Playbill | Rafael Ramírez

Rafael Ramírez Lo Preciso

NOV 4, 7:30 PM NOV 5, 5:00 PM

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Photos courtesy of the Artist

Lo Preciso a Flamenco Performance by

Rafael Ramírez Produced by SPAIN FLAMENCO Arts and FECACE 70 minutes without intermission.

SYNOPSIS

Precision - Exactness In Lo Preciso we enter a space of idyllic and perfect artistic union in which we strive to omit flaws that will lead us towards margins of error. We abide by a desire to reach utopian and ephemeral perfection. It is precisely this exactness that makes us feel realized as artists.

Lo Preciso is a performance which strives to reach that all-embracing perfection across the various types of relationships that exist between the dancer and the musicians who accompany him. At times those relationships reach a perfect fusion, while on other occasions this fusion is not attained because the musicians are each striving to reach their individual height of perfection without taking the others into account.

And what is perfection for each one of us? Do we all perceive it in the same way? Do we need to be perfect? Do we look for perfection obsessively in our everyday lives?

Come and judge for yourselves.

SPAIN FLAMENCO Arts was created by Begoña Fernández to continue the work she began in 2006 as Director of the Casa Patas Foundation. Casa Patas, which closed its doors due to the pandemic, was known as an important center where flamenco was performed, taught, and disseminated throughout the world.

In 2010, UNESCO designated Flamenco an intangible heritage. It is this intangible heritage that Spain Flamenco Arts in collaboration with FECACE bring to audiences in countries across the globe.

Together they consolidate performances, flamenco dance as well as guitar and percussion classes, and organize cultural activities. Each tour features different artists who present a distinct variety of styles. This large array of performers, grace the stages of public and private institutions, theaters, festivals, and flamenco venues known as tablaos.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES RAFAEL RAMÍREZ VÍLCHEZ Rafael Ramírez Director, Choreographer, Flamenco Dancer Breakout Artist Award Jerez Flamenco Festival, 2023 First Prize “El Desplante” La Unión Flamenco Festival, 2021 Rafael Ramírez, who hails from Malaga, has danced since the age of three. He became a professional dancer at the age of eleven, while taking classes with such masters as “La Lupi,” Rafael Campallo, Oscar de los Reyes and Javier Barón. His steady forward climb led him to a recent Jerez Festival where he presented “Entorno," a unique and imaginative performance which premiered at the Gran Teatro Cervantes in Malaga.

Recognized for a successful career at the helm of his dance company, he was invited to participate in “Flamenco viene del Sur” and the Biennale of Seville. In addition to “Lo Preciso” and “Entorno”, Rafael Ramírez’s other innovative productions include “Romances del Pasado,” “Toques de mi conciencia," and “Malagueando.”

Rafael Ramírez is the recipient of numerous prizes. Among the most distinguished is “El Desplante” at the Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas (La Unión) in 2021. He was also the highest award winner of the National Flamenco Competition in Ubrique in 2016 and the Andalusian Competition of Jóvenes Flamencos. In 2018, he was named “Outstanding Dancer” at the Choreography Competition in Madrid where he interpreted “Malagueando.” In that same space of time, he performed throughout the world with the dance companies of Antonio Andrade, Carmen Mota, David Coria, Rafaela Carrasco and María Pagés and also took the stage at the most prestigious tablaos (flamenco venues) in Seville and Madrid.

ISAAC MUÑOZ CASADO Isaac Muñoz Guitarist Originally from Córdoba, Isaac Muñoz toured the world with the prestigious María Pagés Dance Company, where he performed as a guitarist and composed original music for the productions of “Sevilla” (2006), “Autorretratos” (2008), “Yo Carmen” (2014), and “Una oda al Tiempo” (2018). Starting in 2007 and through 2018 he wrote the music for the Parque España productions in Japan. At the same time, he created musical scores for television commercials, devised flamenco works of his own making, composed arrangements for a variety of artists, but worked primarily with choreographer and flamenco dancer José Barrios in the productions of “Concierto-Aire de Abajo” (2007), “Básicamente Flamenco”, (2009), “Por si acaso amanece” (2010), “Bailando Flamenco (2017), “Reditum” (2018), and “Clásico”, (2019).

Mr. Muñoz was awarded numerous First Prizes at diverse competitions, including, Jóvenes Flamencos, in Calasparra, Murcia (2001), the Guitarra de Concierto Manuel Cano, in Granada (2002), and at the Concierto Campos de Guitarra in Córdoba, (2003). Some of his most distinguished performances took place at the Festival de Danza in Granada, Festival de la Guitarra in Córdoba, the Flamenco Biennale in Seville, and at the Cumbre Flamenca in Salamanca as part of the opening ceremony in 2011, attended by the King and Queen of Spain, commemorating Spain’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. Mr. Muñoz also toured the U.S., China, Morocco, Guatemala, Egypt, and Algeria in conjunction with the Casa Patas Foundation.

ROSARIO CONEJERO LINERO Rosa Linero Flamenco Singer Rosa Linero began showing her predilection for flamenco during her teenage years in Málaga where she grew up. Her artistic talents led her to a scholarship at the Christina Heeren Foundation in Seville, a private institution of higher learning that has fashioned some of great flamenco artists of today in cante (flamenco singing), toque (playing) and baile (dancing).

Studying in this privileged institution for two years, she benefitted from the tutelage of extraordinary artists like José de la Tomasa, Juan José Amador, Milagros Mengíbar, Carmelilla Montoya, Pedro Sierra, and others. Her personal goal, to discover the essence of cante, has marked her path both as an artist and student, during which time she was being nurtured by other great cantaores, such as: Talegón de Córdoba, José Valencia, Encarna Anillo, and Rafael Utrera.

Her versatility as both a singer who accompanies dancers, and as a solo recital artist, has fetched her engagements at festivals, tablaos (flamenco venues), and flamenco clubs. As a professional, she has performed internationally with Carmen Mota and Rafael Ramírez, and has recorded CDs like “La Ronda del Viento,” by the pianist David Dorantes, with whom she has been traveling in Spain and other countries to promote the recording.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES FABIOLA SANTIAGO CASTILLO Fabiola Santiago Flamenco Singer Fabiola Santiago was born in Totalán, a town in the province of Málaga, Spain. It is there, at a very young age, where she developed a fondness for flamenco cante (flamenco singing). Her father, who loved this art form, would bring recordings home of great cantaores (flamenco singers) so that his daughter could train her ear and voice. Still quite young, she would sing the songs of the celebrated Lola Flores. Ms. Santiago’s father, who was also her teacher, sang in the different styles and rhythms of flamenco thereby introducing his daughter to the singular varieties of this art form.

Ms. Santiago began singing professionally at the age of fifteen, performing in the flamenco club circuit where she sang solo pieces and accompanied dancers. From that time onward, she continued to work intensely throughout Europe. She has performed in Portugal, England, Lithuania, Switzerland, Germany, and Bulgaria.

She toured the US in 2022, lending her voice to the performances of “Alejandra,” an original work created by José Almarcha and Lucía Ruibal, which was produced by Spain Flamenco Arts.

At the present time, Ms. Santiago performs at a variety of venues accompanying dancers such as Carmen Camacho, Sergio Aranda, Raquel La Repompa, Karime Amaya and Moisés Navarro, and guitarists Camarón de Pitita, Francisco Vinuesa, Carlos Haro, José Almarcha, Joselito Pérez, and Rubén Lara. She is known to sing all the flamenco rhythms with great poise, but the soleá and the tangos are the ones that define her personality and uniqueness.

ALEXANDRE OTERO FERNÁNDEZ Alex Otero Percussion Alex Otero became absorbed in the world of music from the time he was a young boy and taught himself to play the drums. From that period onward, he was particularly drawn to Latin American music and to Flamenco. His musical interests led him to seek instruction from a variety of master teachers in several genres including Ramón Porrina in Seville, Sabú Porrina at the mythical School “Amor de Dios” in Madrid, Roberto Jaén in Cádiz and Manuel Maseado y Bandolero in Málaga. He quickly became immersed in Afro-Cuba rhythms and in Flamenco and performed in Latin-Jazz ensembles which engaged him on tours to Holland, Germany, and France where he accompanied guitarist Antonio Segura.

Mr. Otero was on the faculty of “La Bodega” a Flamenco School for devotees of the art, teaching the cajón (a percussive box used in flamenco). Currently, Mr. Otero works with a variety of artists including Rafael Ramírez, Rubén Portillo, Sabrina Romero and Carrete de Málaga. The solid sound of his musical instruments and his knowledge of Flamenco make him one of the most established percussionists that accompany the singers and dancers of this art form.

e s e h t s s i m !

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FEB 15 & 16, 7:30 PM

FLORIDA WOMAN

Rosie Herrera + Leah Verier-Dunn MAR 22 & 23, 7:30 PM MAR 24, 5:00 PM

UN POYO ROJO APR 6, 7:30 PM APR 7, 5:00 PM APR 8, 11:00 AM

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FEB 22, 11:00 AM FEB 23 & 24, 7:30 PM

LA FAMILLE GOLDENCRUST APR 18–20, 7:30 PM APR 21, 11:00 AM

Join us this season at the HAT’s pre- and post- show hang out in the Benfer Courtyard.

Grab a drink, chat with friends, and discuss the performances in a casual, outdoor ensembleNEWSRQ Parisian Refraction

MAY 9–11, 7:30 PM MAY 11, 2:00 PM

neighborhood space.

See you @ the HAT Lounge!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2023/24 ART OF PERFORMANCE SPONSORS

This program is supported in part by the Art of Performance Fund, Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Endowment, Dorothy Jenkins Endowment at the John and Mable Ringling Museum, Ellin Family Art of Our Time Endowment, Ed & Elaine Keating Endowment, Ringling Art of Performance Endowment, Selby Foundation Ringling Museum Endowment, Cowles Charitable Trust, Huisking Foundation, David and Mary Benfer, Michael and Kathy Bush, Warren R. and Marie E. Colbert, Leon and Marge Ellin, Judith and Stephen Shank, and Marge and Irv Weiser.

THE RINGLING’S ART OF PERFORMANCE delivers broad access to provocative and timely performing arts that reflect a wide range of experiences, disciplines, and relevant cultural expressions. The series embodies The Ringling’s values of inclusion, inspiration, and excellence through programs that elevate community engagement, equitable partnerships, and the plural exchange of ideas in tandem with visiting artists. Besides public programs, we support Florida-based, national, and international performance makers in developmental residencies and creative research.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the State Art Museum of Florida administered by Florida State University. It features an art museum, historic mansion, circus museum, historic theater, conservation laboratory, arboretum, and research library, situated on 66-acres of bayfront property in Sarasota. The Ringling is an extraordinary center of art and culture engaging with the local, state, and global communities, and is accessible to and inclusive of all.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Ringling respectfully acknowledges that we are located on the traditional Homelands and the ancestral territories of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, as well as the ancient tribes of the Calusa, Uzita and Tocobaga. We also acknowledge the local freedomseeking community called Angola, and the people later known as Black Seminoles.

We honor the resiliency of Indigenous communities, and we extend our gratitude as we live and work on their Homelands. We pay our respect to the Elders, both past and present, who have stewarded these lands and waters through generations since time immemorial.