Rhythms of Exchange: the Latin American Influences on Flamenco arts

This program explores the cultural exchange between Latin America and Spain in shaping flamenco, highlighting the fusion of musical and dance traditions that have influenced its evolution.

The event will feature a lecture by Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou at Abby Reception Hall, followed by a reception. The evening will continue with a live music and dance performance by an artistic team that includes Alfonso Cid (flute and vocals), Tim Ferguson (double bass), Jesús Hernández (piano), Alberto Muñoz Sánchez (cajón and drums), and Constantina Theofanopoulou (flamenco dance).

The event will conclude with a Q&A session, giving the audience a chance to engage with the artists.

Jesús Hernández

A native of Granada, Spain, Jesús Hernández began his career as a classical musician. However, he soon ventured into rock, jazz, Brazilian music, and flamenco. He has performed at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Drom, the Flamenco Festival in New York, and Cité Universitaire in Paris. Additionally, he has participated in important festivals, including Festival del Lago in Atarfe, Granada, Festival Jazz Chinchilla in Albacete, Festival Jazz Xábia in Alicante, and Auditorio Box Sevilla in Seville.

Alfonso Cid

Alfonso Cid is a native of Seville, Spain, and has been based in New York since 1997. He studied flute and music theory at the Seville Conservatory. Cid has performed at prestigious venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, and alongside his collaborator Romeo Santos at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, the International Music Festival of Viña del Mar in Chile, Foro Sol in Mexico City, Plaza de Toros de las Ventas in Madrid, and Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, among others.

Tim Ferguson

Tim Ferguson is the jazz ensemble director at The Trinity School in New York. He appears on several recordings, including the 2012 Grammy-nominated album Beautiful Friendship by The Tom Dempsey/Tim Ferguson Quartet (Planet Arts Records). Ferguson has worked on Broadway and television productions, such as The Little Mermaid, and has performed at prestigious venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and Joe’s Pub. He authored The Bass Line Encyclopedia and co-authored The Total Jazz Bassist, both published by Alfred.

Alberto Muñoz Sánchez

Alberto Muñoz Sánchez is a computer analyst and flamenco percussionist. He plays a variety of percussion instruments, including the flamenco cajón, Arabic darbuka, African djembe, and Latin American congas and bongos. He has performed at notable venues such as NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts, Virginia Tech’s Moss Arts Center, and the NYU Steinhardt event at the United Nations General Assembly in the U.S. Additionally, he has showcased his talent at various locations in Spain, including the Liceu Theater in Barcelona, La Feria de Abril in Barcelona, Zona Hermetica in Barcelona, and the International Flamenco Congress in Malaga, among others.

Constantina Theofanopoulou

Constantina Theofanopoulou is both a neuroscientist and a flamenco dancer. She won first prize in the Spanish Dance Society competition in 2012. In 2021, she became a Resident Fellow at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU, where she currently serves as a Visiting Scholar. Her performances include appearances at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts, and Virginia Tech’s Moss Arts Center, as well as at an event for the United Nations General Assembly hosted by NYU Steinhardt. In Spain, she has performed at the Auditori de Cornellà and Teatre Blas Infante, and in Greece at the Stavros Niarchos National Opera, among other venues.