Staccato footwork of the flamenco dancers punctuates the air as their sinuously sweeping arms intertwine. The piercing wail of the singer interlocks with the guitarist’s fierce attack on the fretboard. How could anyone not fall in love with this visceral form of dance and music? And if you haven’t already, now is your chance—Theatre Flamenco celebrates its 60th anniversary home season with De Ayer a Hoy / From Yesterday to Today on October 17 at the Herbst Theater.
The troupe is the second oldest dance company in town after San Francisco Ballet, and it also has maintained a very high artistic standard due to three artistic directors who have continually sought to evolve the art form.
Adela Clara founded the troupe in 1966 and was the artistic director until 1987 when Miguel Santos, who had danced and choreographed with the company from the very beginning, took over as the new director. In 2008, he received lifetime achievement awards from both the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards Committee and World Arts West Ethnic Dance Festival, before passing on the directorship to Carola Zertuche.
Walking into Theatre Flamenco’s studio in the Mission district is akin to discovering another world. Its foyer walls are covered from floor to ceiling with dresses from throughout the company’s history. Bright blues, reds, pinks, and yellows. Polka-dot and flowered. Fringed shawls and ruffled skirts.
Zertuche says some will be used in the show, and new costumes will appear in other sections. On other walls are posters and photos that add to the atmosphere.
A rehearsal is in progress. Four women and three men holding shoulder-high wooden poles in each hand are pounding out rhythms with both their feet and the poles. They create shifting patterns across the floor as they move in different directions, and also make designs in the air as they point the poles into new positions. Later Zertuche explains that while other flamenco artists have used poles before, she is using a far greater number.
During a break, Zertuche introduces the electronic musician Pascual Martínez to me, and explains how they have been developing the score that will be performed live. There will be traditional instruments, too—guitar and percussion—as well as singers, all performing live.
A few days later there is opportunity to watch a different section of the choreography. This time, there are only two men; Nol Simonse, a contemporary dancer who has worked with Zertuche for a number of years and Nevarez Encinias, who teaches flamenco at the University of New Mexico.
Both are dressed all in black, wearing bata de colas (long ruffled trains) which they use to “speak” through wrapping and unwrapping themselves. As they stand on one foot, they use the other foot to throw the fabric in another direction. They also employ fringed shawls, adding to the complexity. Utilizing men dancers instead of women is a testament to Zertuche’s desire to move beyond traditional flamenco roles and choreography.
Starting in the early 1950s, flamenco has long had a robust presence in the City by the Bay, predominantly in the North Beach neighborhood. This writer was (and still is) very fortunate to have seen many of San Francisco’s flamenco dancers from 1977 through today.
One memorable occasion was the Theatre Flamenco concert at which Santos passed the baton to Zertuche—the first half of the evening featured his choreography and the second half looked to the future, featuring her creations. Another was a program featuring three of the most formidable bailaoras (women flamenco dancers)—Yaelisa, La Tania, and Carola Zertuche, all together on the Brava stage.
October 17’s 60th anniversary program honors the legacies of Adela Clara, who died in May at 93, and Miguel Santos, who passed away in 2024 aged 99. (Yes, dancing can keep you young.) Of the nine works to be performed, three are premieres and the remaining six are re-imaginings of pieces from the company’s repertoire. The evening will feature top-notch dancers in addition to Simonse and Encinias, like guests Cristina Hall and Adrian Santana, plus company members Aldo Ruiz, Gina Giammanco, Lauren Smiley, Patricia Morales, and Roberto Aguilar. Other remarkable guests: singer Amparo Heredia, singer José “Cachito” Díaz, percussionist Diego Álvarez, guitarist Jesse Torre, and electronic musician Pascual Martínez.
The arts are struggling in today’s out-of-kilter world. Even an old established troupe like Theatre Flamenco faces an increasingly difficult future, especially when this generation of billionaires aren’t interested in funding the arts. All the more reason to support artists and give yourself the joy of seeing a live event by coming to see these flamenco performers.
THEATRE FLAMENCO’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY: DE AYER A HOY / FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY October 17, performance at 7:30pm, gala at 9:30pm. Performance at Herbst Theater, SF. Gala at The Green Room, San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, SF. Tickets and more info here.
