Flamenco Pacifico – Saturday October 13, 2018 at 8:00pm
Based in the majestic state of Oregon, Flamenco Pacifico is a dynamic, professional performance group dedicated to bringing the art of flamenco music and dance to audiences in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Led by virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer, Berto Boyd, the group’s guitar-driven performances feature original modern flamenco compositions rooted in the time-honored forms of traditional flamenco. With inspired dancing by Elena Villa and the passionate vocals and guitar artistry of guitarist/singer Grant Ruiz, Flamenco Pacifico takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the fascinating world of flamenco.
Flamenco is a living culture, steeped in history, with many roots and branches. Flamenco Pacifico seeks to present flamenco as a cultural event and an art form that invites creative innovation. The group offers educational lectures and demos that involve the audience and place flamenco in its compelling historical and cultural context, lending deeper meaning to the performances they share with the public.
True to the spirit of flamenco, Flamenco Pacifico’s name reflects both geographical place and the idea that flamenco is expansive and inclusive enough to absorb the personal experiences and backgrounds of anyone who wants to participate in the art form. With collective musical influences as diverse as Brazilian, jazz, Western classical, and Middle Eastern, Flamenco Pacifico offers their unique version of modern flamenco with a world orientation.
What also sets this group apart artistically is that their music is based around melodic themes–both in Berto Boyd’s original compositions and in the group’s arrangements of traditional pieces. These thematic elements function as landmarks on the listener’s journey through a musical landscape that can be haunting and deeply moving, due in no small part to the spine-tingling duende, or trance-like spirit unleashed by the music. The festive strains of many of Boyd’s lighter, or chico, compositions also assure that even after the last chords of the guitar have faded, audiences will walk away from the performance with an infectious melody in their ears.
Flamenco Pacifico has performed in a variety of venues–from intimate house concerts to major festivals such as The Britt Festival (Jacksonville, OR), Party on the Plaza (Hult Center-Eugene, OR), The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s popular Green Show (Ashland, OR), and the Oregon Country Fair. They are available for public and private events, festivals and educational lectures and demonstrations.