The dynamism and allure of flamenco come alive in Flamenco a las 8, an evening of dance and music with Melissa Cruz and Kalifeña on Saturday, September 13, 8 p.m., at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue.
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Joined by her cast of seasoned professionals and dedicated studio dancers, Cruz presents a diverse program of dances, expressing the full spectrum of human emotion.
This performance of Flamenco a las 8 features Kalifeña, a music and dance ensemble directed by Cruz and inspired by an idea to unite voices of women who, despite their diverse backgrounds, have a thread of commonality between them—the study of flamenco, the art form from Andalucía, Spain deemed by UNESCO as a treasure of World Cultural Heritage.
Kalifeña melds original compositions and traditional flamenco styles. Rhythmix invites you to be moved by an intense and passionate evening of Bay Area flamenco culture. Zeal for community, respect for the art form, and deep emotion are hallmarks of this beautiful tradition that continues to generate new inspiration for itself and its audiences.
Kalifeña features the following artists:
- Melissa Cruz – dance and percussion.
- Caro Acuña Olvera – vocals and percussion.
- Luna Alonso – vocals and cello.
- Bob San – guitar and bass.
- Jesse Torre – guitar.
- Katiana Vilá – vocals and percussion.
About Melissa Cruz
“Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende — the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art,” Rachel Howard wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Melissa Cruz is a Bay Area-based flamenco professional and has been a full-time flamenco artist and instructor for the past 20 years. She began training with the Bay Area’s acclaimed flamenco master Rosa Montoya and soon thereafter joined Montoya’s professional company.
Cruz has performed as a soloist in the San Francisco International Arts Festival and has presented in eight San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals, twice as a featured soloist. She was featured in the one-woman flamenco theater play, Flamenco on my Own, produced in collaboration with Miami’s Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, and as a featured performer and instructor at the 2021 Festival Flamenco Albuquerque presented by the National Institute of Flamenco.
Cruz was featured in the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in San Francisco in 2023, the Peninsula International Dance Festival (2022-2024) and the World Arts West Dance Festival.
Tickets
Purchase tickets online: [2] $32/General Admission; $44/Angel (helps support full cost of production); $114/Discount Package – Group of 4. Ticket prices include all service fees.