“Imagenes del Oriente” is Magical!

“A multicultural smash, Café de Chinitas is an unforgettable East-meets-West spectacle.” – Gail Johnson, Georgia Straight

Moving through the crowded candlelit street “Calle Chinitas” in front of the café, it was hard to ignore the
buzz of excitement and expectation. Already a highly acclaimed show in the theatre, Café de Chinitas was
coming home to the intimate ambiance of a café setting
where Flamenco belongs. Finally, this vibrant nuanced
work would be performed where it could really sizzle,
where audience could truly share the same space as the performers and feel the floor tremble. Flamenco at its
best is an interactive art form that involves both the performers and audience emotionally and physically, inviting participation in the form of “jaleos” or shouts of encouragement.

As the guests squeezed into the café, the sense of anticipation became even more palpable.

We were not disappointed. The performance was outstanding. The audience response was immediate and enthusiastic. Dancers weaved through the audience to reach the stage where they performed with breathtaking fluidity. The melodic, ethereal strains of The Orchid Ensemble combined with the plaintive earthy flamenco music to create an uncannily beautiful musical pas-de-deux. The performers were so close to the audience that we could reach out and touch them. Instead, they touched us with their polished yet accessible performance. We could not help but be caught up in this sensuous net.

For more information on the event, the numbers performed, and those involved please view the program.

Thanks to the vision of Café de Chinitas director
Kasandra La China and producer Edie Orenstein, and
the collaboration of Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre (Artistic Director Oscar Nieto, Guitarist Peter Mole), the Orchid Ensemble and the Mozaico Dancers, the audience was spellbound from beginning to end. Mozaico Flamenco engaged the audience from its dramatic theatrical opening of Café de Chinitas to the traditional pure Flamenco forms performed by directors Kasandra La China and Oscar
Nieto, including the intense Petenera and fiery Solea por Buleria. The program took on a kaleidoscope of colours in vignettes infused with Cuban, Arabic and Andalucian influences, showcasing a surprisingly varied artistic vocabulary. The evening was characterized by challenging, innovative choreography performed with passion and integrity. Mozaico Flamenco has a long history of multicultural experimentation and continues to chart new territory in the relationship between dance and music by unexpectedly fusing Oriental music with contemporary Flamenco sounds. The Orchid Ensemble enchanted the audience with haunting Asian melodies rooted in ancient Chinese tradition. The original score, composed by
flamenco guitarist Peter Mole, provided a rich background upon which the Orchid Ensemble could weave a tapestry
of oriental melodies and harmonies to set a sultry mood to create the atmosphere.

Photo Gallery of the Café de Chinitas Event

Café de Chinitas Videos

Tags: Cafe de Chinitas, dance music, Edie Hats, Flamenco, fusion, Kasandra La China, Mozaico Flamenco, Orchid Ensemble, Oscar Nieto, Peter Mole