The world famous flamenco bailaor and choreographer Joaquin Cortes is presenting his latest show Mi Soledad, which features a spectacular wardrobe designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. If you have not seen yet this universal gypsy, he is coming to Cyprus to present his art within the framework of the International Festival Kypria 2006 on the 13th September 2006 to perform at Eleftheria Stadium, which for this occasion would be transform to a theatre venue of such a high quality, that would satisfy the most demanding theatre and concert goers.

The organizers of this show are Alma Productions and Hathor Productions, which have already brought to Cyprus such performances as Cesaria Evora, Gypsy Kings, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer, Cristina Branco, the exhibition of Yann Arthus Bertrand "The Earth from Above" and many more. This particular production has brought together in a close collaboration various organizations: Cyprus Tourism Organization, Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, The Spanish Embassy, OPAP, Vassos Iliades Ltd, McDonalds, Cyprus Airways, Hilton Nicosia. Only joint efforts of all the above organizations could bring to our island a production of such a calibre. And of course it is hard to overestimate the support of the media sponsors: CyBC, Politis, Cyprus Mail, Klik FM and Choice FM, Rock FM and others.

JOAQUIN CORTES
AS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
"KYPRIA - 2006"

Choreography: Joaquin Cortes

Costumes designed by: Jean Paul Gaultier

MUSICIANS:



THE PROGRAM OF THE SHOW:

First Theme: Introduction / SILENCIO
Second Theme: Bulerias / SOLEA MIA
Third Theme: Tangos / BELLAS PALABRAS
Fourth Theme: Zambra / ZAMBRA
Fifth Theme: Solea por Bulerias / ZAPATOS BLANCOS
Sixth Theme: Jaleos / EN MI SOLEDAD

"MI SOLEDAD" (MY SOLITUDE)

JOAQUIN CORTES - "Flamenco Fiery Prince" - brings the new revised version of his show "Mi Soledad" to Cyprus within the framework of the International Festival "KYPRIA 2006" on the 13th September 2006 at Eleftheria Stadium in Nicosia.

Like any artist, Joaquin Cortes takes what he sees around him and re-does it. With his maverick virtuosity he has elevated what he calls "cross-bred" flamenco to a cult level. A mix of modern and classical dance with the evocative arm movements and staccato heel-work of traditional flamenco, his interpretation of a country's revered art form seems destined to become as popular a cultural staple as, say, rock-n-roll.

If flamenco is all sex and emotion - and it is - Cortes is its messenger. Seeing Joaquin Cortes for the first time (he is also the artistic director and choreographer), one would "levitated several inches out of his seat", which is a perfectly normal reaction. Especially when he folds into his signature eagle position, wing-like arms in a broad V-shape, hands flexed up-wards, an image that has become his symbol and logo.

The show, which Cortes is bringing to Cyprus - is flamenco like you never saw it before, still primal, still haunting, with an exhilarating new dimension that sprinkles a non-contemporary genre with contemporary brashness and innovation.

Cortes' new show "MI SOLEDAD", first opened in Mexico on May 3, 2005 and since then has visited three continents. However, the show that is now coming to Cyprus is not the same, but is in fact an updated version, first presented in Paris on March 1st this year. It is, he tells us, "a journey of reflrection of the human being, but is not autobiographical. The story I tell can be extended to anybody who thinks about thei life, confronting fears, insecurities, love, lack of affection or the future. It is also a journey through the culture of the nomadic gypries".

MI SOLEDAD is devided into two parts. In the first, contemporary and theatrical, Cortes shows his choreographic and research work. In the second, he examines the origins of flamenco in greater detail with an explosion of gypsy celebration.

A series of thematic sequences that track the genre of gypsy life and culture, it features Cortes's electrifying body language and crisp heel-work accompanied by guitars and a resonant combination of bongo drums and classical instruments like the violin and flute.

On the changes that have been made he says: " I am a creator, a restless and lively person. Therefore I like to transform and purify the choreography, and not spend three years doing the same thing." Cortes dances alone, supported by an 18-piece band: eight singers, two guitarists, viola, cello, double bass, accordion, flute and three percussionists.

The production of MI SOLEDAD is simple and intimate, without artifice. The costumes are different story. After years working together, the sobriety of Giorio Armani has passed to the colours of Gaultier. "I wanted to work with all the big names in fasion," Cortes says, explaining the change. "Giorgio Armani has created the costumes for my shows from the start. We have replaced white, red and black [with which Armani summarized the concept of flamenco] with Jean Paul Gaultier's colours which are very representative of the gypsy culture that I am a descendant of."

Giorgio Armani remains an avid fan of Joaquin Cortes and purportedly, he has seen each of his choreographies at least four times. "In designing for Joaquin, it was important to follow some basic guidelines: respect the taut, spare setting and underline the importance of a body that moves every muscle artfully," Armani said. "Like all great artists, I think Joaquin's strength is the expressive force that communicates emotion and the absolute naturalness with which it conjugates a perfect technique. His face and body are in magical harmony for the pathos that lies at the heart of a dance like flamenco."

A spokesman for the house of Armani in Milan said the collaboration was always "strictly creative, no contract, no corporate deal." And off-stage Cortes sure cuts a dapper figure in his meticulously-tailored, almost-always-black Italian wardrobe. An exception was the Armani-designed white suit and black tee-shirt he wore to pick up the recent Spaniard-of-the-year award in Miami. (There in support were Enrique Iglesias and Miguel Bose).

The colourful new costume designes of Jean Paul Gaultier portray the full vitality of life, joy and a full spectrum of emotion, which in tern reflect the state of soul and mind of the creator of the show - Joaquin Cortes.

Cortes says he does not think his crossbreeding style has bent the rules. "I dance what I feel and that is my sense of purity; it's my interior showing."

Toward the end of the show, a pulsating fiesta of happy flamenco dances such as tangos and bulerias represents the explosive awakening and tribal solidarity of the gypsy soul. Cortes is dripping wet. He loses 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) per performance.

"I dance totalmente from my soul. I'm in love with what I do. La danza has to be in your blood. It can't be any other way. I always demand more," he explains. "I am constantly pushing." A fact, not an apology.

When Cortes talks about dance, he hunches forward, very concentrated: "everything I do, I do for la danza. I am part of a new generation of gypsy dancers who are prepared to defend their roots. Gypsies are abandoning their nomadic ways in favor of doing something that will one day become history. We - the company and me - are bringing Spanish culture to the largest audience possible. We are Spain's ambassadors."

Cortes is talking about his split personality, not the stage versus street persona, both of which are smoldering Latino and sexy as hell. Talk about killer looks! "I'm a child at heart, un niсo that wears 15th-century armor so he won't get hurt." He likes the child in him because "that's where the magic, the creativity, the imagination is. The child has a dream, a conviction, and I'm fighting for both." (The dream, flamenco for the masses and the conviction, that he be the instigator.) " Life has been a struggle. I've been working at the professional level since the age of 12 (in a children ballet on a local TV program called Dabadabada.) Then again, it could have been worse. It's not like I had to go to war. At least nobody ever shot at me."

World press has dubbed Joaquin Cortes "Flamenco Fiery Price", which he certainly is. "His dance is like the sea, untamed, treacherous, enveloping, irresistible. Cortes is not just a dancer, he is a social phenomenon," wrote Julio Bravo for Spain's popular daily, ABC.

JOAQUIN CORTES - BIOGRAPHY

He was born in Cordoba on February 22, 1969 in the heart of a gypsy family. Aged 12, he moved to Madrid to study dance, joining the Spanish National ballet at the 14, with whom he travelled the world and reached the category of soloist at the age of 17. After leaving the National Ballet he took part in shows along with dance stars as Maya Plisetskaya, Silvie Guillem and Peter Schauffuss, and worked with different companies as invited guest star or choreographer.

After performing in the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris, in 1992 he started his own company, Joaquin Cortes Ballet Flamenco, who he made his debut with in April 1993 at the Teatro Albeniz in Madrid with the show Gibayi which toured Japan, France, Italy, Venezuella and the United States. This led to great acclaim for Cortes and the confirmation of his innovative style.

His next show, Pasion Gitana, which opened in 1995 at the Teatro Albeniz, was on tour for four years, visiting more than 30 countries, and was seen by more than million people. It was the first dance show to close the prestigious Spoleto Festival in Italy in its 48-year history.

In 1996 he undertook a major tour on Americas, where he was at the Radio City Hall in New York and the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, among other top class venues. With Pasion Gitana he is the only Spaniard to have filled the Royal Albert Hall in London for 12 days in a row.

In 1997 Cortes released a flamenco-fusion album of the music of the show with his own group, The Gipsy Passion Band. He composes, directs and works on the percussion. Pasion Gitana was presented at festivals in Sydney, Tokyo, Canada and New York in 1998.

In January 1999 the dancer moved to New York, where he experienced further trends in the dance and music world, and started working with choreographer Debbie Allen, with who he participated in the 71st Oscars ceremony.

In October 1999 he opened his third show Soul, at the Teatro Tivoli in Barcelona. That same year he set up the Fundacion Gitana Joaquin Cortes to promote flamenco through a school for young dancers, with the idea that they can eventually become members of his company.

In March 2000 Cortes presented a new show, Live, again at the Tivoli, which included several choreographies from his three previous works. In February 2001 he opened the Vina del Mar festival in Chile. After 42 years it was the first time that a dancer had participated in this music festival, one of the most important in Latin America.

In march 2004 Cortes opened in the Teatro Diners della Luna in Milan with De Amor y Odio, a work he produced and choreographed but did not take part in as a dancer. It was performed by the Gitana Cortes Company, which was started with the aim of bringing to light the new values of dance and flamenco. It is als an investment in the future with a view to the day he decides to give up dancing.

Cortes made his film debut alongside Pedro Almodovar in 1995 with a role in La Flor de mi Secreto. He repeated the experience the same year in Flamenc by Carlos Saura, a documentary about flamenco that brought together the best of the genre. He then played the character of Andre Heredia in Gitano (2000), a film by writer Arturo Perez Reverte, directed by Manuel Palacios. His most recent film was Vanilla and Chocolate (2003), by Italian director Ciro Ipolito.