Arte y Pureza

continued

So it's a pleasure to see that the Ark is bringing to town the Arte y Pureza Flamenco Company, a group of Spanish performers mixed with some young Californians who sought them out for instruction. The lead dancer is San Diego-born Cihtli Ocampo, "La Gallardi," who went to Spain on a Fulbright scholarship in 1999 and stayed on to apprentice herself to one of the tight-knit families that pass the tradition along in Spain. The Spaniards — singer Maria Peña, guitarist Antonio Moya, and dancer-singers Luis Peña and Javier Heredia — are Andalusians of Gypsy descent. It should be the real deal.

And maybe Ark management will sell some of their liquor memberships when Arte y Pureza arrives on Tuesday, February 7. Maybe they'll even lay in some Spanish wine at the bar.

[Review published February 2006]