Be transported to the barrios and backstreets of Spain as flamenco dancer Jose Porcel and his company of dancers perform evocative and exciting traditional flamenco mixed with some decidedly more contemporary music, moves and looks.

Background:
José Porcel was born in Sevilla, and at the age of thirteen began dancing Andalucian folkloric dances and flamenco in cultural centers in Valencia. He began his dance studies at 16 with the master Martín Vargas. He moved to Madrid and continued his studies with Paco Romero, Isabel Quintero, Cristóbal Reyes, Pedro Azorín and José Granero.

In 1989 he made his professional debut with the Ballet de Valencia,directed by Martín Vargas, and was promoted to soloist in the company the following year. In 1991 Mr. Porcel choreographed his first flamenco work, "Te traigo al sur, Miguel," under the direction of the flamencologist Federico Torres, in the Teatro Principal in Alicante. In 1992 he directed and performed in his first flamenco company, in the Expo de Sevilla.

Within the Ballet Nacional, he worked with masters including José Granero, Victoria Eugenia, Juanjo Linares, Currillo, Manolo Marín, Javier de la Torre, Antonio Canales, Pedro Azorín. As soloist with the company he danced in "Los Tarantos" as Picaos, "Medea" as the man of Medea, and "Grito" as Soleá (flamenco). As premier dancer in the Ballet Nacional de Espa?a he interpreted "Farruca" (flamenco) and "Danza y tronío". In December 1999 Mr. Porcel danced as soloist in the company of Rafael Aguilar, interpreting the Torero in "Carmen" during a major tour of Germany and Switzerland.

In 2000 he danced as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, under the direction of maestro Héctor Zaraspe. In this same year he was contracted as the first dancer in the Compa?ía Espa?ola de Antonio Márquez, performing on tour around the world and at the Ópera de París for over 20 sold-out performances, followed by a critically acclaimed tour of the United States during the 2001-2002 season.