FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre
Convivir: 7 Dances to a More Compassionate World

MINNEAPOLIS: Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre returns to The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts with a world premiere flamenco music and dance production: ConVivir: 7 Dances to a More Compassionate World. The show will run April 4, 5 and 6, 2014.

ConVivir will have an important message of peace and religious tolerance, told through exquisite flamenco dance and music said founder and Artistic Director Susana di Palma. I hope to capture a spirit of tolerance and compassion which will go with the audience when they leave the theater.

ConVivir is inspired by the convivencia - a period in Spanish history (711 1492 CE) when Jews, Muslims and Christians lived together in an atmostphere of relative tolerance. Flamenco, hip-hop, Sephardic and Arabic music and dance will fuse with poetry, legend and present day imagery to reflect on possibilities for religious tolerance that seem so elusive.

ConVivir will feature an international cast, including:

ñ Amir-John Haddad A Madrid-based flamenco guitarist who also plays oud, bazouki, electric oud and more!

ñ Arcadio Marin Composer and flamenco guitarist from Barcelona, who composed the beautiful music for our Romeria piece.

ñ José Salinas From Alicante, José is a flamenco singer who has just released a hot new album with Amir's participation.

ñ Conja Abdessalam - La Conja comes to us from Sri Lanka, a noted flamenco singer and dancer who also sings in Arabic.

ñ Antonio Arrebola A contemporary/flamenco dancer from Malaga who wowed audiences on our fall tour and at The Ritz.

ñ David Jordan Harris Singer and founder of Voices of Sepharad.

ñ Judith Brin Ingber Contemporary and Jewish dance writer and elegant dancer.

ñ Craig Harris Visual artist, composer and musician who will create projections and original music.

ñ Tim O'Keefe Virtuoso percussionist with a vast knowledge of hand-drumming styles originating in the Middle East, Africa and South America.

ñ Susana di Palma, Deborah Elias, Colette Illarde, Andrea Plevan, Laura Horn Zorongo dancers

ABOUT ZORONGO

Founded in 1982 by Artistic Director Susana di Palma, and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 1985, Zorongo Flamenco's mission is "to enrich our community by drawing people close to the beauty and energy of the Flamenco tradition and, by expanding on that tradition, create an innovative art form that explores the issues of contemporary life." Di Palma has directed and choreographed dozens of original flamenco ballets with strong narrative themes on various social questions.

Zorongo Flamenco's production of ConVivir has received support from the Goodale Family Foundation, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, the City of St Paul Cultural STAR grant program, the American Composers Forum and individual donors. Zorongo Flamenco is also supported by the McKnight Foundation, the Target Foundation, and the General Mills Foundation.

CALENDAR ENTRY:

ConVivir: 7 Dances to A More Compassionate World

April 4^th, 8 pm; April 5^th, 8 pm; April 6^th, 2 pm

The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts

528 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

Tickets $32 including fees, (612) 206-3600 or www.thecowlescenter.org

MEDIA CONTACT:

Niels Strandskov

Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre

zorongoflamenco@gmail.com

www.zorongo.org (612) 234-1653

3012 Minnehaha Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55406