Applicant: Olivia Chacon
Project: Juana
Work Samples Summary
1. Selections from Snapshots: New World Flamenco by A’lante Flamenco, June 2016. Artistic Director: Olivia Chacon; Music Director: Isai Chacon.
This production featured choreography from three flamenco artists all born in the New World, each with a unique viewpoint and take on flamenco, expressed via dance and music, as well as interviews.
-Selection from World, Actually. Choreographer: Karen Lugo. Danced by Olivia Chacon, Carisa Leal, Stephanie Keeton, Claire Spera, and Karen Vilches. -Selection from Raices. Choreographer: Miguel Vargas. Danced by Olivia Chacon, Carisa Leal, Kara Leal, Stephanie Keeton, Claire Spera, and Karen Vilches.
-Selection from The Group. Choreographer: Olivia Chacon. Danced by Olivia Chacon, Carisa Leal, Kara Leal, Stephanie Keeton, Claire Spera, and Karen Vilches. Music: Guitar, Jose Manuel Tejeda; Violin: James Anderson; Upright bass: Tarik Hassan; Percussion: Pepe Gaytan.
2. Selection from Desplazados (Gelem, Gelem) by A’lante Flamenco, April 2015. Artistic Director and Choreographer: Olivia Chacon. Music Direction: Isai Chacon.
Desplazados explored immigration and displacement as experienced by A’lante Flamenco’s own company members. This introductory piece starts with the Roma (Gypsy) hymn, “Gelem, Gelem,” translated as “I walked, I walked.”
Danced by Olivia Chacon, Carisa Leal, Kara Leal, Stephanie Keeton, Claire Spera, and Karen Vilches. Musicians: Vocals: Celia Sellers, Isai Chacon; Guitar: Jose Manuel Tejeda, Luisma Ramos.
3. Selections from Prophecies (The Arrival of the Ship, On Love, On Religion ) by A’lante Flamenco, January 2014. Artistic Director and Choreographer: Olivia Chacon. Music Direction: Isai Chacon.
Prophecies was an evening-length work exploring of the book The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran. Each dance represented a different theme addressed by Gibran’s prophet.
Danced by Olivia Chacon, Carisa Leal, Kara Leal, Stephanie Keeton, Claire Spera, and Karen Vilches. Musicians: Vocals: Chayito Champion, Isai Chacon; Guitar: Jose Manuel Tejeda, Luisma Ramos; Percussion Pepe Gaytan.
4. Selections from The Red Shoes: A Flamenco Fairytale (Bamberas/Remordimientos, Vidalita ) by A’lante Flamenco, September 2012. Artistic Director and Choreographer: Olivia Chacon. Music Direction: Isai Chacon.
In my flamenco interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale The Red Shoes, the protagonist is seduced by a group of mysterious gypsies/magicians who offer her a pair of irresistible red shoes, which cause her to dance furiously. As she dances this choreography with her companions, she begins to become anxious about her choice. Alone with the magicians, the dancer realizes her terrible mistake, too late.
Danced by Olivia Chacon, Barbara Garza, Kara Leal, Stephanie Keeton, and Claire Spera. Musicians: Vocals: Chayito Champion, Isai Chacon; Guitar: Jose Manuel Tejeda, David Cordoba; Violin: Roberto Riggio. Percussion Pepe Gaytan.
5. Documentary, A’lante, directed by Mario Troncoso.
Olivia and Isaí Chacón were trained by the masters of flamenco in Spain. With a deep knowledge and appreciation for the art form, they formed A’lante Flamenco back in America. This 30-minute documentary on the work of Isai and Olivia Chacon follows the pair through classes, rehearsals, and performances with their troupe in Austin, Texas.
Originally aired on “Arts in Context” November 7, 2016 on KLRU in Austin, Texas. It has since been aired on public television stations nationally.
Reviews
*Austin Chronicle Review of “Prophecies”
*San Antonio Express-News, “Best of 2012”
*San Antonio Express-News Review, “The Red Shoes:”
Blog Articles