NEW YORK, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Andalucia region of southern Spain romances New York with its 9th Annual Flamenco Festival in February, "one of New York City's most important events" (Newsday), thrilling audiences while inspiring them to visit Andalucia, birthplace of flamenco.
The acclaimed Antonio Gades Company, established to perpetuate masterworks of the legendary dancer-choreographer, presents the flamenco version of "Carmen" in its USA premier, a re-staging of the Carlos Saura classic film starring Gades (now celebrating its 25th anniversary) at New York City Center.
Estrella Morente, daughter of flamenco cantaor Enrique Morente, is "a singer of amazing power and rhythmic control...among the new generation of flamenco" (New York Times). She ignites Carnegie hall with her stirring concert of flamenco and traditional Andalusian songs. For New York program and world tour: www.andaluciaflamenco.com
Flamenco, with folkloric origins centuries ago, is flourishing and evolving as a performing art with diverse regional genres and styles uniquely characteristic of each of Andalucia's eight provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Sevilla.
Coinciding with the New York Flamenco Festival, the Andalucia Tourist Board (www.andalucia.org), in conjunction with the Tourist Office of Spain (www.spain.info), is promoting tourism. Dignitaries and marketing executives from Andalucia are hosting special events for the travel industry in the New York area.
Traveling to and within Andalucia has become easier and even more convenient. Inaugurated June 4, 2008, Delta's nonstop service between New York (JFK) and Malaga's Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport (duly named for the city's native son), increases its frequency to five flights a week in June 2009. (www.delta.com)
Iberia Airlines offers extensive service from five U.S. cities -- New York, Chicago, Miami, Boston and Washington DC -- nonstop to Madrid with convenient connections to cities in Andalucia. (www.iberia.com)
A transportation milestone in Andalucia is the high-speed AVE (Alta Velocidad Espanola) state-of-the-art bullet train between Madrid and Malaga in just 2-1/2 hours (velocity up to 215 mph). Inaugurated in December 2007, it transported over two million passengers during its first year of operation. This Madrid-Malaga route compliments Spain's first AVE service between Madrid and Seville (also a 2-1/2-hour trip), launched with extraordinary success for Seville's 1192 Universal Exposition. Additionally, a growing high-speed network connects Andalusian cities such as Malaga-Sevilla. (www.renfe.com)
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