GALA Hispanic Theatre’s groundbreaking new season was topped off November 5, 2021, by a full-house opening of Salvador performed by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company as part one of the two-weekend Fuego Flamenco Festival.
The company’s namesake and mentor Edwin and the talented protégé Ricardo “El Nino” Osario Ruiz in the role of a young Edwin were the highlights of the show.
GALA was one of the first Washington theaters to reopen their doors in 2020, and their commitment paid off with a nearly full house and political luminaries such as DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson being thanked for contributions to complete the restoration of the theater’s historic ceiling.
Ana Harvey, CEO of the HarveyHudson Group; Chairman Phil Mendelsohn; and GALA Executive Director Rebecca Medrano.
Edwin Aparicio was joined by his husband and Artistic Co-Director Aleksey Kulikov in a spirited partners dance during the cast’s encore.
Edwin Aparicio and Aleksey Kulikov.
The performance included guest dancer Noura Sander courtesy of the Washington Ballet.
Edwin Aparicio was joined by Noura Sander, keyboardist Gonzalo Grau, dancer Ricardo “El Nino” Ruiz, and co-director Aleksey Kulikov during the encore.
Ensemble dancers Cosima Amelang, Mariana Gatto-Duran, and Catherine Irwin are joined by percussionist Francisco “Yiyi” Orozco, singer Ampara Herdia, “La Remompilla,” Edwin Aparicio, and Noura Sander.
GALA Producing Artistic Director Hugo Medrano presents flowers from well-wishers.
The full cast and creative team of the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company.
The GALA lobby was transformed into a Salvadoran Art Gallery with miniature images of urban life by Hugo Martinez Acuna, which will be on sale through the flamenco festival’s run.
Performances of Salvador continue on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 8 pm and Sunday, November 7 at 2 pm. For more information and to purchase tickets ($25–$48 plus fees) call 202-234-7174 or go online to www.galatheatre.org. Next weekend the festival continues with De paso from Sara Pérez Dance Company.
GALA’s COVID Safety Policy is here.
SEE ALSO:
GALA’s flamenco festival begins with a dramatic gem in ‘Salvador’ (review by Susan Galbraith)
Photographs copyright © 2021 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes.
