12x12: Elba Hevia y Vaca

Wednesday, May 9 at 7 pm

Pearlstein Gallery

3401 Filbert Street

Passionate and determined, feminist flamenco artist Elba Hevia y Vaca dances with purpose: to challenge the male-centric, hyper-sexualized narrative of flamenco. Delight in Elba’s 21st-century interpretations, grounded in the richness of historical flamenco, as she explains and expands on her artistic practice.

About Elba Hevia y Vaca

Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Elba Hevia y Vaca began her study of classical Spanish dance at the age of five. She later studied and danced with master dancer Ana Martinez of the Ana Martinez Flamenco Dance Company in D.C., and danced with Washington’s Raquel Peña Spanish Dance Company, appearing as a soloist at various venues throughout the U.S. In Philadelphia she continued her study of modern dance, jazz, and contact improvisation from various Philadelphia artists.

In 2000, Hevia y Vaca founded Pasión y Arte (PyA) out of a strong and intensely personal conviction that highly-stylized traditional Spanish flamenco dance is a perfect vessel to empower women. These values have been reflected in her seven original, critically acclaimed works she has created for PyA, and in the numerous grants and fellowships awarded to Hevia y Vaca and PyA. Elba received the 2008 Art and Change Grant in 2008, and the Window of Opportunity Grant in 2004 from the Leeway Foundation.