Noche Flamenca: "Searching for Goya"

“Now and into the future, Goya’s art will continue to engage those who seek the essence of human being” - Mark McDonald, Curator, Goya’s Graphic Imagination, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Inspired by the transformative drawings and paintings of Francisco de Goya, Noche Flamenca’s new work references the prolific Spanish artist’s response to the political turmoil and injustices of 18th and 19th century Spain, echoing the ignorance and conflict prevalent in our own time.

Choreographed by Artistic Director Martin Santangelo and award-winning principal dancer Soledad Barrio, Searching for Goya features a company of dancers, singers and musicians whose mastery of flamenco stretches the boundaries of the art form with a theatricality that engages the audience and takes them on a journey through Goya’s imagination.

Noche Flamenca was formed by Marti?n Santangelo and his Bessie award-winning wife Soledad Barrio who had a desire to keep alive the authentic form of flamenco. Flamenco has mesmerized audiences for centuries and, now, the riveting performances of Noche Flamenca continue to cast them in its spell.  When talking about flamenco, so many of us just think about the dance. However, the performance is rooted in live music, too. The music, generally featuring a guitar, can be accompanied with the percussion of a box (cajón), castanets, hand clapping, and a very specific style of singing. “There has been no company I have been so glad to discover as Noche Flamenca and, above all, its lead dancer, Soledad Barrio. I can think of no current ballet star in the world as marvelous as she.”— Alistair Macaulay, New York Times.

Formed in 1993 by Martín Santangelo and his Bessie award-winning wife, Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca has been hailed by critics everywhere for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances. Born of passion and the desire to present the authentic form of flamenco to audiences throughout the globe, Noche Flamenca is noted for creating a diverse theatrical body of work that expresses the rigorous, spellbinding aesthetic of flamenco that exceeds the highest artistic expectations.

Performance highlights include regular seasons in New York City, including at Lincoln Center, the Joyce Theater, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater and at its home base at the West Park Presbyterian Church. Noche Flamenca also tours extensively across the U.S., throughout Canada, in Europe, the Middle East, Argentina, and Australia.

In support of its mission to educate and enlighten audiences about flamenco, the company offers extensive residency programs and classes that reach out to people of all ages, races, and economic means.

Noche Flamenca has been recognized with awards from the National Dance Project, the MAP Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lucille Lortel Award for Special Theatrical Experience, an exceptional artist award for Soledad Barrio from Dance Magazine, the Vilcek Prize in Dance in 2022 and most recently, a Bessie Award for Outstanding Performer at the Joyce Theatre.