2. SUITE FLAMENCA
“Es un paréntesis, una vista atrás, un mirar para
seguir adelante en mi mundo flamenco. Tiempo
muerto son los tiempos que faltan, los tiempos del
silencio, los tiempos del corazón, lo que marca el
ritmo.
El metrónomo, esclavos del compás y el buscar
entre ritmo y golpe… eso es el tiempo muerto…
Una luz para marcar… una música para bailar… y
el teatro físico que son los cuerpos… eso es mi
Tiempo Muerto”
Rafael Amargo
3. 1. The Show
Suite Flamenca is Rafael Amargo’s sixth show. Since he created his own company in
1997 his career has evolved from the purest forms of flamenco up to multidisciplinary
shows such Poeta en Nueva York, Enramblao or DQ…Pasajero en Tránsito.
Suite Flamenca is a new stage in his constant evolution. It means the return to the roots,
to the essence of flamenco, something we can easily identify in his first shows: La Garra
y El Ángel and Amargo.
For this new production he has entrusted one of the biggest names of flamenco music
to compose the music scores, Juan Parrilla, a celebrated musician and flamenco
composer whom has previously worked along with the senior league of flamenco such
Antonio Canales or Joaquin Cortés among others. Juan Parrlla’s creating concept is
certainly adjacent to Rafael’s concept – both have conceived modern variations of
the earliest forms of flamenco.
The current musical group of the Compañía Rafael Amargo has been enlarged with a
wind section, stringed instruments, woodwinds, bass, synthesizers and piano as to cover
the musical needs of the score composed by Parrilla. El Cante (Flamenco singing) has
been commited to the notable voices of Maite Maya, Carmina Cortés and Pedro
Obregón. All the lyrics of the show have been written by Rafael Amargo
As for the Art direction Rafael Amargo has always provided his shows with avant-garde
designs for settings and costumes. Top fashion designer, Amaya Arzuaga, has been
chosen to create and tailor Tiempo Muerto costumes. Settings are accomplished with
exquisite taste of lighting designer, Nicholas Fischtel, responsible for POETA EN NUEVA
YORK lights designing as well.
As usual, the show will be endorsed by a talented flamenco ballet which will respond to
the choreographer’s requests and is always willing to receive the most contemporary
movements.
●
4. 2. ARTISTIC STAFF AND TECHNICAL STAFF
SUITE FLAMENCA
A show created by
rafael amargo
ARTISTIC STAFF
Choreographer & Director
RAFAEL AMARGO
Music score
JUAN PARRILLA
FLAVIO RODRÍGUES
CAMARON DE PITITA
Lyrics
RAFAEL AMARGO
Costume Designer
AMAYA ARZUAGA
Lighting Designer
NICOLÁS FISCHTEL (A.A.I.)
Music Direction
JUAN PARRILLA y FLAVIO RODRIGUES
Sound Designer
ALEX GONZALEZ
Stage Photographs by
JESÚS VALLINAS
Studio Photographs by
ALVARO VILLARUBIA
Art Design
BARBEITO & MANRIQUE
Executive Producer
Compañía RAFAEL AMARGO
SUITE FLAMENCA
is a production of
Compañía RAFAEL AMARGO
●
5. COMPAÑÍA RAFAEL AMARGO
Ballet
RAFAEL AMARGO
ELI AYALA
OLGA AZNAR
VANESA GÁLVEZ
YOLANDA JIMÉNEZ
CRISTINA MONTALVO
Musicians
MARIO MONTOYA, guitar
EDUARDO CORTÉS, guitar
MAITE MAYA, singer
GABRIEL DE LA TOMASA, singer
ANTONIO MAYA, cajón
JATO, piano, keyboards and bass
●
6. Technical Staff
Stage Manager
JULIÁN ALCÁNTARA
Lighting Operator
CARLOS BESSIA
Sound Operator
GABRIEL ARAUJO
Tailoring
SOLEDAD PICOSSI
Managing director/Road Manager
VIRGINIA CORTÉS GARDYN// MIGUEL LYONS
Executive Producer
RAFAEL AMARGO Company
7. ●
3. PROGRAMME
I- Suite Flamenca
Music: Juan Parrilla
Performers: Compañía Rafael Amargo and Rafael
Amargo
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
II- Martinete
Music: Camarón de Pitita
Performer: Compañía Rafael Amargo
Choreographer: Mara Martínez “La Diosa”
III- Soleá
Music: Juan Parrilla
Performer: Mara Martínez
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
IV- Abandolao (Fandango from Granada)
Music: Flavio Rodrigues
Performer: Rafael Amargo, Susi Parra
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
V- Señora (Madam)
Music: Flavio Rodríguez
Palillos: María “La Coneja”
VI- Carta de amor de un viejo (Love Letter from an
Old Man)
Music: Juan Parrilla
Texts: Florentino García (Rafael Amargo’s
Grandfather)
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
Performer: Vanesa Gálvez and Rafael Amargo
VII- Matanzas (The Slaughters)
Choreographers: Mara Martínez “La Diosa” y Susi
Parra
VIII- Zambra – A tribute to Lola Flores
Music: Juan Parrilla
Performer: Rafael Amargo and Compañía
Rafael Amargo
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
IX- Alegrías
Music: Flavio Rodrígues
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
X- Tangos
Music: Juan Parrilla
Choreographer: Rafael Amargo
Performer: Rafael Amargo and Compañía Rafael
Amargo.
8. ●
4. BIOGRAPHY
Biography
RAFAEL AMARGO
Rafael Amargo was born on January 3, 1975, in Valderrubio
(Granada), Spain. He has worked as a dancer and as a
choreographer. He inherited the purest flamenco style from
his legendary maestros but has imaginatively incorporated
other types of dance into his reportoire throughout the years,
including the lessons he learned while attending the Martha
Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York in 1996.
Amargo´s choreography overflows with both traditional and
modern concepts perfectly matched. The routines are often
closer to contemporary dance, but they never stray far from
the Flamenco origins he loves.
He has always been in direct contact with the Arts and the
cultural world; and his consistent contemporary
communicatioon with the wide world of dance helped him open his mind and explore new
horizons in his choreographies. Luis Gordillo and Esperanza D´Ors sponsored his career. Bruce
Weber, Annie Leibovitz and Christopher Makos made outstanding photo productions for him.
The Chillida Leku Museum in Hernani (Spain) entrusted him with the direction and creation of
choreographies for “Peine en el viento” by Eduardo Chillida.
His second show, “Amargo”, marked the beginning of Rafael’s recognition for not only his
prowess as a dancer, but also as a choreographer and artistic director. Amargo earned several
awards and great critiques and reviews from the national press, and soon gained notoriety in
media thoughout the world.
In September 2002, he got the “Positano Leonide Massine Prize” in recognition for his work as a
choreographer and a dancer. This award is the most important distinction given to Dance artists
in Italy. This award has been presented previously to Rudolf Nureyev, Maurice Béjart, Lindsay
Kemp and other great stars of Dance and Ballet. He has also received the APDE Award (Spanish
dance and flamenco teachers association) together with Antonio Gades and Matilde Coral.
El País, Spain’s premier daily newspaper, awarded Rafael “Best dance show of 2000” for
Amargo, and “ Best dance show of 2002” and “Best show of the decade” for Poet in New
York.
Since the creation of his flamenco company in 1997, Rafael has produced, directed and
choreographed:
LA GARRA Y EL ÁNGEL (1997)
AMARGO (1999)
POET IN NEW YORK Inspired in the poem by Federico García Lorca (2002)
EL AMOR BRUJO by Manuel de Falla (Gitanería 1915) (2003)
ENRAMBLAO (2004)
DQ…PASAJERO EN TRÁNSITO (2005)
TIEMPO MUERTO (2007)
ENRAMBLAO 2 (2008)
LA DIFICIL SENCILLEZ (2009)
PRINCESAS DEL FLAMENCO ( 2010)
SOLO Y AMARGO ( 2010)
9. In August 2007, he presented at Barcelona’s Opera House, Teatre del Liceu, his anthological
work Amargo al Liceu, for the 10th anniversary of his company.
In 2008, Rafael created the choreographies of West End’s production of Zorro produced by
Isabel Allende and directed by Chris Renshaw (We Will Rock You y Taboo), with music by Gipsy
Kings and John Cameron (Los Miserables), at present time on show in the Garrick Theater in
London West End.
After that, he has been touring his latest work Tiempo Muerto and Enramblao 2 around
Spain and the rest of the world.
Rafael Amargo has also taken part in the Frencg TV programme STAR ACADEMY (TF1) as
member of the jury and teacher of corporal expression thus obtaining a great popularity in
France.
At present time, he is preparing his new show “Solo y amargo” and creating choreographies
for Zorro Paris. Amsterdam, Moscow, Tokyo. His show premiered in Barcelona March 20th
2011 and has finished its season on Decemberr 20th.
AWARDS:
Finalist in Lawrence Olivier Awards as Best Musical Choreographer 2008 for the
West End Musical “Zorro”
Awarded with the Quijote de la Danza 2008 (Campo de Criptana)
1st Prize for the Scenic Arts to the best Male Dancer (Rafael Amargo, por “El
Amor Brujo”) 2004
1st Prize for the Scenic Arts to the best Male Dancer (Rafael Amargo, por “Poeta
en Nueva York”) 2003
APDE Award (Asociación de profesores de Española. Spanidh Dance Teacher´s
Association) 2003.
1st Prize for the Scenic Arts to the best Dance Show (Por “Amargo”) 2002
1st Prize for the Scenic Arts to the best Male Dancer (Rafael Amargo por Amargo)
2002
Positano Leonide Massine Award de Danza 2002
Copa Pavón Award for Young Interpreters 1998
1st Dance Prize in the Nacional Dance Contest in La Unión en 1996
RAFAEL AMARGO AND MASS MEDIA
Rafael Amargo has always been in direct relation with the media not only in Spain but also
abroad. This relationship with the media is crucial when programming tours throughout the
world.
Apart from his appearances in different media ocasioned by his bailaor activity, his presence is
usual in fashion reportages in the most prestigious magazines in Spain and throughout the
world. His image and photogenia has fostered the incredible number of reportages he has.
10. Rafael Amargo has been photographed by the most important photographers all over the world
among which outstanding are Christopher Makos, Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz or the
Spanish Alberto García Alix.
His careeris not only in tv, of course, but also in the cinema which started in 2002 and which
carries on until present time. He has worked as an actor in different tv series such as 7 VIDAS
(2002), UN PASO ADELANTE (2002) and CUÉNTAME (2001).
In 2005 he performed as an actor in 3 films: “LA LEYENDA DE UN CRIMEN”, documentary
directed by Lola Guerrero, together with María Botto; “CAMINANDO” by Daryl Lynn
Mathews, junto a Antonio Canales, Pilar Bardem, Mónica Cruz y Lolita; y “TIRANTE EL
BLANCO” bajo la dirección de Vicente Aranda, junto a Caspar Zafer, Esther Nubiola, Leonor
Watling, Ingrid Rubio, Victoria Abril, Giancarlo Gianini y Jane Asher.
In 2009 he has taken part in several films such as NINE (in Italy) with Marisa Berenson and
Antonia Dellate among others or ZIGORTZAILEAK (not premiered yet) where he co stars
with Spanish celebrities Anne Igartiburu and Carlos Sobera.
Contact
For The Netherlands:
Damen Agency
Limburgsingel 184
6845 DS Arnhem
Tel. ( +31.653206929 )
info@damenagency.com
www.rafaelamargo.nl
