HISTORY

Martín Santangelo (Artistic Director) founded Noche Flamenca. He studied with Ciro, Paco Romero, El Guito, Manolete and Alejandro Granados. He has performed throughout Spain, Japan and North and South America, appearing with Maria Benitez's Teatro Flamenco, the Lincoln Center Festival of the Arts and Paco Romero's Ballet Espanol. He also appeared in Julie Taymor's Juan Darien at Lincoln Center. He choreographed and performed in Eduardo Machado's Deep Song, directed by Lynne Taylor- Corbett. He choreographed a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Denver Theater Center. He has directed and choreographed Bodas de Sangre, The Lower Depths, La Celestina, A Streetcar Named Desire, amongst many other productions in Spain and Buenos Aires. He has collaborated with many, many artists, but his most fulfilling collaboration has been with his wife, Soledad Barrio and their two wild daughters, Gabriela and Stella.

Soledad Barrio (Dancer) was born in Madrid. She has appeared as soloist with Manuela Vargas, Blanca del Rey, Luisillo, El Guito, Manolete, Cristobal Reyes, and El Toleo, Ballet Espanol de Paco Romero, Festival Flamenco and many other companies. She has performed throughout Europe, Japan and North and South America with such artists as Alejandro Granados, Isabel Bayón, Jesus Torres, Miguel Perez, Belen Maya, Manolo Marin, Javier Barón, Merce Esmeralda, Rafael Campallo, and Belen Maya. She has won awards from over 12 different countries around the globe for her excellence in dance. She recently received a "Bessie" award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. She is a founding member of Noche Flamenca with her husband Martín Santangelo.

Juan Ogalla (Dancer) was born in Cadiz. He began as a professional at the very young age of fifteen. He was a member of the Company Manuel Morao, lead dancer in the company of Cristina Hoyos, Manuela Carrasco, Company of Maria Pages and many others. He also participated in the following festivals: Festival International de Mont-de-Marsan, Festival de Musica y Danza de Granada, Festival Flamenco de Mahon, and Festival Querencias en Ceret. Juan has performed in all the tablaos in Spain as Casa Patas, El Arenal, Los Gallos, as well as in many theaters in Europe, Japan and U.S.A. as a soloist. Juan is one of the outstanding dancers of his generation.

Manuel Gago (Singer) Born in Cadiz to a family of flamenco singers, Manuel began singing at the age of five. By fourteen, he was singing in flamenco festivals with such well-known singers as Juan Villar, Charo Lobato and Rancapino. Later, he began singing for dancers, including Joaquin Cortez, Sara Varas, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, El Guito, Manolete, Javier Baron and Cristobal Reyes. Manuel has traveled the world, singing in Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. Gago has been with Noche Flamenca for nine years.

Eugenio Iglesias (Guitarist) began playing professionally at a very young age where he worked in all the important "tablaos" in Sevilla. He then began touring with various companies and has accompanied many dancers such as Antonio Canales, Farruco, Farruquito, El Guito, La Tona, Javier Baron, Sara Varas, Manuela Carrasco, Israel Galvan, Mario Maya, and Angelita Vargas. He has also accompanied many of the greatest flamenco singers in Spain including Lole Montoya, La Negra, Chiquetete, La Susi, Carmen Montoya, Juan Villar and El Potito, among others. He has been with Noche Flamenca for four years.

Alejandro Granados (Dancer) has toured the world as a soloist dancer with the Spanish Ballet of Madrid with "Yerma" and "El Amargo". He has danced in The National Ballet of Spain with Carmen Cortez and is now a soloist with Manuela Vargas in "Andalucia Viva". Alejandro is a featured artist and choreographer with the Compania Andaluza de Danza at the Lope de Vega Theater in Seville and is also a guest artist at the world renowned Teatro Albeniz with La Gala International de Danza. Alejandro has an authentic and strong personality. His Flamenco dance is inspired by cante "Jondo" and the emotion that it provokes. Alejandro is a featured artist with "TRILOGY", one of the most successful acts in Spain. Alejandro is considered one of the most accomplished dancers in Spain. Alejandro has been with the company since it was founded.

Jesus Torres (Guitarist) was born in Baracaldo, Spain. After years of training in flamenco guitar, he moved to Madrid in 1989 and began performing with a host of renowned dancers, including Manolete, Paco Fernandez, Sara Lezana, Raul, La China, Belen Maya, Rozio Molina and Elvira Andres. In 1993, he appeared at the International Festival of Dance in Madrid at the Albeniz Theater with Belen Maya. A year later, he joined the Compania Andaluza e Danza directed by Mario Maya and participated in the Bienal de Flamenco Festival. Torres was also involved in writing the musical scores with Antonio Gades for productions of Carmen and Fuenteovejuna. He was commissioned by Michiko Okamoto of Japan to create the musical arrangement for productions of Carmen and El Amor Brujo. In 2004, he participated in the Biennial de Flamenco de Seville in the production of La Mujer el Pelele. He has performed in London for Bailaora Rafaela Carrasco. He has been with Noche Flamenca for ten years.

Miguel Perez Garcia (Guitarist) began his professional career at nine at his fathers side in Seville. He was soon playing in such Sevillan tabloas as Los Gallos, El Patio Sevillano and El Flamenco de Tokio. He has accompanied such renowned figures as Farucco, Trini Espana, Manuela Carrasco, Israel Galvan, Loli Flores, Maria Jimenez and Matilde Coral. He has also performed with the companies of Jose Greco, Manolo Soler and Adrian Galia. Miguel took part in the first Guitar Festival of Nimes. He has been with Noche Flamenca for seven years.

Emilio Florido (Singer) was born in Cadiz, Spain. He began singing at a young age and performed professionally all over Spain as a solo singer. He has accompanied such dancers as Adrian Galia, Domingo Ortega, Luis Ortega, Belen Maya, Yolanda Heredia, Miguel Angel Espino, among others. He has worked with the companies of Cristina Hoyos, El ballet de Madrid and La Raza. He has toured extensively in Japan, South America and Europe. He has been with Noche Flamenca for eight years.

Jose Suarez "El Torombo" (Dancer) was born in Sevilla. He received his name from and was discovered by the legendary flamenco dancer El Farruco, who gave him purity, inspiration and strength. Later from Mario Maya he learned technique and discipline. His other teachers are Pepe Ríos and Isidro Vargas. Torombo has worked with Los Farrucos, Lola Flores, Manuela Carrasco, Tomatito and many outstanding artists. Presently he and his wife decided to initiate a beautiful and fulfilling project teaching flamenco to children from marginalized neighborhoods and in prisons in Sevilla as a way to give them hope and dreams. El Torombo now understands that dance is a vehicle that profoundly changes our lives.

Manuel Reyes (Dancer) was born in Cordoba in a gypsy family in 1974. He began studying dance in Madrid at the age of 7 years, in the schools: Amor de Dios, El Ballet Nacional Luis Fuentes, and Carmen Rouche. His debuted at the age of 10 in the Ballet Nacional's "Medea" and "Tarantos". He has collaborated with choreographers José Granero, Joaquin Cortes, Antonio Canales, Concha Velasco, and Blanca del Rey. He and his brother, Antonio Reyes, won the “Premio de Coreografia del Sociedad de Autores”. In 1995, Manuel created his own group, travels the world, performing several shows in which the common denominator is flamenco. In June 2007, he received the “Premio para una Coreografia Solo”. Currently, Manuel continues on new projects, giving seminars and teaching at Madrid's Amor de Dios.

Juan Antonio Suarez "Cano" (Guitarist) was born in Barcelona into a Gypsy family. He learned to play at a very early age taught by his father, Remolino and Manolo Labrador. He has accompanied major figures of the world of flamenco such as Manuela Carrasco, Merche Esmeralda, Belen Maya, Niña Pastori, Javier Baron, Joaquin Grilo, Andres Marin, Chocolate, among others. He has traveled almost everywhere in the globe. He has recorded with Rafael Jiménez "Falo" and Gerardo Núñez. He has recently recorded his own CD “Son de Ayer”. Canito has been with the company since it was founded.

Salva De Maria (Guitarist) is the grandson of the legendary singer Antonio “La Chaqueta”. He began with Ballet Español de Maria Rosa where he accompanied such singers as Carmen Linares, José Merce, Vicente Soto, Chaqueton and others. He has worked with Maite Martin, La Chana, Guinesa Ortega, and Carmen Cortes. Since 2001 he has worked with guitarist Chicuelo, Miguel Poveda, "La Susi", Maite Martin, Israel Galvan, Javier Latorre and "Duquende". He has been with Noche Flamenca for two years.

Manuela Vargas was born in Seville into one of the most important families of flamenco artists. Her father is the famous Ifidro Vargas, her aunt Angelita Vargas, and her cousin the singer El Portito. She trained and has worked with the most important artists of Spain such as Sara Baras, Javier Baron, Milagro Mengibas, Los Farrucos y la Farruca, Juana la del Revuelo and Antonio Vizarraga.

Antonio Rodríguez (Dancer) "El Chupete" was born in 1974 in Osuna and began dancing at an early age in the flamenco festivals, fairs and peñas of Andalucía. His dance training was not obtained in school but alongside the professional singers and dancers that served as his guide. He debuted professionally in El Cordobés de Barcelona, considered one of the finest flamenco tablaos of Spain. Rodríguez has performed with the National Ballet of Spain and has shared the stage with Carmen Ledesma in the National Opera of Tokyo. He has also choreographed for Yoko Komatsubara. Rodríguez has toured extensively as a featured soloist in Italy, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and New York. He continues to dance in tablaos in Sevilla and Granada. He has been with Noche Flamenca six years.

Miguel Rosendo (Singer) began his artistic jouney in the world of flamenco in Cadiz where he was born, in places such as "Peña Juanito Villar", "La Perla de Cádiz" and "Enrique el Mellizo". He has traveled to Japan, France, Italy, and South America among other places, with important companies and artists such as Javier Latorre, Javier Varón, Manuela Carrasco y Cristina Hoyos, Pastora Galván, Israel Galván y Antonio El Pipa. He works with the most important artists of flamenco in Spain. He is thrilled to be working with Noche Flamenca.

S.Benjamin Farrar (Lighting Designer) is a lighting and scenic designer based in New York City. He has designed in numerous venues across the United States including The Public Theater, Playwright's Horizons, Urban Stages (New York), Flatrock Playhouse (North Carolina), Grinnell College, Iowa Stages and Bucknell University. He has worked as assistant lighting designer on Broadway for A Man for All Seasons (Roundabout) and in many regional theaters, including La Jolla Playhouse, The Alley Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre. Benjamin is a graduate of The University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University.