New Moon with Luna Flamenca

The new moon moves us to the next lunar cycle and allows us to start over, pressing our own start button. Luna Flamenca Dance Company invites you to embrace this powerful lunar transition with them. We connect with this new moon and provoke new movements, new sounds, new feelings and new expressions that only belong to this present moment. What is your intention for this new moon? Luna Flamenca Dance Company is founded and directed by Lakshmi Basile “La Chimi” and includes artists Briseyda Zárate, Oscar Valero and Jose Manuel Alconchel.

Lakshmi Basile ‘La Chimi’, (1982)

Winner of the two most important national awards for flamenco dance in Spain; Concurso de las Minas de La Unión and the Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba, in 2011. She has received stunning reviews from flamenco critics; “-un desgarrador homenaje a los románticos de lo jondo…” (a heartwrenching homage to the romantics of pure flamenco) Alberto García Reyes, ABC; and from the famous poet Félix Grande: “...su baile es de una alegría conquistada...”. Over a fifteen year period, La Chimi solidly founded her career in Sevilla Spain, the cradle of flamenco, performing daily as a soloist and sharing stages with legendary flamenco artists. She is now currently residing in San Diego and travels to Spain yearly to continue her work in both countries.

Briseyda Zárate is an inspired and skilled Flamenco Dancer, Choreographer & Teacher based in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in a Mexican campesino household in Delano, CA. surrounded by music – her father and uncles guitarists, her mother and grandmother singers. She began dancing and singing at the age of 5 and has dedicated the last 25 years of her life to Flamenco. Briseyda has lived and performed at length in Spain and is among the few in the top-most level of those practicing this art form in the United States. Her career highlights include performing nightly in the Madrileño tablaos, El Cafe de Chinitas, El Juglar, and the Peña Flamenca Los Cabales. Briseyda now splits her time between LA and Spain and currently directs her Company and produces her Flamenco dance series in LA entitled “Noches De Tablao”.

Oscar Valero Growing up in Valencia, Spain, the multitalented and versatile Flamenco dancer, Choreographer, Singer, Percussionist and Guitarist Oscar Valero currently divides his time and artistry equally between the United States and his native Spain. Oscar began studying flamenco and classical Spanish dance as a child. By the age of seventeen, he was performing professionally with various companies in Spain. In 1998-2000, Oscar became a soloist with the Antonio Canales Flamenco Company and was featured in the company’s productions of Gitano, Torero, Bengues, Raíz a Cuerda yTacón. Since Oscar moved to San Diego he has been performing at different venues locally on a regular basis as well as holding a workshop for professionals and semi-professional flamenco dancers. Oscar is also a part time Professor in the Dance department of UCSD University in San Diego. He continues to travel through the United States as an invited artist and choreographer.

Jose Manuel Alconchel, Jose, was born and raised in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He is the son of singer Pepe Alconchel. At the early age of 9, Jose began playing the guitar with Jose Luis Balao and Manuel Lozano “El Carbonero”. He continued his studies with the great guitarist Gerardo Nunez and won an award for best accompanist in the Flamenco Guitar contest in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz (1997). In 2005, he became part of the Spanish dance group “ Raices” directed by Susana Vasco, who’s work combined flamenco and fusion performances. In his professional career, he has played in Nina Pastori’s album “ Entre Dos Puertos”, and collaborated and worked with artists such as Merche Esmeralda, Manuel Reyes, Maria Juncal, and more. He has worked in v