Compania Flamenco Jose Porcel to Perform as Part of M&T Bank Dance Series

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Compañia Flamenco José Porcel at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. The performance is sponsored by M&T Bank.

A flamenco performance gives the spectator an overwhelming sensation of happiness, a joyful and sensual mood that no other form of dance is capable of evoking. Flamenco is an explosion of rhythms, colors and emotions that contains all of the vitality and passion of the Spanish people. The origins of flamenco are uncertain, but it is believed that flamenco singing and dancing originated in Andalucia toward the 15th century.

Compañia Flamenco José Porcel was founded in Madrid, Spain, and is among the premier dance troupes that exhibits this exciting art form. The company brings this tradition to life vibrantly and colorfully with live musicians, vocalists and dancers, and has delighted audiences around the world for many years.

José Porcel was born in Sevilla and at the age of 13 began dancing Andalucian folkloric dances and flamenco in cultural centers in Valencia. He made his professional debut with the Ballet de Valencia in 1989.

In 2000 he danced as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In the same year he was contracted as the first dancer in the Compańía Espańola de Antonio Márquez, performing on tour around the world and at the "pera de París for more than 20 sold-out performances, followed by a critically acclaimed tour of the United States.

This performance is one of the featured events during the University at Buffalo's "True Blue Weekend" (Oct. 16-19). Students, prospective students, alumni, families, and the community at large are invited to a special fall weekend that is unprecedented in UB history. For more information visit http://www.buffalo.edu/trueblueweekend.

Tickets for Compañia Flamenco José Porcel are $18 general admission, students $10 and groups $15. Tickets are available in the Center for the Arts Box Office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all Ticketmaster locations including ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 716-852-5000, in Canada, call 416-870-8000. For group sales, call 716-645-6771. For more information call 716-645-2787. Students (of any school) must present valid student ID at the Center for the Arts Box Office to receive discount.