Flamenco Arts International
Songs From a Sinking Ship
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 8pm
Performance Sponsor:
City of Irvine
Expected Duration: 75 minutes without an intermission.
The show includes flashing lights and haze.
ARTISTIC DIRECTION: Isabel del Día & Marina Elana
CO-CREATOR/DIRECTOR: José Maldonado
MUSICAL DIRECTOR and ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS: Eugenio Iglesias
ORIGINAL CONCEPT: Yvonne Zhang
CAST
Marina Elana as LA AZAFATA
Eugenio Iglesias as EL PÍLOTO
Juan José Amador as EL MARINERO
El Torombo as EL MECÁNICO
Reyes Martín as MADAME PESCADORA
David Chupete as EL PIRATA
Teresa Hernández as LA SIRENA
Carlos Menchaca as EL CADETE
CHOREOGRAPHY
Carlos Menchaca, Marina Elana, and El Torombo
PERCUSSION and SOUNDSCAPES
David Chupete
PRODUCTION
Production Management and Lighting Design: S. Benjamin Farrar
Set Design: Catalina Niño
Technical Director and Set Build: Adam Puglielli
Stage Manager: Johanna Romo
Projection Designer: David Murakami
Projectionist: Morgan Embry
Audio Engineer: Frank Bianco
Costume Design: Belén de la Quintana
LA BIENVENIDA/ WELCOME
The Company
OMEN ABANDOLAO
Eugenio Iglesias, Teresa Hernández
PESCADORA PICARONA
Reyes Martín, Eugenio Iglesias
CUT THE DECK
El Torombo, Juan José Amador,
David Chupete
TREADING WATER
Carlos Menchaca and The Company
RESCATE/ RESCUE
Teresa Hernández, Marina Elana
TEATRILLO/ A BIT OF THEATRE
The Company
LA TORMENTA/ THE STORM
The Company
LA SIRENA/ THE SIREN
Teresa Hernández
RENACER/ REBIRTH
The Company
EL FARO/ THE LIGHT
Marina Elana and The Company
NUEVO CAMINO/ A NEW PATH
The Company
LETRA / LYRIC
Fui piedra
Perdí mi centro
And I was cast into the sea
Me arrojaron al mar
But with time, al cabo de mucho tiempo
Mi centro vine a encontrar
To see if in a new world
I might find more truth
Inspired by two traditional flamenco lyrics— One of the most recognized letras of solea and a petenera popularized Pastora Pavón.
ABOUT FLAMENCO ARTS INTERNATIONAL (FAI)
At Flamenco Arts International, we want people to experience flamenco like never before. We’re a women-founded, San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) organization with roots in New York City and Spain. We create transformative, innovative experiences that both celebrate the legacy of flamenco and explore the possibilities of the art form. By combining unexpected technology with a diverse community of impassioned artists, our goal is to not only honor where flamenco came from – but also look to the future of where it is going.
SPECIAL THANKS
Walter Haas, Mitchell Dufanal, Yaelisa, Adela Clara, Factoría Cultural (Sevilla), Chelsea Factory NYC, La Aceitera & Rocío Molina, The Walter & Evelyn Haas Foundation, Jorge Pérez and Ensemble Español, Carola Zertuche and Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
MARINA ELANA (FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR). Hailed as a “dancer of distinction” by The New York Times, Marina Elana has spent the past twenty years performing alongside artists such as Pastora Galván, Juan José Amador, and El Torombo. She began her flamenco studies with Adela Clara and launched her career with Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, La Mónica, and Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos before touring nationally and internationally for over a decade with Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca. Marina has presented her choreography at Jacob’s Pillow, the New York International Fringe Festival, the Queensboro Dance Festival, and Stanford University. Her production Tattooed, created with Fanny Ara and Yaelisa, premiered at the historic Presidio Theatre in San Francisco to critical acclaim and was praised by dance critic Rene Renouf as “one of the most effective flamenco performances I have ever seen.”
In 2023, Marina co-founded Flamenco Arts International with Isabel del Día. Their inaugural production, Songs from a Sinking Ship, has received widespread acclaim and was nominated for three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Direction/Choreography, Outstanding Achievement in Performance—Company, and a Special Honoree award for “exceptional artistry that belied the company's size, featuring a highly creative concept paired with masterful choreography and original music. The entire ensemble—dancers, singers, and musicians alike—delivered top-notch performances demonstrating remarkable caliber of work.”
ISABEL DEL DÍA (FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) is an Izzie-nominated artist and innovator who harnesses the power of flamenco to build bridges. Proudly Latina, Isabel was born and raised in NYC and has danced alongside Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, Alejandro Granados, and Carmen Ledesma, to name a few. Through collaborations with NY City Center and the NYC Department of Education, Isabel has worked as a Teaching Artist and Curriculum Developer to bring hands-on flamenco experiences to tens of thousands of students, with a particular focus on increasing access for immigrant populations and students with disabilities throughout NYC’s public schools. In addition to FAI, Isabel currently serves on the Board of Directors for Mi Centro BK— a multilingual cultural center in the heart of BedStuy, Brooklyn, that celebrates art, activism, and community.
JOSÉ MALDONADO (CO-CREATOR AND DIRECTOR). Born in Barcelona, José Maldonado connected with flamenco at an early age, embracing it as both an art form and a way of life. Throughout his professional career, José has worked with some of flamenco’s greatest figures, including Javier Latorre, Antonio Canales, El Güito, Rafaela Carrasco, Rocío Molina, and María Pagés, among many others. José is considered a versatile and multifaceted artist, capable of blending flamenco and dance naturally while maintaining a distinctive artistic voice. He is a two-time first prize winner at the Madrid Choreographic Contest for his choreographies Mojácar (2013) and Trigo Limpio (2015). Maldonado has also worked with Guadalupe Torres and Manuel Liñán, serving as assistant director and choreographer. He premiered his first full-length work, Andrea, in 2014. In 2016, he collaborated with Antonio Canales and Carmen Angulo to create Bodegón, a production that fused dance, Baroque music, and painting with flamenco.
EUGENIO IGLESIAS (MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND GUITARIST) is a Romani guitarist and descendant of a long lineage of artists who helped create and preserve flamenco. His great-uncle, El Mechor de Marchena, performed with La Niña de los Peines, Manuel Torre, Manolo Caracol, and Antonio Mairena, and is considered one of the finest accompanists in flamenco history. Eugenio began playing professionally at a very young age, working in all the major tablaos of Seville. He has toured with numerous companies, sharing the stage with Antonio Canales, Farruco, Farruquito, El Güito, La Tona, Javier Barón, Sara Baras, Manuela Carrasco, Israel Galván, Mario Maya, and Angelita Vargas.
He has also accompanied many of Spain’s greatest flamenco singers, including Lole Montoya, La Negra, Chiquetete, La Susi, Carmen Montoya, Juan Villar, Argentina, and El Potito, among many others.
JUAN JOSÉ AMADOR (SINGER) was born in Seville into a family with a rich flamenco tradition. From an early age, he worked in the renowned tablaos Los Gallos and El Arenal, where he gained considerable experience and established himself as one of the most respected and prolific singers for dance in the flamenco world. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of accompanying emblematic flamenco figures such as Mario Maya, Manuela Carrasco, Farruco, Matilde Coral, and Cristina Hoyos, among others. He is also a cousin of the Amador brothers, known for their group Pata Negra, and collaborated on their second album, contributing his voice and artistry. He has also recorded with renowned guitarists such as Rafael Riqueni and Paco Cepero. Juan José remains one of the most sought-after singers for flamenco dance and an important reference for lovers of the art form.
EL TOROMBO (DANCER). José Suárez “El Torombo” is a Romani educator, activist, and living flamenco legend. He began his career at the age of seven, training with masters Pepe Ríos, Isidro Vargas, Farruco, and Mario Maya. It was Farruco who gave him the nickname “El Torombo.” His reputation as a dancer is matched by his impact as an educator and community activist. Torombo is a trailblazer, one of the first artists to bring flamenco into prisons and to introduce the art form to students with disabilities in Spain. He is also the founder of the Fuera de Serie Project, which provides new pathways of empowerment and artistic expression for adolescents and young people from underserved communities.
REYES MARTÍN (SINGER) was born in Cádiz, Spain. At the age of 14, she began her solo career, moving to Madrid, where she performed alongside flamenco icons such as Antonio Canales and El Güito. She later joined various flamenco companies, including Ballet Rafael Aguilar’s opera Carmen (Germany, Italy); Joaquín Cortés’ LIVE (Mexico, Panama, Austria, England, Germany, Sweden); and the Flamenco Ballet of Andalucía under the direction of Cristina Hoyos (New York, Poland, China, Chile, Cuba, London), to name a few. For the past 11 years, Reyes has worked as a singer with El Barrio on all of his tours and productions. El Barrio is the only artist to date to have filled the Palacio de Deportes de Madrid 17 consecutive times. He has also sold out the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona 11 times.
DAVID CHUPETE (PERCUSSION AND SOUNDSCAPES). Born in Osuna, Seville, David studied at the Triana Conservatory of Music and earned a degree in Music Education from the University of Seville. He has been a member of the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, performing under Rubén Olmo alongside artists such as Antonio Canales, Pastora Galván, and Rocío Molina in Metáfora and Llanto. He also performed with Patricia Guerrero’s company in Catedral and Distopía. A frequent collaborator with early music ensembles such as La Academia del Piacere (Fahmi Alqhai) and Euskal Barrokensemble (Enrike Solinís), he currently performs as a guest musician in La Bella Otero with the Ballet Nacional de España and is a core member of the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía under Patricia Guerrero. Throughout his career, he has accompanied flamenco legends including Chiquetete, El Lebrijano, Lole Montoya, Arcángel, Pedro El Granaíno, and Rocío Márquez, among many others.
CARLOS ANDRÉS MENCHACA (DANCER) is a Chicanx dancer and choreographer who blends traditional, avant-garde, and quotidian modalities to challenge gender norms and conventions in flamenco. Touring with esteemed flamenco companies, Carlos has performed throughout the United States at venues such as The Joyce Theater, Z Space, and The Public Theater (NYC), and internationally in cities including Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Vancouver (Chan Centre), and Sölden, Austria. In 2023, Carlos broke barriers performing as a principal dancer with Yjastros’ Xicano Power at the Festival de Jerez (Spain), becoming part of the first U.S.-based company featured at the esteemed festival. Most recently, Carlos was selected by the City of Albuquerque’s Urban Enhancement Trust Fund to choreograph a series focused on collaboration among local, intergenerational artists.
YVONNE ZHANG (ORIGINAL CONCEPT) is a writer-director whose stories are rooted in early memories of her mother’s nightly visions of death. She draws on traditions of magical realism, weaving dream logic into modern lives mediated through screens and virtual worlds. Her short CARRION (2022) screened at festivals worldwide, including SFFILM, PÖFF Shorts, and Tampere Film Festival, where it was awarded Best Genre Film. Her second film, SWEETWATER AQUARIUM (2024), played at Vienna Shorts, London Short Film Festival, and the Norwegian Short Film Festival, where it was awarded the Golden Chair for Best International Short. Yvonne holds an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute, where she received fellowships from BAFTA, Fulbright Program, AFI, American Association of University Women, and P.E.O. International. She is a BAFTA Connect member and is developing her first feature through the 2025 TorinoFilmLab ScriptLab. Yvonne is currently Filmmaker-in-Residence at Somerset House, London.
S. BENJAMIN FARRAR (PRODUCTION MANAGER AND LIGHTING DESIGNER) is a designer of light, scenery, and projections for live performance. Benjamin has worked throughout North America in venues such as The Majestic Theatre in Boston; White Bird in Portland; McCarter Theatre in Princeton; Williams College’s ’62 Center; Z Space in San Francisco; Meany Center in Seattle; The Royal Conservatory in Toronto; and Wolf Trap in Virginia. Venues in New York City include The Public Theater, The Joyce Theater, New Victory Theater, Cherry Lane Theatre, Connelly Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Lincoln Center, and The Lucille Lortel Theatre. He has also designed for venues in Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates. Benjamin is now proudly Iowa-based, where he has worked with Riverside Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Nolte Productions, Grinnell College, Cornell College, Hancher Auditorium, The Englert Theatre, Brucemore, Revival Theatre Company, and Orchestra Iowa. He is currently the resident scenic, lighting, and projection designer for Theatre Cedar Rapids and a guest artist at Grinnell College. You can find more at farrardesign.live.
CATALINA NIÑO (SET DESIGNER) is proud to be making her design debut in dance with Flamenco Arts International. Currently, she is designing the set for A Jukebox for the Algonquin at Citadel Theatre Company in Chicago. Recent credits include Dear Elizabeth with Remy Bumppo Theatre Company in Chicago; Seussical the Musical and Es Una Vida Maravillosa at Shakespeare Napa Valley; The 2024 Go To New Play Festival with Go To Productions in Chicago; The Mousetrap at Citadel Theatre Company; Dot and the Kangaroo with Bravo Performing Arts in Oak Park; St. Sebastian with Refracted Theatre Company in Chicago; and Water by the Spoonful at San Francisco Playhouse. Other credits include The Berkeley Playhouse, Los Altos Stage Company, San José Children’s Musical Theater, and The Custom Made Theatre Company, among others. Catalina is also a teaching artist with Snow City Arts in Chicago. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, she earned her BA in Visual Arts in France and her MFA in Set Design in the Bay Area before relocating to the Chicago area. Visit: www.catalinanino.com
ADAM PUGLIELL (TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND SET BUILD) is the co-owner of Rooster Productions, a union scene shop based in Richmond, California. Rooster’s arts clients include the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Festival Opera, Marin Shakespeare Company, Western Ballet, Liss Fain Dance, Mark Foehringer Dance Project SF, and San Jose Opera, to name a few. In the tradeshow and experiential space, clients include Apple, Google, Blue Revolver, Grow Marketing, and other national brands. Adam began his career in set construction as a teenager at the Little Vine Street Theater in Cincinnati. He studied Architectural Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and later pursued Technical Direction and Production at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He is ETCP certified in both Arena Rigging and Theatre Rigging and developed the stagecraft curriculum for the Berkeley High School CTE program. Outside of work, Adam is a fine carpenter and an avid sailor, spending time aboard tall ships around the world.
DAVID MURAKAMI (PROJECTION DESIGN) is a projection designer and film director who navigates the urgent needs of the arts in challenging political, cultural, and economic times. His designs have been seen on five continents and include Ainadamar at Opéra de Montréal; American Idiot and Zoot Suit at the Mark Taper Forum; Das Rheingold at Seattle Opera; The Shining and La Belle et la Bête with Opera Parallèle; Rigoletto with Pacific Symphony; Figures of Speech with Alonzo King LINES Ballet; and several musicals aboard Princess Cruises’ flagship Royal-class vessels. Other companies include Atlanta Opera, Berkshire Theatre Group, Calgary Opera, Celebration Theatre, Dallas Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, East West Players, LA Opera, LINES Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Presidio Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre Company, Riyadh Season, Seattle Opera, SFJAZZ, Skylight Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Syracuse Stage, and Virginia Opera. www.davidmurakami.com
MORGAN EMBRY (PROJECTIONIST) is a designer and creative director currently based in Los Angeles, California. She received her BA in Dance from The University of Alabama and her MFA in Lighting Design from the University of California, Irvine. She designs for dance, opera, and theatre, acting as resident lighting designer for Willing Kompany and Festival Ballet Theatre, and projection designer for CounterBalance Theatre. She is also a production designer for live music, with Vance Joy, Bryce Vine, Lauren Spencer Smith, Pixel Grip, and SWISS among the many collaborators she regularly creates with. Morgan is excited for this opportunity to collaborate with fellow artists and creators. For more information about Morgan’s work, visit www.morganembry.com
FRANK BIANCO (AUDIO ENGINEER) is an audio engineer with over 15 years of experience specializing in live sound reinforcement, mixing a variety of shows including touring concerts, theatre, and corporate events. Currently, Frank works full-time as an Audio Specialist at Pier 57 in New York City.
JOHANNA SOPHIA ROMO (STAGE MANAGER) (she/her) is a project and theatrical stage manager based in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Her work expands across entertainment fields such as theatre, dance, opera, company management, and film and television. Recent professional work includes West Side Story and La Bohème at the Los Angeles Opera. Other companies include the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Boston Lyric Opera, Center Theatre Group, Disney+, Music Academy of the West, Opera Southwest, Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT), The Wayward Artist, and South Coast Repertory.