Internationally Acclaimed Flamenco Dancer and Choreographer to Perform at Carleton College

Susana di Palma, internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer and choreographer, will perform at Carleton College on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. in the Severance Great Hall. Earlier that day, di Palma will also lead a flamenco workshop in the College’s Cowling Dance Studio at 5 p.m. Unparalleled as a dancer and choreographer, her performances have been described as “ferocious, enigmatic, and poignant” (The Seattle Times). Di Palma has captured the attention of audiences and critics around the world, combining traditional Spanish flamenco with innovative choreography and theatrics to create performances “with a sense of humor and a clear idea of theater” (The Villager, New York). In addition to being an accomplished flamenco soloist, di Palma’s theatrical contributions to the dance form have earned her recognition for producing socially relevant works that reflect upon contemporary issues. The performance and the workshop are both free and open to the public. 

Searching for an outlet for her passion for traditional Spanish dance and urge to address social and political concerns, di Palma founded Minneapolis’ Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School in 1982. Zorongo is one of the few American Spanish dance companies that present both traditional flamenco programs as well as original theater flamenco works. The company is comprised of an ensemble of international artists, dancers, and musicians—renowned for bringing the power, passion, and virtuosity of the art of flamenco to American audiences.

In addition to serving as the Artistic Director of the Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School, Di Palma has taught flamenco for over 25 years and works as an adjunct teacher at the University of Minnesota.

Combining traditional dance with theater, some of her multimedia works include “La Virtud Negra,” a flamenco murder mystery commissioned by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and “Garden of Names”—inspired by the novel “Imagining Argentina,” which earned her the City Pages “Artist of the Year” award. She is currently working on a new dance performance production entitled “ZORRO” which will premiere next month at the Ritz Theatre in northeast Minneapolis.

This event is sponsored by the Departments of Spanish and Latin American Studies, and The Humanities Center at Carleton College. The Severance Great Hall is located off College Street on the Carleton campus; the Cowling Dance Studio is located off First Street. A campus map can be found at www.carleton.edu/visitors/#maps/. For more information, call (507) 222-4252.