Los Ricos + Sekou McMiller & Friends

SAT, NOV 16, 2024, 7 PM at LeFrak Concert Hall

BIOGRAPHY

Los Ricos featuring Sonia Olla & Ismael Fernández are known for bridging the culture of traditional Flamenco dance with contemporary global influences. Sonia, originally from Barcelona where she earned her degree at the Instituto de Teatro y Danza, has been hailed by The New York Times as “a furnace of earthy sensuality.” Ismael has been described by The Washington Post as the “most charismatic performer” and praised for his “connection to the Gypsy source.” Ismael grew up performing in flamenco festivals throughout the world with his internationally renowned family, La Familia Fernández. Sonia and Ismael’s approach to the art form does not stop at its traditional roots: the couple was tapped by the pop-icon Madonna to choreograph the worldwide “Rebel Heart Tour” (2015-2016), with Ismael providing vocals. They also provided the same for Ricky Martin for the “Lola Lola” Flamenco choreography in his Las Vegas concert All In!

Artists: Sonia Olla (Dancer & Choreographer/Artistic Director), Ismael Fernandez (Singer, Composer & Musical Director), Isabel Estrada Jamison (dancer), Ana Lucia Lugo (dancer), Ricardo Sanchez (guitar), Camila Cortina (piano), and Juan Diego Villalobos (percussion & vibraphone).

Sekou McMiller is pioneering at the forefront of a new movement in Afro Latin dance. His unique fusion style has a strong Afro-Caribbean essence that is laced with many different dance techniques combined with an explosive energy. His dancing and choreographies have garnered him broad recognition worldwide. Sekou’s diverse career as a Choreographer / Performer / Instructor ranges from performing off-Broadway in both Celia: the Musical and Afro-Tango to choreographing for Bravo TV, NUVO TV and Good Morning America. Also he has performed and choreographed for Top Latin artists including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Colon, Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Tito Rojas, Tito Nieves, PitBull, as well as the pop icon Madonna.  Sekou can be seen in the upcoming Warner Bros theatrical feature “In the Heights” (2021) directed by Jon M. Chu and in the newly release documentary “Uprooted: the journey of Jazz Dance”. Sekou has worked with the Radio City Rockettes and was invited to choreograph for the Alvin Ailey School and Joffrey Ballet School. In addition, he was a special invited guest performer/ choreographer for the United Nations Unveiling of the Monument the Ark of Return: honoring the victims of Slavery and lives lost during transit of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Artists: Sekou McMiller (Dancer & Director/Choreographer), Marielys Molina (dancer), Diego Rivera (dancer), Adriel Flete (dancer), Selena Tornez (dancer), Calvin Booker (tap), Desiree Godsell (Rehearsal Director), Camila Cortina (piano/Music Director), Raul Reyes (bass), Camilo Molina (trumpet), Elijah Maduro (tenor sax), Sebastian Natal (drums/percussion), and a special guest vocalist.

ABOUT CUNY DANCE INITIATIVE

The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is a transformative incubator that secures two vital yet scarce resources—rehearsal time and performance space—for New York City choreographers and dance companies across the five boroughs. Housed within the City University of New York (CUNY)–the nation’s largest public urban university system–CDI is a residency program that supports local artists, enhances the cultural life and education of college students, and builds new dance audiences at CUNY performing arts centers.

Despite New York City’s status as the dance capital of the United States, rising real estate prices are challenging the city’s ability to serve as a creative incubator, with appropriate dance spaces in waning supply. CDI was developed in response to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s 2010 report, “We Make Do,” which cited how destabilizing the shortage of affordable rehearsal space in New York City is to the dance community. A successful pilot project supporting residencies on four CUNY campuses in 2013, underwritten by the New York Community Trust, led to CDI’s formal launch in 2014. A decade later, CDI has become key player in New York City’s performing arts ecosystem, leading a consortium of 13 CUNY colleges and three arts organizations to host 20+ residencies each year.

CDI is spearheaded by The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College:

• Jeff Rosenstock, Executive Director, Kupferberg Center for the Arts
• Julia Del Palacio, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Kupferberg Center for the Arts

CDI STAFF:

• Alyssa Alpine, Director
• Jamie Benson, Digital Marketing Manager

Learn more: www1.cuny.edu/sites/dance-initiative