Flamenco Quartet Project meets Blues, Jazz, and Rap

Photo Credits: Joel Maisonet and Manny Rodriguez

Clinard Dance, now in it’s 27th season, began their Flamenco Quartet Project in 2014 dedicating the project to artistic excellence and exploration. Led by an open minded spirit of collaboration, The Flamenco Quartet Project, seeks to engage with contemporary culture through vibrant performances that honor traditional flamenco and their shared passion for music and dance discovery.

The roster of performers boasts remarkably diverse talents, including composers, arrangers, improvisers and choreographers who bring a range of cultural influences to the group. The unique camaraderie within the group retains the intimacy and spontaneity unique to small ensemble work.

Since 2021 the Flamenco Quartet Project has been dedicated to connecting the flamenco perspective to local artists from jazz, blues, and hip-hop backgrounds. We've learned that flamenco is a foundation for understanding authentic blues, jazz and spoken word styles and traditions. 

Current project artists and collaborators are: Blues Artist Billy Branch, Jazz/Blues vocalist Joan Collaso, Spoken Word/ Rap King Moosa/Brian Harrington, Percussionist Diego Alvarez, flamenco singer Jose Diaz “Cachito”, tap dancer Jumaane Taylor, flamenco guitar Andrea Salcedo, and flamenco dance Wendy Clinard.

Listen to an interview on NPR's Worldview of the Flamenco Quartet Project here. 

The Project has performed in India, Syria, Spain, China as well as nationally including Spring to Dance Festival in St Louis, Oberlin College, Vilar Performing Arts Center in CO, and locally at Symphony Center, Wentz Hall, Ravinia Festival, Space in Evanston, National Museum Of Mexican Art, Old Town School Of Folk Music, Logan Center for Performing Arts, Art and Public Life’s Greenline Theater, Park West Theater, and participated in many festivals like World Music Festival over the years. Clinard Dance received two MacArtthur International Connections Fund Awards to create and present work in Spain 2023 and in India 2014.