NRITYA by La Caramelita Flamenco Company

North American Premiere of NRITYA by La Caramelita Flamenco Company
One Night Only: September 26, 2019, 8 pm
Denford Hall, Glenlyon Norfolk School, The 800 Block of Richmond Ave., Victoria

Deborah Dawson-Mourocq (flamenco dancer “La Caramelita”) believes that cross-cultural music and dance can bring people together in unexpected ways and connect them to their ancestral roots. Her new flamenco solo show, NRITYA, is the result of 10 years of introspection of how her Indian background influences her life as a flamenco dancer.

At 14, she was drawn to the fiery, “gypsy” energy of flamenco, only later discovering that flamenco’s roots could be traced to the Romani people from India who settled in Spain.

"As a first generation Canadian, born to Malaysian parents of Indian descent, I struggled to find my way with my multicultural background,” explains Dawson-Mourocq. “It’s the story of many Canadians. I stumbled upon flamenco in my early teens, which initially felt foreign and distant. When I discovered flamenco has roots in India, it was like I had come full circle with my own familial ancestry.”

NRITYArefers to “storytelling” and “emotions created by movement” in Sanskrit while the literal Hindi translation is “dance.” Taking inspiration from the sensuality in flamenco, Latin passion and her Indian heritage, Dawson-Mourocqexplores a journey in search of her origins. At the same time, she reconstructs bridges that disappeared between flamenco and Indian dance years ago.

The result is a flamenco show unlike anything experienced before. Familiar Indian songs are intermingled with traditional flamenco rhythms. In one section, the traditional Indian chant (Konnakol) matches the percussive staccato of flamenco footwork.

“This is not a traditional flamenco show. We've created a new language - a new algorithm - mixing various Indian influences with flamenco,” explains singer Alejandro Mendía.

Dawson-Mourocq began with a structure of three flamenco styles: tarantos, martinete and alegrías.

Award-winning flamenco guitarist Guillermo Guillén, percussionist Alex Carrasco and flautist Lara Wong composed original music and rhythms, using their own interpretations of the historical Indian and flamenco art forms. Mendía’s verses speak of distance, travel, the connectedness of music across cultures, and how being apart can bring you closer together. 

“Through the creation process, we’ve realized that the possibilities are endless. The art form has potential for so much growth,” explains Mendía.

NRITYAwas presented at the 31^stArte Flamenco show in south France in July to great acclaim for its originality while Dawson-Mourocq “has mesmerized people worldwide with her graceful and passionate performances" (Petrina D'Souza, Darpan Magazine).

As a Vancouver native and Flamenco Rosario alumni, Dawson-Mourocq is excited to return to her roots, with Victoria and Vancouver holding special places inher heart.

“I’m so proud to perform NRITYAin Canada,” she says. “Canadians have a beautiful capacity to embrace multiculturalism. It means so much to perform this new creation at home.”

About La Caramelita Flamenco Company
The versatility ofDeborah Dawson-Mourocq(“La Caramelita”) and La Caramelita Flamenco Company has taken them worldwide, performing in Ecuador, Portugal, Canada, Spain, Malaysia, Russia, Morocco, France and Switzerland. The Company introduced new audiences to flamenco at the 2016Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver folk festivals where their shows reached over 15 000 spectators.La Caramelita performed at the Rolex Trophy in Geneva,Pacha Uchukin Ecuador, the Western Canadian tour of Mis Hermanas,at international flamenco festivals in Europe and North America, and is the winner of the 2009 Isadora Award for Excellence in Choreography. Dawson and her husband, flamenco singer Alejandro Mendía, are from Bordeaux, France. Together, with a group of award-winning musicians from France and Spain, they are creating a new language and artistic expression joining various Indian influences with flamenco. Performers includeLa Caramelita;Alejandro Mendía (singer); award-winning guitarist Guillermo Guillén(Lámpara Minera Award); multi-instrumentalist Alex Carrasco(cajón drum/percussion) andLara Wong(flute).

Additional resource links:
Video Teaser 1:https://youtu.be/2YDgzIlpAF4
Video Teaser 2: https://youtu.be/cUXQOaifLyA
Artist Website:  https://www.lacaramelita-flamenco.com
Artist Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/deborahlacaramelita
Caravan Event Page:http://caravanbc.com/2019/06/la-caramelita-flamenco-company-nritya

NRITYAWestern Canadian Tour - Fall 2019 with support from Spedidam

September 26 - Victoria - Denford Hall, Glenlyon Norfolk School

September 27 - Vancouver - Waterfront Theatre, Vancouver International Flamenco Festival

September 28 - Gibsons - Heritage Playhouse

October 2 - Kelowna - Rotary Arts Centre

October 3 - Oliver - Frank Venables Theatre

October 5 - Canmore - artsPlace

About Caravan World Rhythms
Caravan World Rhythms is a B.C. non-profit presenter of world music and dance events, featuring artists from diverse cultural backgrounds from across Canada and around the globe. We would like to thank our funders, the Canada Council, the City of Vancouver and Canadian Heritage.
Upcoming Events:Sept 2- Huun Huur Tu (Tuvan music), First Church of Christ Scientist, 1205 Pandora Ave., Victoria Tickets: www.caravanbc.com