Fin de Fiesta Flamenco bring Spanish culture to Casa

Print

Flamenco has always in the blood for dancer Lia Grainger, who grew up in Vancouver and worked as a journalist in Toronto before moving to Spain and forming Fin de Fiesta Flamenco to make Flamenco music her life.Fin de Fiesta perfom at South Country Fair and at Casa next week. Photo submitted


 The group, which includes members from all over the world including Spain, France and Cuba plus two other transplanted Canadians, return to Canada with their new show Salvaje for several performances including the South Country Fair in Fort Macleod, July 22 and at Casa on July 25.


“I started taking classes in my 20s and then moved to Madrid to learn more. But decided to get a ‘real job’ and work in journalism in Toronto. But I kept going back to Spain. I decided to put together a group in 2012. I really enjoy it. It feels good to do it,” said artistic director/ dancer Lia Grainger, who formed the group in 2012 with Seville born guitarist Dennis Duffin and singer Alejandro Mendia, who is from Bordeaux, France.


 Recently they added Havana raised/Montreal based percussionist Hanser Santos Gomez,  Vancouver born, Seville, Spain based flautist Lara Wong and for this tour, India born, Vancouver based guest dancer Deborah “La Carmelita”

Grainger said there are many different styles of flamenco.
“ Some styles are very serious and tell stories about serious  issues, others are very joyful and about celebration,” she said adding artists  are free to interpret flamenco as they wish.
“ My style of flamenco is more athletic. It’s more percussive. There is a lot of foot stomping in time to the music. It’s very powerful,” she said.

“Deborah ‘La Carmelita’s style is more of a relaxed Gypsy Style. It’s more passionate, so it really is an interesting contrast. It’s very expressive,” she continued.


“This show is inspired by flamenco in southern Spain,” she said, adding the South Country Fair and Casa shows will be different experiences.
  “We’re excited to tour Alberta. it will be the first time we’ve toured outside of Ontario and B.C.,” she said.

“ The South Country fair show will be more rumba with more of a kicking style and more of a party,” she said, adding indoor shows like at Casa are a more intimate experience than outdoor festivals, of which they will be performing several  this year.


“Outdoor festivals are a lot of fun,” she said.


 She is also excited to be able to performed with percussionist Hanser Santos Gomez.
“ We’re so excited to have him as part of the group. He has an incredible style,” she enthused.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Casa, July 25. Tickets are $22.

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
Share
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 July 2018 09:13 )