The entrancing story, Salvador, presented by the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, is based on the life of choreographer and artistic director, Edwin Aparicio which debuted five years ago at GALA Hispanic Theatre.
Its revival this month with Mr. Aparicio, the company's founder, is one of two shows at GALA for the 17th annual Fuego Flamenco Festival, a celebration co-founded by Mr. Aparicio.
Today and tomorrow the flamenco menu includes De paso by the Sara Perez Dance Company with Rubén Puertas, prize winner of Madrid’s prestigious Certamen of Dance competition.
Edwin Aparicio dances his life's story in Salvador at GALA Hispanic Theatre/photo by Daniel Martinez
Salvador opens in the 1980s in El Salvador where Mr. Aparicio lived as a child amidst gangs and soldiers who often kidnapped children to mold them into soldiers.
After his parents leave for the U.S., he's left in the care of his grandmother, his only solace to provide him comfort amidst the dangers on the streets and it's to her, his other grandmother, and those of the co-director, Aleksey Kulikov, that Salvador is dedicated.
Act I ends with Mr. Aparicio's gradual exit from the stage while his life resumes as a young Edwin (danced by Ricardo Osorio Ruiz). A distressing separation from his grandmother, reminding the audience of their own painful farewells from loved ones, unfolds as the boy departs to join his parents.
Life in Washington, D.C., their residence, was hardly any better for the youngster. His family's Mt. Pleasant community erupts in a 1981 riot of cultural war and property destruction.
In colorful attire, six female flamenco dancers with sexy looks matching their motions, embellish Aparicio's life with heels beating on the floor to become another musical instrument in the orchestra of four.
At the end of the night, co-directors Edwin Aparicio, left, and Aleksey Kulikov celebrated flamenco at GALA Hispanic Theatre/photo by Patricia Leslie
Its revival this month with Mr. Aparicio, the company's founder, is one of two shows at GALA for the 17th annual Fuego Flamenco Festival, a celebration co-founded by Mr. Aparicio.
Today and tomorrow the flamenco menu includes De paso by the Sara Perez Dance Company with Rubén Puertas, prize winner of Madrid’s prestigious Certamen of Dance competition.
Salvador opens in the 1980s in El Salvador where Mr. Aparicio lived as a child amidst gangs and soldiers who often kidnapped children to mold them into soldiers.
Act I ends with Mr. Aparicio's gradual exit from the stage while his life resumes as a young Edwin (danced by Ricardo Osorio Ruiz). A distressing separation from his grandmother, reminding the audience of their own painful farewells from loved ones, unfolds as the boy departs to join his parents.
Life in Washington, D.C., their residence, was hardly any better for the youngster. His family's Mt. Pleasant community erupts in a 1981 riot of cultural war and property destruction.
Dance offers young Edwin some respite, but he is told he doesn't look the part of a ballet dancer, but suddenly, the doors to flamenco open.
He heads to Spain which opens the third and final act. There, he trains with renowned teachers before his debut in Madrid in 2001.
He heads to Spain which opens the third and final act. There, he trains with renowned teachers before his debut in Madrid in 2001.
Over time Mr. Aparicio dances countless solos on stages throughout the U.S. and performs major roles with the Washington National Opera and the Washington Ballet. Today, Mr. Aparicio is a faculty member of the Washington School of Ballet. He is the founder of the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company and received the Cross of the Order of Civil Merit in 2015 from King Felipe VI of Spain.
All through Salvador, large photographs from the era are posted high on the backdrop to help lay the foundations of Aparicio's life.
In colorful attire, six female flamenco dancers with sexy looks matching their motions, embellish Aparicio's life with heels beating on the floor to become another musical instrument in the orchestra of four.
Those four almost steal the show with their strong, unrelenting voices and music of the time.
Amparo Heredia and percussionist and singer, Francisco Orozco cry the anguish of Aparicio throughout the performance while Richard Marlow strums his guitar without pause.
Gonzalo Grau, a two-time Grammy nominee and Salvador's musical director and composer, plays keyboard.
For the finale, Aparicio pairs with his younger self (Ruiz) to dance.
After the ending, when all the performers and orchestra members came to the stage for audience accolades last weekend, co-artistic director Kulikov joined the dance party and showed how he could stomp his heels and shake a tail feather, too, for the delight of all.
Production staff included P. Vanessa Losada, production manager and light board operator; Rachael Sheffer, interim production manager; Delbis Cardona, production assistant; Devin Mahoney, technical director with Steve Cosby, Renegade Productions; Christopher Annas-Lee, lighting with Hailey LaRoe; Brandon Cook, sound; Kevin Alvarenga and Joel Galvez, house managers.
Sona Kharatian, Washington Ballet, was the ballet choreographer.
Dancers: Cosima Amelang, Mariana Gatto-Duran, Catherina Irwin, Sara Jerez Marlow, Dana Shoenberg, Kyoko Terada.
Guest dancers: Noura Sander, Washington Ballet, and Anna Menendez, flamenco teacher
Gonzalo Grau, a two-time Grammy nominee and Salvador's musical director and composer, plays keyboard.
For the finale, Aparicio pairs with his younger self (Ruiz) to dance.
After the ending, when all the performers and orchestra members came to the stage for audience accolades last weekend, co-artistic director Kulikov joined the dance party and showed how he could stomp his heels and shake a tail feather, too, for the delight of all.
Production staff included P. Vanessa Losada, production manager and light board operator; Rachael Sheffer, interim production manager; Delbis Cardona, production assistant; Devin Mahoney, technical director with Steve Cosby, Renegade Productions; Christopher Annas-Lee, lighting with Hailey LaRoe; Brandon Cook, sound; Kevin Alvarenga and Joel Galvez, house managers.
Sona Kharatian, Washington Ballet, was the ballet choreographer.
Dancers: Cosima Amelang, Mariana Gatto-Duran, Catherina Irwin, Sara Jerez Marlow, Dana Shoenberg, Kyoko Terada.
Guest dancers: Noura Sander, Washington Ballet, and Anna Menendez, flamenco teacher
What: XVII Fuego Flamenco Festival
Masks: Masks and proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test required for all performances.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Tickets: $48; $35 for seniors (65+), military, and students; $35, group sales (10 or more); $25 ages 25 and under. To purchase, call (202) 234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org.
Handicapped accessible
Duration: About two hours with one intermission
Metro stations: Columbia Heights is one block away or get off at McPherson Square, take bus #52 or #54 up 14th, or, instead of the bus, walk two miles, save money and expend calories! Lots of places to eat along the way.
Parking: With GALA's validation, a flat rate of $4 is available at Giant grocery around the corner or pay $1.50/hour at the Target nearby.
For more information: Call (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org
Masks: Masks and proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test required for all performances.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Tickets: $48; $35 for seniors (65+), military, and students; $35, group sales (10 or more); $25 ages 25 and under. To purchase, call (202) 234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org.
Handicapped accessible
Duration: About two hours with one intermission
Metro stations: Columbia Heights is one block away or get off at McPherson Square, take bus #52 or #54 up 14th, or, instead of the bus, walk two miles, save money and expend calories! Lots of places to eat along the way.
Parking: With GALA's validation, a flat rate of $4 is available at Giant grocery around the corner or pay $1.50/hour at the Target nearby.
For more information: Call (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org
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