About this event
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October 9, 6:30-8:00pm
$25 General Admission, $20 Museum Member Admission
$150 VIP Table, $120 Member VIP Table (four people)
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Flamenco is a globally recognized art form from southern Spain that blends song, dance, and guitar music. Rooted in the blending of musical traditions between Andalusian Romani immigrants who arrived in Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries and the Moorish Muslim and Sephardic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula, modern flamenco tells stories of emotion, history, and everyday life.
“Aula de Flamenco,” presented by cultural nonprofit and flamenco organization TorcuArt, will combine the lecture format typical of History Happy Hour programs with dynamic live music and dance demonstrations. Learn from ethnomusicologist Dr. José Miguel Hernandez Jaramillo about the rich history of this UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition and experience it firsthand with TorcuArt’s esteemed musicians and dancers.
TorcuArt was established in 2020 to promote classical Flamenco and Spanish Guitar and associated disciplines, including dance, song, poetry and visual arts, in the United States by organizing performances, conferences, workshops and other activities that bring together artists, students and the general public.
Manuel Sanchez is an entrepreneur and seasoned executive with leadership experience across financial services, engineering, renewable energy, and infrastructure. He holds an engineering degree from Comillas Pontifical University and an MBA from IPADE Business School. Flamenco, a vital part of his cultural heritage, has been central to his life from an early age.
Alma Rodriguez, born in Murcia, Spain, began her musical training at age seven at the Superior Conservatory of Murcia. She co-founded the award-winning Skandalo Teatro and later toured internationally with Arena Teatro, performing across Europe and in New York. She holds a degree in acting from the Universidad de Murcia.
Paul Vilmoare is a flamenco guitarist who trained extensively in Spain, immersing himself in flamenco culture and performance in Madrid. He has collaborated with renowned dancers, musicians, and scholars, and has performed widely in both Spain and the United States. He continues to perform and support the flamenco community in the Washington, DC and Baltimore area.
Estela Velez, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a flamenco dancer trained by renowned masters in Spain and the U.S. She is the founder and artistic director of Furia Flamenca Dance Company, a leading flamenco group in the Washington, DC area. In addition to performing, she is an experienced educator teaching at institutions across the region.
Dr. José Miguel Hernandez Jaramillo, born in Seville, Spain, holds a Master’s in Advanced Flamenco Studies and a PhD in Ethnomusicology. He is widely recognized among flamenco practitioners as an authority on flamenco history and traditional styles.
History Happy Hour is a monthly evening program featuring presentations by historians, authors, and subject-matter experts on a wide variety of historical and cultural topics. Light refreshments will be served. VIP tables are served with refreshments and complementary sparkling water.
Sandy Spring Museum, Inc. is supported in part by funding from the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), the Montgomery County Government, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.