Spirit of Spain
“dazzled both the eye and the ear...she soared into the upper most echelon of dance artists I have witnessed over the years.”
About the residency
These incredible musicians will spend a week performing for the students of Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified. From Loyalton to Quincy, the student and staff will have the rare opportunity to experience Flamenco dancing, performed by one of the worlds leading dancers. Supporting her will be three equally amazing musicians, duo Fire & Grace and singer Fiona Gillespie.
Schedule of school shows:
Wednesday, November 17th: C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School
Thursday, November 18th: Town Theater, Quincy (serving Quincy El, Indian Valley and Plumas Charter School
Friday, November 19th: Loyalton High School (serving Downieville High as well)
Thank you to our supporters for making our outreach in the schools possible!
Meet the artists
Fanny Ara is an internationally-sought after and award-winning choreographer, performer and instructor. Her most dedicated worldwide fans especially credit her as one of the driving forces of flamenco today; an artist excelling in the full spectrum of flamenco, from the most traditional to the avant-garde. Fanny has been an invited artist in national and international festivals and has toured extensively in Canada, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and throughout Europe. New York’s Vilcek Foundation also awarded Fanny a prestigious finalist prize for “Creative Promise in Dance” in 2012. Fanny’s versatility in the art form of flamenco is manifested in her many artistic works.
For more information about Fanny please visit: https://www.fannyara.com/
Fire & Grace is an eclectic collaboration between guitarist William Coulter and violinist Edwin Huizinga. This unique duo explores the connective musical elements of classical, folk, and contemporary traditions from around the world. Fire & Grace’s repertoire is vast, ranging from Bach to Vivaldi, tango to Celtic tunes, traditional Bulgarian to American fiddle tunes and waltzes, all played with a sense of discovery and commitment to the elements of passion and virtuosity — fire and grace — found in these diverse traditions.
For more information on Fire & Grace visit: https://fireandgracemusic.com/
Fiona Gillespie is a Classically-trained soprano, folk singer, songwriter and composer, Irish whistle and flute player, and music educator based between NYC and Philadelphia. She directs the The Chivalrous Crickets, her Celtic/Americana 6-piece folk band; Makaris, a group of early and contemporary instrumentalists and singers that creates projects of both newly-composed and historical music showcasing the culture of Scotland; and duo Disordering the Attic, with Paul Morton, which explores an eclectic variety of Baroque, 20th and 21st century art song, and original songs all arranged for plucked instruments. Fiona sings as both a soloist and chorister with early music groups, chamber ensembles, and choirs around the US, as well as leading songwriting and group folk singing workshops, and teaching voice at Muhlenberg College. More at fionagillespiemusic.com.
Over the past decade, Paul Holmes has become a plucked instrument specialist practicing disciplines from the European Renaissance to modern Americana. Perpetually inspired by music as a vehicle to transport oneself across time and culture, Paul Holmes aims to study the practice of traditional forms while allowing such various esthetics to coalesce in his own compositions. He can be found in a variety of venues from cathedrals and opera houses to living rooms and bars, anywhere that allows performance to lend harmony to the present noise. He is based in Philadelphia, PA.