Homenaje para Briseyda is a celebration of her life and unwavering dedication to the art of Flamenco. This tribute honors how she inspired everyone to perform at their best, embodying passion and commitment to this beautiful art form. Through performances and heartfelt stories, we will remember her legacy and the profound impact she had on our lives and the Flamenco community. She gave everything to her craft, and her spirit will always be with us.
Briseyda was an extraordinary soul - a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend and a passionate artist who dedicated her life to Flamenco. A professional dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and vocalist, Briseyda took pride in being a highly respected and admired member of the Flamenco community. She graced many stages around the world, captivating audiences with her strength, elegance, raw talent, and deep emotional expression. Briseyda’s artistry was not only a one of a kind performance - it was a bold, rare gift she shared generously and a reflection of her true spirit.
Forever Flamenco: Homenaje para Briseyda
Featuring
Lakshmi Basile "La Chimi" - Artistic Director/Dancer
Kambiz Pakan - Guitarist
Debuting at Fountain Theatre
Marian Fernandez - Singer
La Tama - Singer/Dancer
Carlos Menchaca - Dancer
LAKSHMI BASILE "LA CHIMI"
Lakshmi Basile "La Chimi" made history as the only non-native artist to win two prestigious Spanish national flamenco competitions: the Concurso de las Minas de La Unión and the Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba.
Lakshmi established her professional career in Seville, performing for more than 20 years in Spain's renowned tablaos, peñas flamencas, and private events, while also producing theatrical performances for Spanish audiences. Today, she is internationally sought after as an acclaimed flamenco artist and master teacher.
She founded the California nonprofit Alma Flamenca, which established Peña Flamenca Carmen Amaya, dedicated to preserving and promoting authentic flamenco within the local community.
Lakshmi has built an extraordinary artistic career and is recognized as a powerful ambassador for the art of flamenco, expressing its passion, authenticity, and soul in every performance.
"Her dance is a conquered happiness!" — Félix Grande, poet and flamencologist.
"The only American thing about her is her passport!" — Ángel Ojeda, former Minister of Culture for the Junta de Andalucía.
MARIÁN FERNÁNDEZ
Born and raised in Granada, singer Marián Fernández began her vocal instruction at the age of 14 in the Escuela Superior de Arte Flamenco. Soon thereafter, she won 1st place, locally, at Granada’s Contest for Flamenco Youth and went on to win second place for the entire region of Andalucía. By 2019, Marián was performing professionally and took part in the Flamenco Festival “Viene del Sur,” touring Pakistan, Baku, and Antwerp. In 2020, Marián toured Brazil and Dubai as part of the show “Príncipes,” by Juan Andrés Maya, Antonio Canales, Amador Rojas, and Iván Vargas. She then performed with renowned flamenco pianist David Dorantes and singer Marina Heredia in the show “Esencias” and collaborated with Marina Heredia again in her show “Capricho” in 2021. Currently, Marián performs at acclaimed tablaos such as Teatro Flamenco Triana, La Casa del Flamenco, and Flamenquería, and most recently she won first place as the best singer (Granada) in the contest “Flamenco de los Montes” in Íllora, Spain.
KAMBIZ PAKAN
Kambiz pakan was born in 1971. In his childhood he listened to a relative playing the setar (traditional persian stringed instrument) which left a great impression on him and later drove him to pursue a unique sound from the guitar. In 1985 when he lived in Istanbul attended the international guitar festival. After this event he began his studies in music. He eventually moved to California and years later achieved a university degree from CSULB in ethnomusicology/flamencology with an honor. He has worked extensively as a guitarist in the USA. Years of living mainly in the cities of Granada and Jerez has given him a deep insight and perspective in the art of flamenco. Kambiz has traveled extensively in the world which also enriched his musical formation and has helped him aquire a distinct harmonic versatility and an extraordinary sensibility. He has performed on many prestigious stages in the USA, Spain, France, Portugal, Israel, India, Iran among others. He has recently moved back to southern California.
CARLOS MENCHACA
Carlos Menchaca is a Chicano dancer and choreographer who blends the traditional and avant-garde, he strives to defy gender norms and convention in flamenco while venerating its history. Carlos has had the honor of studying and performing with an array of some of the most renowned flamenco artists. Carlos has toured internationally with such companies as Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, and Flamenco Arts International (FAI). He has performed in Sölden, Austria; Managua, Nicaragua, The United Arab Emirates, The Chan Centre for Performing Arts (Vancouver, Canada), The Z Space (San Francisco, CA), and both The Joyce Theater and Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater in New York City. In 2023, Carlos broke barriers performing as principal dancer with Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company’s Xicano Power at the Festival de Jerez (Spain), the first U.S.-based company to be featured at the esteemed festival. Most recently, Menchaca was featured as a soloist and choreographer for Songs From a Sinking Ship, a three-time Izzie award winning production with FAI, and just completed an engagement with Tablao Las Carboneras, one of the most important flamenco venues in Madrid, Spain. Currently, Menchaca is a Principal dancer with Yjastros and faculty at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts and the University of New Mexico, and continues to collaborate with dance schools and companies throughout the United States.