Continuing Tigertail's series of virtuoso guitarists, we have arranged an extraordinary concert featuring contemporary flamenco guitarist José Luis Rodriguez with dancer Niurca Márquez. Rodriguez studied in Andalusia, Spain, under famed guitarist Mario Escudero. He has performed to great acclaim in Paris, London, Buenos Aires, New York, Barcelona and many other world cities.

Son of a Spanish doctor practicing in Chaouen, Morocco, José Luis Rodriguez relocated with his family to the Andalusian area of Spain, in 1971. Rodriguez says "It all began in Morocco, where, as a very young boy I became fascinated by the chants calling to prayer, the 'cante' flamenco in my father's old gramophone and that little guitar that I could barely grab. My destiny forged itself around a guitar, around flamenco and the mixture of sounds that surrounded me."

After moving to Huelva, Spain, he studied guitar for years under Escudero in nearby Sevilla. Escudero was a virtuoso who helped forge the viability of solo flamenco guitar as a concert instrument with lauded performances at New York's Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and other venues. Invited to perform at the White House for President Kennedy, Escudero was counted among the best in his era – Ramón Montoya called him "the best flamenco guitarist of this new generation."

Armed with a classical background as well as flamenco training, Rodriguez approaches the guitar like an orchestra. Although he is left-handed, his instrument is strung in the standard right-handed fashion. The strength of his left hand working the frets creates a distinctive, powerful technique.

Niurca Márquez' participation in Nu Flamenco is part of Tigertail's Knight Arts Challenge grant to foster the appreciation and understanding of new work in the dance field. This project includes performances that examine and re-invigorate traditional conceptions of dance in Miami.

Originally from Miami, Márquez moved to Spain in 2007, where she worked intensively with Belen Maya and Juan Carlos Lerida. In 2009 she was invited to perform original choreography and participate in talleres de creació at the first-ever Festival of Experimental Flamenco in Barcelona. She has also worked with Yolanda Heredia, the leading master of the traditional flamenco dress bata de cola, on integrating techniques of Argentine tango in the use of this costume. She holds a BA in Dance, an MA in Cultural Studies and has trained professionally both in the United States and Spain. In addition to dancing and choreographing for various flamenco companies, she has also worked in other dance forms including Afro-Cuban and Contemporary with choreographers such as Brazilian Susana Yamauchi.

Márquez says, "My work is based on the integration of body awareness and the use of breath through techniques from the Feldenkrais Method and Katsugen with an understanding of flamenco as a movement language. This allows me to go beyond movement to a place where art is not separate from life."

Read more about José Luis Rodriguez at joseluisrodriguez67.blogspot.com

See/hear videos of José Luis Rodriguez & Niurca Márquez at youtube

Tigertail's 2011/2012 Season is made possible by community partners and supporters including: Aquarius Press; Albion Hotel, Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation; Biscayne Times; Books & Books; Bresaro Suites; The Children's Trust; City of Coral Gables Cultural Arts Program; City of Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; Consulate General of Brazil; Consulate General of the Netherlands; E.S. Moore Family Foundation; Florida Dance Association; Funding Arts Network; The Galler Group; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; John S. & James L. Knight Foundation; JPMorgan Chase; MiamiARTzine.com; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Library; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Miami River Inn; Miami Salon Group; National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, supported by lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with additional funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Connections Fund of the Metlife Foundation, and the Boeing Company Charitable Trust; National Endowment for the Arts; National Performance Network with major funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), Altria, MetLife Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation; Pridelines; Publix Super Markets Charities; Safe Schools South Florida; Sain-Orr Royak DeForest Steadman Foundation; The Law Office of Linda M. Smith; Sleepless Night; South Arts; State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; The Miami Foundation; VSA Florida; Vortex Communications; WDNA & WLRN FM; Wells Fargo and our many private supporters.