(noticia) The tap-flamenco clique

*A festival devoted to the Spanish art form will include experimental as well as traditional moves.



Yaelisa
(Randi Lynn Beach)

By Diane Haithman, Times Staff Writer

DOUGLAS C. RANKIN, producer of the New World Flamenco Festival, had a flash of inspiration as he watched Savion Glover in "Classical Savion," which had the 32-year-old dance star tapping to Vivaldi, Bach, Mendelssohn and other classical composers at New York's Joyce Theater last year. "I tell you, I was sitting in the audience, and within the first five minutes I'm thinking, 'My God, he'd make a terrific flamenco dancer, he's got the feet," says Rankin, who went on to present the classical show at the Irvine Barclay Theatre last November.

"And of course he's got the rhythm and is widely known for his improvisational genius. I thought it was a crazy idea — but let's see what happens."

He mentioned the idea to Yaelisa, the flamenco festival's artistic director and a flamenco artist herself, and approached Glover about appearing, sealing the deal by sending off a photo of Yaelisa in performance.
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tags: flamenco, baile, cante, flamenco festival