FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT:
Olivia Chacon
- Juana: First (I) Dream runs January 5 through January 14 at the Rollins Studio Theater in the Long Center, 701 Riverside Dr., Austin, Texas.
- Tickets are $21.75, and are available at http://thelongcenter.org/ev
ent/juana-first-dream/ - For info on the company: www.alanteflamenco.co
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Juana: First (I) Dream
As six voices fill the air with transcendent music, a lone female dancer beats staccato rhythms with her feet. Brilliant, determined, defiant—this is Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, 17th century Mexican nun, scholar, writer and advocate for women’s education.
Juana raised her pen as a warrior against hypocrisy hundreds of years ago, but her words still sound as fresh and relevant as today’s headlines. From her poems Silly Men (Hombres Necios), and First Dream (Primero Sueño), to her famous Response to Sister Filotea, Sor Juana defended herself and all women against sexism and repression, earning a reputation as the First Feminist of the Americas. Her words from 1691, “I don’t study to be more intelligent, only to be less ignorant,” should be required reading for today’s leaders.
A’lante Flamenco brings Juana and her world to life through fiery Flamenco guitar, vocals, and dance, with the voices of the Texas Early Music Project adding Baroque choral works from Juana’s era. Juana: First (I) Dream is inspired by Sor Juana’s lifelong fight for knowledge, independence, and scholarship. Be prepared for a totally unique and immersive experience!
Tickets at thelongcenter.org.
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
A’lante Flamenco Ensemble, based out of Austin, Texas, excites audiences with a blend of traditional and contemporary flamenco music and dance. A’lante Flamenco was formed in 2011 by Artistic Director/Choreographer Olivia Chacón and Music Director Isaí Chacón with the object of presenting flamenco within contexts that are relevant to modern audiences. A’lante Flamenco includes 10 permanent members–7 dancers and 3 musicians–and produces innovative flamenco theater works incorporating multimedia and addressing relevant social issues such as immigration, self-identity, and women’s education. A’lante Flamenco has been the recipient of three Austin Critics’ Table Awards in recent years, for Best Dancer (Olivia Chacon) and twice for Best Dance Ensemble Performance.
For more information, visit www.alanteflamenco.com.
The Texas Early Music Project (TEMP), directed by Daniel Johnson, is a special collaborator in Juana: First (I) Dream. Founded in 1987 by Daniel Johnson, the Texas Early Music Project is dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical music through performance, recordings, and educational outreach. TEMP offers six concerts per year, and their singers also perform regularly with other groups throughout the region. TEMP is very proud to be in residence at the Armstrong Community Music School, where they offer coaching and instruction in historical performance practice. For more information, see . www.early-music.org