MOSCOW — Growing up in Seattle with a Puerto Rican father and an Irish-American mother, Savannah Fuentes was unsure of her cultural community. Then, she saw flamenco dancing featured in a Spanish tourism commercial, and Fuentes told herself, “That’s what I am.” She was 6.
Fuentes began studying flamenco seriously at 17 and has been touring professionally for five years. She is now embarking on the longest flamenco tour in her career, with more than 30 stops in the Western U.S. Audiences will see “Northern Lights” this weekend at the University of Idaho’s Forge theater as she performs with male flamenco singer Juañarito and guitarist Bobby de Sofia.
“I’m so blessed to be doing what I’m doing. … This isn’t a fancy funded tour by any means,” Fuentes said. “It’s independent and a little more grassroots.”
Fuentes describes flamenco as a curious art form structured like stanzas of poetry including singing, as well as dancing.
“People think flamenco is just dancing, but there’s singing involved too,” Fuentes said. “We interpret the singing, and my body channels that. The performance runs through the whole spectrum of human emotion.”
Although flamenco originates from Spain, it’s deeply rooted in East Indian, Arabic, Jewish and Islamic cultures and beliefs. Fuentes said flamenco performances tell the stories of people who were oppressed, making the experience both powerful and emotional.
“My favorite is when I talk to people who have never seen flamenco,” Fuentes said. “Sometimes people cry, it’s the embodiment of joy and sorrow.”
Apart from dancing and performing herself, Fuentes has independently produced more than 250 presentations and workshops featuring internationally recognized flamenco performers.
If You Go WHAT: Savannah Fuentes featuring singer Juañarito and guitarist Bobby de Sofia in “Northern Lights” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Monday WHERE: UI’s Forge theater, 709 S. Deakin St. COST: Tickets are $22 for general, $35 for VIP, $12 for students and $8 for children. Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com
