Back by popular demand! Join us for an encore presentation of Antigona, December 11 - January 23 at West Park Presbyterian Church in New York City. Nominated for two Bessie Awards and featuring Soledad Barrio, who was recently announced as a 2015 Dance Magazine Award honoree, this is a show you don't want to miss (or might want to see again).

The idea to create a flamenco interpretation of the text and themes in Sophocles' Antigone began when Noche Flamenca's Artistic Director Martín Santangelo encountered the Living Theatre's production of the classic play and was struck by the battle between an individual, disenfranchised woman and the authority of the state and its patriarchy. The idea resurfaced in 2010 when judge Baltasar Garzon was suspended from the Spanish court for his efforts to publicly honor those who fought against Franco, allowing families to bury their relatives previously left in mass graves. This breach of democracy struck Santangelo as similar to the conflict in Antigone, confirming his belief that the story is alive and relevant today. At its heart, however, the story of Antigone resonates with the roots of flamenco, which is based not in any one culture or region, but on the strength of family. Antigone's story is her humanity and her quest to bury her brother, regardless of the circumstances.

The themes in Antigona include catharsis, issues of dictatorship, repression, loss, the strength of family, and female empowerment; strong themes not only in Sophacles, but also in flamenco, all of which Barrio, in particular, is keenly aware of. Her mother's family lived through the dictatorship of Franco's Spain, surviving desperate hunger and civil war, yet proved themselves to be far stronger than their male counterparts. Barrio grew up with all of this in her blood and as one of the most powerful artists living today, in any genre, is ideally positioned to embody all of this in her performance. Antigone was the first female heroine written for the stage. She was not afraid to show her strength, her pain, and her passion, all attributes that are deep at the heart of flamenco.

Noche Flamenca's Antigona
December 11 - January 23
West Park Presbyterian Church
165 West 86th Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 362-4890
www.westparkpresbyterian.org
Ticket prices:
Premium: $60
Standard: $45
Value: $40
Obstructed View: $25

Soledad Barrio