Twin Cities Flamenco Collective w/ Pepele Mendez, La Rhina & Elena la Aceituna

Twin Cities Flamenco Collective inspires audiences through its passionate and soulful expressions of Flamenco music and dance along with guest artists from all around the world. This is part of TCFC's monthly residency at Icehouse MPLS.

ARTISTS:
Pepele Méndez (Guest singer from Jerez, Spain)
La Rhina (Guest dancer from Seville, Spain)
Elena La Aceituna (Guest dancer)
Ross “El Vecino” (Flamenco guitarist)
Sachiko “La Chayí” (Flamenco dancer)
Eva Makiko (Flamenco dancer)
La Gracia (Flamenco dancer)

4PM DOORS
5PM SHOW

$20 ADVANCE
$25 AT THE DOOR

Twin Cities Flamenco Collective is a group of Flamenco musicians and dancers based in the Twin Cities, MN. It brings the essence of the art and culture of Flamenco to the Midwest. The members are guitarist Ross “El Vecino", dancers Sachiko “La Chayí”, Eva Makiko and La Gracia. For more information. visit www.facebook.com/twincitiesflamenco

Pepele Méndez was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain into the legendary Méndez clan, a dynasty of singers from La Plazuela. Pepele is a direct descendant of La Paquera de Jerez and of the festero El Pili. As a child, he learned the art of flamenco at home listening to great artists such as "el Torta", Manuel Moneo, his cousins Paca and Manuela Méndez among others. Soaking in the presence of these amazing artists and without knowing it, Pepele learned the cante and his ancient art that is flamenco.

La Rhina started her flamenco 25 years ago in Atlanta, GA. Since 2013, she bases her home in Seville, Spain and works in peñas, Ferias, private fiestas, festivals and theaters. Over the years, her teaching career and performance opportunities have grown and widened beyond the US and Spain: to Japan, France and Singapore etc. Highlights of her most recent work include: 52th Festival de Cante Grande en Casabermeja (2023), XXX Palma de Plata Algeciras y Festival de Jerez en la Peña Bulerías (2022). She won the first prize in the Concurso de baile por Bulerias in Utrera (2021). Other related work includes dancing for the opera Carmen directed by Seiji Ozawa in 5 major cities in Japan, under the directions of NU based choreographer, Sara Erde and New York Metropolitan Opera Stage director, David Kneuss.

Elena La Aceituna was born to Spanish parents in NYC. She began her Flamenco career over 40 years ago learning castanets and dance and performing with The Raquel Peña Spanish Dance Company in Washington DC. She performed at the Wolf Trap Amphitheater in Virginia, the Ford’s Theatre and Kennedy Center in DC …“back in the day“. She took 25 years off from dance to raise her family in FL. Finding flamenco once again in Minneapolis, she became a company member of Minneapolis based Anda Flamenco Company and continues to advance her skills by attending the annual Flamenco Festival de Jerez, Spain as well as numerous workshops in MN, FL, and MA.