The dancers, musicians and singers of Forever Flamenco! have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences for over two decades with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco! returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture. A roster of internationally renowned flamenco artists will pay tribute to Los Angeles flamenco pioneer Roberto Amaral on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.

Forever Flamenco! at the Ford will celebrate Amaral's seminal 49-year career with performances by bailaores/as (dancers) Roberto Amaral, Fanny Ara, Manuel Gutiérrez, Pamela Lourant, Timo Nuñez, Mizuho Sato, Yaelisa and Ryan Zermeño; cantaores (singers) Antonio de Jerez and Jesus Montoya; guitarristas (guitarists) Adam del Monte, Jason McGuire "El Rubio," José Tanaka and Antonio Triana; and percusionista (percussionist) Joey Heredia. Watch for more surprise artists, as well as guests and dignitaries honoring the accomplishments and contributions made by Amaral to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.

"Roberto is a flamenco visionary with a trademark style," comments Forever Flamenco! producer Deborah Lawlor. "As he continually strives to find new and refreshing approaches to the form, he has also found an enormous sense of gratification and pride in his dedication to teach and mentor others. Many of his former students and protégés have gone on to become stars in their own right."

The Fountain's Forever Flamenco! series has been called "the city's preeminent flamenco series" by the Los Angeles Times and "L.A.'s most significant venue for flamenco" by the LA Weekly. Working Author designates it "the rarest of treats… for both connoisseur and novice alike, Forever Flamenco! offers the opportunity to luxuriate in the incendiary passions of flamenco." Dance writer Debra Levine says, "Performances feature superb gypsy guitarists and singers. Do you enjoy seeing the body in spellbinding motion? Great artistic individuality? Live music? Then go," and Stage and Cinema's Tony Frankel writes, "Thrilling, sexy and sensuous."

Forever Flamenco! at the Ford takes place on Saturday, Aug. 9. Doors open for picnicking at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Reserved seating is $50 and $75; VIP tickets, which include preferred seating, pre-concert private VIP catered party with artists and a gift bag, are available for $100. Purchase tickets on or before Aug. 2 and save $5. Tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or (323) 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 8 or more, please call (323) 769-2147.

Photo © & courtesy of Bruce Bisenz

Photo © & courtesy of Bruce Bisenz

Photo © & courtesy of Bruce Bisenz