THE MUSIC CENTER OFFSTAGE
The Music Center Offstage is a virtual destination that takes you beyond the curtain and brings the beauty, magic and creativity of the arts into your home.
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Sakai Flamenco
The Music Center on Tour artists Sakai Flamenco present a fiery, stirring performance of the music, rhythm and dance of Spain. Join dancer Mercedes Ibarra and guitarist Gabriel Ozuna in a powerhouse presentation of flamenco, a style of music and dance that is truly unique.
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About our Music Center On Tour Artist
Sakai Flamenco is a dynamic and fiery performing ensemble dedicated to keeping the traditional music and dance of Southern Spain alive. The company is composed of talented musicians and dancers that are steeped in Spanish culture. The word "Sakai" is a Spanish gypsy word that refers to the eyes, which reflect the emotion of flamenco dancers. Sakai Flamenco's artistic director Mercedes Ibarra first discovered Flamenco while at UCLA and a year later joined DeLiRitmo Flamenco Dance Company. After college, she joined the Gabriela Garza Flamenco Dance Company, and eventually moved to Spain to study at the Centro de Arte Flamenco, Amor de Dios, and performed at El Juglar, a traditional Flamenco venue. She returned to the U.S. in 2008 and began studying and performing with Linda Andrade, the founder of Sakai Flamenco. She was accepted into UNESCO's International Dance Council and has been on the faculty of the Orange County School of the Arts and is a resident teaching artist for various art organizations, inclduing The Music Center.
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