Uncork a bottle of sherry, dust off your sense of adventure, and join us for a festival of music and dance set in the foothills of Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The afternoon begins with Variación a Tempo, the newest award-winning work by award-winning duo Sara Jimenez and Pablo Gimenez, broadcast live from Teatro Mira Amescua in Guadix. The exquisitely choreographed piece chronicles the evolution of Spanish music and dance, linking the classical traditions' influence on the more modern genre, flamenco. 

We then retreat to the olive groves of Almazara de Paulenca for an intimate performance broadcast live from a rustic, family-owned olive mill. Against a backdrop of hand-hewn timbers and terracotta tiles, guitarist Pablo Giménez leads a Granada based ensemble which features dancers Rocío Montoya, of Riverdance acclaim, and Jasiel Nahim. They remind us that nothing, not even a pandemic, can temper the passion of authentic Flamenco.

3:00 PM EST - Afternoon Performance

9:00 PM EST - Evening Performance

Born in Cadiz, Spain, Jesús Bienvenido is a celebrated Carnival performer, composer, and singer-songwriter who embodies the region’s romantic musical heritage. He has written songs for many of Spain’s biggest stars including Antonio Banderas, Pasion Vega, India Martinez, Manuel Carrasco, and David de Maria. His socially conscious repertoire addresses themes ranging from politics and immigration to domestic violence and human rights. Jesús is the recipient of three Candela y Espino Prizes awarded by Amnesty International.

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Two Performances

3pm EST and 9pm EST

Tickets: https://thirdrow.live/events/jesus-bienvenido/

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Broadcast live from Cadiz, Spain, this day of celebration begins with a staging of “Momo’s Four Suites,” which Jesús composed as a tribute to the city’s legendary Carnival. The show evokes the spirit of the beloved annual tradition with colorful costumes, storytelling, and humor while reimagining the music in a more contemporary and seductive style. He brings a different character to life in each suite, immersing the audience in the spectacle that has enlivened the streets of Cadiz for generations.

We then retreat to a more intimate setting for “Bolero by Candlelight”, an evening made for lovers that lends Spanish romanticism to America’s Valentine's Day. Slip into something comfortable, pour a glass of wine, light a few candles, and snuggle up to a selection of songs that will transport you and your loved one to a dimly lit cafe on the Southwestern coast of Spain.

This is a virtual event. A livestreaming link will be sent to ticketholders prior to the show. Please purchase tickets here.

The Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Media celebrate the 6th Anniversary of Valley Voices Story Slam. Audience members have selected the top three stories from the five Valley Voices Story Slams held during this unprecedented season. We heard stories from New City Brewery in Easthampton, Hawks & Reed in Greenfield, storyteller’s dining rooms to zooming from the Academy stage. Now, we gather the best of the best to tell their stories from the Academy stage into your living room through zoom.

These top stories by local storytellers will be shared as a live stream event to compete for the top prize – Best of Valley Voices! Join us as we choose the winner of this competition based on the art of first person narrative storytelling. It puts emphasis on content and performance, encourages storytellers to focus on what they’re saying and how they’re saying it. It’s an exercise in crafting stories within a set time limit, without notes or props, and it’s entertainment.

Age recommendation: 15+