La Palabra en el Tiempo

La Palabra en el Tiempo is a phrase from Antonio Machado, humble poet, philosopher, and “old-fashioned school teacher” from Andalucia, Spain. The phrase has been translated many ways: “the word in time,” “human language in which we feel time passing,” or “words that pick up the energy of time,” or “words that take their place, like drumbeats, in time already counted.” These words are related to flamenco: tiempo is the compas, palabra is the word, spoken, sung, strummed, or knocked out on the floor by a shoe. “Form your letters slowly and well: making things well is more important than making them.” In this performance, singer, poet, guitarist, and dancer each attempt to express “one or two humble words” in el tiempo with hope they may be common earthen jugs beside the stream.

Of importance is the audience. Western Canada is predominately English and its residents on the whole do not understand Spanish. English-language poet Garth Martens will make the brave attempt of speaking in English “la palabra” that may soak its way to dark corners, similar to the way flamenco infiltrates our thick ears and defended souls.

Veronica Maguire (Singer), Gareth Owen (Guitarist), and Garth Martens (Poet) join Denise Yeo (Dancer & Artistic Director) in La Palabra en el Tiempo.

ARTIST BIOS

Denise Yeo | Dancer & Artistic Director

Denise Yeo is a flamenco dancer and palmera out of the Alma de España Flamenco Dance Company & School in Victoria, B.C. under the tutelage and mentorship of nationally acclaimed dancer/choreographer Veronica Maguire. Denise has had the privilege of training with prestigious international flamenco artists such as Concha Jareño, Domingo Ortega, Maria Bermúdez, Inmaculada Ortega, Antonio El Farru, Carmen Herrera, Ana María Lopez, Esther Aranda, Manolo Marín, Emilio Ochando, Ricardo Lopez and Luis de la Tota. In North America, Denise has trained with award-winning dancers Carmen Romero and Oscar Nieto, as well as musical training under Vicente Griego. By special invitation Denise has performed as a dance corps member in two major productions, Recuerdos and Pasajes. As a dance soloist she continues to be invited to perform in Vancouver tablaos as well as in many tablao productions in and around Vancouver Island. As a palmera, she has performed with Gareth Owen Flamenco in solo concerts, a recorded album and with special collaborations. She's also been invited as palmero for Kasandra Flamenco's production, Encuentros.

Gareth Owen | Guitarrist

Gareth Owen is a world-class Flamenco Guitarist based in Victoria, B.C. He has shared the stage with international flamenco guitarists Jesus Álvarez and Gaspar Rodriguez Roman, and has accompanied international artists such as Coral de los Reyes, Miguel Rosendo, Luis Vargas “El Mono”, Antonio de Jerez, Matias Lopez Exposito, María Bermúdez, Domingo Ortega, Luis de la Tota, Ana María Blanco Barea, Gema Moneo, Jose de los Reyes “El Rin”, Ricardo Lopez, Emilio Ochando, Cristina Hall, and Vicente Griego. Canadian collaborations include Oscar Nieto, Kasandra Lea “La China”, Paco Pedrosa “Jiménez Carancha”, Fiona Malena, Paco de Leon, Jose Luis Lara, Gerardo Alcalá and Carmen Romero. Gareth continues to collaborate with his mother, nationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Veronica Maguire, and had his beginnings with his father, reknown flamenco guitarist, the late Harry Owen. Gareth has recorded two albums, “Gareth Owen Flamenco Guitar” and “El Cobre” with Antonio de Jerez. He has also appeared on Alma de España’s CD, “Flamenco Live”. His third CD is currently in production and will be released later this year. Solo concerts include those at the Calgary International Flamenco Festival, in Victoria at the Alix Goolden Hall and St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and in concerts presented by the Arts Council of Haida Gwaii. Gareth is often invited to Vancouver to perform at the Kino and the Chai Lounge. Other tablao performances include El Laga in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He has been a guest artist in the Toronto International Flamenco Festival, Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Victoria Flamenco Festival and in large-scale productions such as Encuentros and Café de Chinitas in Vancouver, and Recuerdos and Pasajes in Victoria.

Veronica Maguire | Singer

Dancer, teacher and choreographer, Veronica Maguire, is the artistic director and co-founder of Alma de España Flamenco Dance Company and School, established in 1991 in Victoria B.C. In a performance and teaching career spanning over 40 years she has taught and inspired many students, some of which have gone on to cultivate professional careers of their own. Veronica has shared the stage in Canada with Spanish international flamenco artists María Bermúdez, Domingo Ortega, Jesus Álvarez, Coral de los Reyes, Miguel Rosendo, Luis de la Tota, Antonio de Jerez, Inmaculada Ortega, Sonia Berbel and Matias Lopez Exposito. North American artists include Oscar Nieto, Gerardo Alcalá, Esmeralda Enrique, Paco Pedrosa “Jiménez Carancha”, Carmen Romero, Chuscales Jose Valle, Vicente Griego, Kasandra “La China”, to name a few. Her longest and dearest artistic partnership was with her late husband and acclaimed guitarist, Harry Owen. Veronica continues to stay connected with her adopted hometown of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, a touchstone for continued growth and inspiration. As a result she has produced and directed world-class productions in Victoria such as Recuerdos in 2011, and more recently, Pasajes, in 2014. Veronica has had the honour of performing in the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Victoria Flamenco Festival as well as many other major performances throughout Western Canada including the Dancers for Life Gala as guest artist in a show that featured Karen Kain, Evelyn Hart, and Rex Harrington and also as a featured guest artist with the Victoria Symphony under the baton of Kees Bakels. In 2013, Veronica received a Canada Council grant for Professionals and was chosen by peer assessment to win the prestigious Jacqueline Lemieux Award for her contribution to Dance in Canada.

Garth Martens | Poet

Garth Martens won the 2011 Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. His first book Prologue for the Age of Consequence (House of Anansi Press) was a Finalist for the 2014 Governor General's Literary Award in Poetry. His poems have appeared in publications such as Poetry Ireland Review, Hazlitt, This Magazine, Vallum, Fiddlehead, and Prism International, as well as the anthology Best Canadian Poetry in English 2014. In collaboration with Alma de España Flamenco Dance Company, he wrote and performed the libretto for Pasajes, an international production staged in 2014 at the Royal Theatre. Martens has served as Literary Coordinator at Open Space for Open Word: Readings & Ideas, and on the Poetry Editorial Board for The Malahat Review.