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Melissa Cruz Flamenco
June 3 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
FreeA Latina flamenco dancer dressed in a black and white dress with a white shawl. Her arms are thrown above her head as she dances on the wooden panels near a Bay Area pier. The blue skies and waters provide a sharp contrast behind her.
Even on a flamenco scene boasting a flamboyant array of talent, Melissa Cruz stands out with her emotional intensity and crisp, beautifully articulated steps.
Rooted in the hard-scrabble soil of Andalusia, the art form grew out of the medieval convergence of Gitano, Jewish, Spanish and Moorish culture. Accompanied by guitar, vocals and percussive half-clapping called “palmas,” flamenco dancers use sharp, dynamic movement, dramatic footwork and striking lines to express a wide range of themes.