Caminos Flamencos is a not-for-profit organization based in San Francisco, California, dedicated to bringing high quality arts and educational programs to diverse audiences throughout the United States. They operate 3 major programs:
Caminos Flamencos. Their mission is to enrich and educate the community by presenting innovative contemporary and traditional works which reflect the "nuevo flamenco" movement in Spain today. Since 1993, Artistic Director Yaelisa has collaborated with artists in other mediums, incorporating top musicians in the field of jazz, Latin and Afro-Cuban music, and her choreographies have been commissioned by Collage Dance Theatre, Malashock Dance & Company, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Stanford Danza Espanola and the Internacional Certamen de Coreografia in Madrid, Spain.
The New World Flamenco Festival. Created and founded by Yaelisa, the New World Flamenco Festival premiered in 2001 at the Irvine Barclay Theater, in Irvine, California. It has become an annual event and is the second largest flamenco festival in North America, achieving great international and critical acclaim for its innovative and curatorial creations of special performances. As the artistic director since 2001, Yaelisa has created and commissioned several special projects, such as Jerez, Puro, Y Una Batita de Cola and Sin Fronteras, featuring a special collaboration with the renowned tap dancer Savion Glover. Caminos Music Director Jason McGuire "El Rubio," has been the music director for the Festival since its inception and in 2006 collaborates with Yaelisa and Savion Glover in Sin Fronteras, a Festival creation. The Festival offers a range of public activities such as concerts with visiting Spanish companies, workshops in flamenco music, dance and singing, children's activities and events, free public events and master classes.
Company School. Considered a master instructor in the art of flamenco, Yaelisa has established her company school in the San Francisco and greater Bay Area where she, company members and Spanish guest artists offer a comprehensive program of flamenco dance and music training for students at all levels. With a reputation of training a new generation of dancers and musicians, the school attracts students of all socio-economic and racial backgrounds from throughout California, as well as visiting foreign students from Europe and Asia. Dancers are chosen or auditioned to become members of Caminos Flamencos, and pre-professional students are given opportunities to perform with members of Caminos Flamencos at several public presentations throughout the year.
About The Artistic Director - Yaelisa
During the last twelve years, Yaelisa has spent extensive periods of time living and performing in Spain, presenting her choreography there and in the U.S. Her choreographies have been commissoned by several modern dance companies, including John Malashock & Company, Rose Polsky and Collage Dance Theatre. In 1995 she was one of 11 choreographers in Spain invited to present a piece at the prestigious Certamen de Coreografia in Madrid, and the only American choreographer chosen among them. In 1996 she returned to the U.S. where she continues to choreograph, develop and train dancers for her company. Creating innovative theatrical presentations has established her as a choreographer of merit; she is the recipient of an Emmy Award for Choreography in 1993 for the PBS program, "Desde Cadiz a Sevilla," and a Choreography Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1996.
About The Music Director - Jason McGuire "El Rubio"
Jason McGuire "El Rubio" has become synonymous with flamenco despite his Irish/American heritage. With over 30 years playing experience and concerts from coast to coast he has been for many years the guitarist other professional players come to help learn and hone their craft. As Musical Director of the award winning flamenco dance company Caminos Flamencos as well as Musical Director for "The New World Flamenco Festival," Jason has shared the stage with some of the top flamenco artists in the world today as well as other legendary performers like Carlos Santana, Savion Glover and Wynton Marsalis to name a few. Along with his Emmy Award winning wife, flamenco dance extraordinaire Yaelisa, the two have forged the path for authentic as well as experimental flamenco through their groundbreaking productions. Jason's album "Distancias" has received much critical acclaim and his compositions have been compared to some of Spain's most important guitarists. Jason is endorsed by D'Addario Strings, Stephen Faulk Guitars, Glenn Canin Guitars and Ethan Deutsch Guitars.
"When I first heard Jason play guitar, I was in awe of his talent and the fluidity of his style. He has an incredible knowledge of flamenco combined with an electic modern fusion jazz sensibility. His melodic and rhythmic sense spun my head around and I wanted to hear MORE! He is unique in a world of a million guitarists." - Grammy Nominated Engineer/Producer, Cookie Marenco
"I love the passion Jason McGuire puts in his music and guitar playing. He has nice energy reflecting from his guitar with excellent technique and crispy sound. I enjoy his music and compositions a lot." Nuevo Flamenco Legend, Armik
"When he plays I feel as though I am back in Spain performing with my family and friends. His playing is so strong and powerful it is like three guitars playing at once." Gypsy Flamenco Singer, Jesus Montoya "El Genio Gitano"