth Owen. Knight will also accompany flamenco dancers at Cameron Bandshell for the free show on Friday.
• La Palabra en el Tiempo: Centennial Square, Friday, 12 p.m. — Victoria poet Garth Martens will recite his translations of Spanish poetry and songs for this show, which also features singer Veronica Maguire (who runs Victoria’s Alma de Espana flamenco dance company and school), guitarist Gareth Owen and dancer Denise Yeo.
• Toque por la Calle and other performers: Centennial Square, Saturday, 12 to 5:45 p.m. — A professional troupe from Vancouver, Toque por la Calle headlines this afternoon of entertainment, which also includes dancer Linda Hayes, the Raino Dance School, Spanish dance ensembles from Winnipeg and emerging artists.
• Final show: Centennial Square, Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. — The festival culminates with a flamenco celebration showcasing top performers performing both improvised and choreographed dances. The roster includes Flamenco en Rouge, Sabor Flamenco, Carmen Romero and the Alma de Espana dance company.
The festival’s ticketed events include a flamenco guitar night on Friday, 8 p.m. at Hermann’s Jazz Club featuring Gareth Owen, Jake Lee, Esteban Figueroa and Juan de Marias.
Another ticketed show, Y Entonces, is at the Metro Studio on Saturday at 8 p.m. The evening of flamenco dance, singing and music features Carmen Romero, Scott Metcalfe, Juan de Marias, Stephanie Pedraza and Gareth Owen.