Dossier #am@r English

#am@r (#l@ve) is a show of Spanish Dance and Video Dance talking about love and loneliness through new technologies.

Esther and Javier are two lifelong friends that communicate to each other through telephone chat. He has just broken up with his girlfriend and she has no relationship for a long time. Without telling to each other, they decide to register under a false name in eDarling with the aim of finding their ideal partner there. This circumstance gives rise to a series of tangles, where what the characters live in the real world has nothing to do with what they share in the virtual world.

After the success obtained with the piece Tú (You), a play about the dream love and which premiered in June 2013 at the Auditorium of Huesca, the company Rajatabla Danza decided to continue investigating around the same theme, but this time from a different perspective. Esther Tablas and Javier Sánchez have made a thorough study about love and the role that new technologies play in terms of human relations, and more particularly from the perspective of relationships.

New technologies have changed the way we communicate. On the one hand, they approach us to people who are far away, but on the other hand, they often isolate us from those who are closest.

New technologies as communication platforms are reflected not only in the plot of the play, but also in its staging. Live and video dance are combined on stage with a pixelated screen as a metaphor. #am@r (#l@ve) is a beautiful work of Spanish dance that aims to bring the choreographic language to the audience through a current theme, in which the public will feel perfectly identified with the characters and the situations they live. #am@r (#l@ve) is a proposal for all audiences. It is a show that combines the contemporary language of Spanish dance, on an emotional journey that leads the audience from the joy of folklore to the emotion of flamenco, with scenes of great theatricality and drama, all to the rhythm of sounds and melodies of mobile phones.

RAJATABLA DANZA Rajatabla Danza began its activity in 2007 with the participation of his first work, Enfermedades del Silencio (Diseases of Silence), in the 16th Choreography Contest of Spanish and Flamenco Dance in Madrid.

Esther Tablas collaborates as a dancer in some of the most important companies such as Ballet-Theatre Rafaél Aguilar Company, Rafael Amargo Company, Dançem and Antonio Márquez Company.

From 2013 Esther Tablas takes over the direction of Rajatabla Danza and dedicates the company exclusively to dance productions, but keeping the original mission: to develop dramas that deal with current themes of modern society and research into different plastic arts and musical languages for creating shows of Spanish Dance.

Rajatabla Danza renews the language of Spanish dance in its productions, while combining traditional character with deeply popular roots, and its projection into the future, for their creative and refreshing possibilities.

Rajatabla Danza values the Spanish dance as a universal language of communication with society, claiming its ability to transmit and to moved, involving the public, making the audience feel identified with the topics covered and sharing its passion for this art.

Rajatabla Danza opens the range of stylistic possibilities that Spanish dance has, running away from the clichéd view, but without losing its character and identity.

Rajatabla Danza coordinates for each production to the best performers and technicians, forming teams working together to bring productions to the highest technical, artistic and creative level.

The most outstanding productions of the company are Enfermedades del Silencio (Diseases of Silence), winner of the 16th Choreography Contest of Spanish Dance and Flamenco in Madrid, Desde la Oscuridad (From the Dark, 2012) and #am@r (#l@ve, 2014). This latest show is currently on international tour.

ESTHER TABLAS Graduated with Honours in Higher Grade of Choreography and Performance of Spanish Dance and Flamenco at Conservatory of "Maria de Ávila" in Madrid, Technical Architecture at the Polytechnic of Madrid and studies of Scenery at RESAD (Royal School of Dramatic Arts, Madrid).

Esther Tablas collaborates as a dancer in some of the most important companies such as Ballet-Theatre Rafaél Aguilar Company, Rafael Amargo Company and Dançem Antonio Márquez Company.

She runs Rajatabla Danza since 2007, where she develops outstanding choreographic projects such as Enfermedades del Silencio (Diseases of Silence,) winner of the 16th Choreography Contest of Spanish Dance and Flamenco in Madrid.

On the 29th November 2014 she premiered her last show, #am@r (#l@ve), at Paco Rabal Theatre in Madrid. This project has been supported by Comunidad de Madrid and it has also benefit from an artistic residency at Teatros del Canal in Madrid. Besides, this piece has also been supported by eDarling and impulsARTS. Esther Tablas combines her activities as a choreographer and performer with other activities like choreographic and movement workshops for actors.

Currently she is preparing a new project to develop Rajatabla Danza's activities, that consists of scenic, pedagogical and research projects.

JAVIER SÁNCHEZ Born in Córdoba, where he begins his studies. In 2001 he received a scholarship to go to Madrid, where he lives now.

He studies at the Royal Conservatory of Dance "Mariemma" and afterwards at Conservatory of "Maria de Ávila", where he is currently completing his studies of Choreography, arranging them with his professional career.

His versatility as a performer has allowed him to work in different areas such as Musical Theatre (My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), zarzuela and opera companies (Veranos de la Villa, Teatro de la Zarzuela) and Spanish Dance and Flamenco Companies (National Ballet of Spain, Antonio Márquez Company, Spanish Suite, Yoko Komatsubara Cia, Yoshie Taira, Enclave Español or Rajatabla Danza).

Selected for the 20th Choreography Contest of Spanish Dance and Flamenco in Madrid with his choreography Duna.

Two years later in the same contest he wins the Prize of the European University of Madrid (UEM) with his choreography Mujeres de Sal (Women of Salt, 2013).

As a dancer and/or choreographer, Javier Sánchez collaborates regularly with different Lyrics and Dance national and international companies.

FICHA ARTÍSTICA Y TÉCNICA Original idea and choreography Esther Tablas y Javier Sánchez Performers Esther Tablas y Javier Sánchez Video dance performers Nazareth Martínez y Remei Domingo Azagra Choreographic assistant and cover dancer Nazareth Martínez Interpretation consultant Juan Carlos Mestre Text and sound Javier Ibarz Voice over Natalia Jara y Víctor Benedé Costume and set design Mónica Teijeiro Wardrobe making Isabel López y Carmen Granel Lighting desing Olga García A.A.I. Video dance direction Juan González Editing Chiqui Carabante Postproduction Sergio Muñoz Cano Sound and Audiovisual Antonio C. Guijosa Photography marcosGpunto Production and distribution Inés Gutiérrez Arciniega (impulsARTS)

"#am@r is an imaginative and delicious spectacle for two dancers, who fill all."

"The choreography of Esther Tablas and Javier Sánchez is a great beauty. It relates perfectly the evolution of the characters' mood. It is a harmonious blend of Spanish dance, contemporary dance and jazz with touches of flamenco." "#am@r is a show that transmits liveliness, good dance, and optimism, based on a narrative structure of great theatricality."

PAOLA PANIZZA (www.albidanza.com)

BOOKING Inés Gutiérrez Arciniega Tfno: +34 657 38 24 03 Email: ines@impulsarts.com Web: www.impulsarts.com Skype: inesimpulsarts

COMPANY Esther Tablas Email: rajatabladanza@gmail.com rajatabla.esthertablas@gmail.com Web: www.rajatabladanza.com