THE BAY AREA
FLAMENCO PARTNERSHIP
INFORMATION: (510) 444-2820
Representing the area's vibrant Flamenco community, The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership is a grassroots arts organization dedicated to fostering the flamenco arts, creating and presenting quality fl
amenco to audiences throughout Northern California. Founded in 2004 by Artistic Director Nina Menéndez, the BAFP has produced over 50 flamenco performances, providing a forum for the rich pool of outstanding local flamenco artists and facilitating numerous cultural exchange opportunities and workshops with world-class visiting artists from Spain.
One of the central projects of the BAFP is the annual San Francisco Bay Area International FESTIVAL OF FLAMENCO ARTS & TRADITIONS. The 2010 Festival featured two of the most important figures in the history of flamenco --MANUELA CARRASCO and MANUEL AGUJETAS. The 2009 Festival featured a gala performance by LOS FARRUCO, first family of Gypsy flamenco dance as well as workshops and master classes with the visiting artists and a recital by guitarist Antonio Rey and special guests. In Feb/March of 2008 the BAFP celebrated the Diego del Gastor Centennial Tribute with special concerts featuring BBC World Music Award winners SON DE LA FRONTERA and Juan del Gastor at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center. In 2005 the BAFP launched the first San Francisco Bay Area International Flamenco Festival with events including performances by Andrés Marín and Company from Spain and a Bay Area Flamenco All-Star Gala Showcase Benefit for Hurricane Katrina Relief.
Highlights of other productions have been revered Gypsy singer, Ines Bacan; icon of Gypsy flamenco dance, Concha Vargas; guitarist David Serva; Pure Gypsy Flamenco featuring Juan del Gastor and Luis Peña, and the legendary Miguel Funi with Antonio Moya.
The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership has also hosted a dynamic and highly successful flamenco series at Berkeley's La Peña Cultural Center as well as several dance workshops taught by world-class visiting artists from Spain including Manuela Carrasco, Concha Vargas, La Faraona y El Farru of the Farruco Family, Juan del Gastor, Miguel Funi and others.
Other past events include Lakshmi “La Chimi” with Kina Méndez & José Galván from Jerez de la Frontera, the acclaimed dancers La Tania with Juanaire and Carola Zertuche; Gypsy guitar legend Chuscales; Roberto Zamora y su Arte Flamenco; Ben Wood’s cutting-edge flamenco rock band Flametal with dancers Fanny Ara and Melissa Cruz; Gypsy singer Antonio de Jerez from el Barrio de La Plazuela; Cristo Cortes and Los Gitanos de Marseilles; Zambomba, a Flamenco Holiday celebration in the tradition of the Andalusian Gypsies, featuring Angelita Agujetas; and Mari Pena with Antonio Moya. www.myspace.com/bayareaflamencopartnership
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership’s founder and artistic director, Nina Menéndez is also active in the local flamenco community as a singer and has been involved in flamenco for most of her life. 
As a young teenager in the 1970s she listened obsessively to live recordings of La Fernanda and Perrate de Utrera with Diego del Gastor and old 78’s of La Niña de los Peines and Tomás Pavón. Influenced by her early exposure to great flamenco artists -such as Agustin Rios and Anzonini del Puerto- who settled in the Bay Area, she developed a deep a appreciation of cante gitano andaluz and went on to establish close ties in the Andalusian towns of Moron, Lebrija and Utrera among the families who are keeping those traditions alive. Her work as a performing artist and producer allow her to share her profound respect for the art of flamenco with Bay Area audiences.
