Mid-March.
 |
| First week of rehearsals |
I boarded the plane very
early in the morning for Vancouver, suitcase weighted with shoes and rehearsal
clothes, crossed the Rockies and soon found myself again at Centro Flamenco.
There in the studio on the aptly named “Alma” street (soul), I re-united with
musician friends and was overjoyed to see Rosario and Victor (the creative team
behind this very personal work) and very soon Centro Flamenco filled with all
the new artists for the 2013 tour!!!!
I play the eldest sister in
Mis Hermanas, Anadelia: the elegant, imaginative and talented sister who wanted
to be an Opera singer. It is a role I am reprising, having been a part of the
production since it’s inception in 2008. Since then we have performed several
times in Vancouver and toured to Mexico, an experience which has made Mis
Hermanas even more tangible, bringing forth nostalgia and a rooted connection,
since it all begins in a small town in Mexico.
Mis Hermanas is the personal
story of Flamenco dancer Rosario Ancer, a beautiful dancer and a matriarch in
the Vancouver flamenco community. I see Mis Hermanas as her life’s work – a
culmination of her
artistic experience, integrating her personal story with
theatrical vision, voice-over and multimedia. She has collected photos from her
childhood, and from her experiences in Spain where she met her husband/flamenco
guitarist Victor, as well as a touching collection of photos from the family
and each of her 7 sisters. The photos form a backdrop to the narrative and help
shape the character of each dancer.
 |
| Rosario Ancer (photo Adampwsmith) |
This production is poignant,
rich with artistic talent and heart-warming. It brings together Canadian
dancers from across the country along with artists from Spain and Mexico in a
large, cohesive and brilliantly accessible production that has filled the
audience with tears and brought them to their feet, every single time.
 |
| Some of the cast backstage - Port Theatre, Nanaimo |
No comments:
Post a Comment