Friday, October 3, 2008

Renowned Flamenco dancer Jose Porcel coming to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS

The University of Illinois at Springfield will be hosting a performance by Compañía Flamenco José Porcel as part of the Visiting Artists Series on Thursday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. A pre-show discussion will take place prior to the performance at 6:45 p.m.

Direct from Spain, Porcel and his company of dancers represent the best in classic, traditional flamenco while melding contemporary styles and moves. The evening promises fiery footwork, brilliant costumes, evocative choreography, and music from an onstage ensemble of guitarists and vocalists.

A former principal with the National Ballet of Spain, Porcel has performed to wide acclaim and his music and dance spectacles display both creativity and the desire to challenge convention while honoring tradition. Spain's El Pais praised Porcel for the "stamp that differentiates him from the typical dancer, with his breadth and lean profile, his strong dramatic accent that helps him to command respect on the stage."

Tickets for this event are $37, 32 and 20. To order, visit the Sangamon Auditorium website, or call the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office at 217/206-6160 or toll free at 800-207-6960. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Individual tickets to all Visiting Artist Series and Family Events are on sale now, and tickets to Broadway shows go on sale approximately six weeks prior to each event. Patrons can receive a discount through the Create Your Own Series option by simply choosing at least five events from the Visiting Artists Series, Broadway Series, and Family Events at UIS. Call the Ticket Office for more information.

This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O' Lakes Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

Sangamon Auditorium, UIS
Located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield, the auditorium hosts more than 120 performances annually. Home to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Ballet Company, it is the only auditorium of its kind and size in the Springfield area with a seating capacity of 2,018.

With a staff of 11 full-time employees, graduate assistants, more than 400 volunteers, ushers, and local stagehands, Sangamon Auditorium continues to fulfill its mission of presenting and supporting varied cultural and educational professional arts activities to the audiences in Springfield, Sangamon County, and the surrounding areas. The Auditorium administrative offices can be reached at 217/206-6150 or by e-mail at onstage@uis.edu.