Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces Week-Long Residency with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
September 24, 2026
Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces Week-Long Residency with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Featuring the Flamenco Certamen USA competition with emerging international talent, education workshops, and a dance masterclass
Saratoga Springs, NY (September 24, 2026) — Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces that Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, one of the nation’s most prominent flamenco dance companies, will return to Saratoga Springs for a week-long residency October 11–15, 2026, as part of Flamenco Certamen USA, the first competition of its kind in the United States. Following the company’s inaugural residency at SPAC last year, Flamenco Vivo will once again bring together emerging international talent while offering educational workshops and a dance masterclass for the community.
“We are delighted to welcome Flamenco Vivo back for a third residency, building on the collaboration we began last year. By creating a space where artists from around the world can deepen their practice, we also create opportunities for our community to experience vibrant traditions of music and dance that transcend borders and connect us to one another,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Founded in 1983, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana has earned recognition for promoting flamenco as a living art form and new cultural voice in the U.S. The company’s Certamen competition not only provides an unparalleled spotlight for emerging talent but also fosters the continued development and expansion of flamenco on an international scale.
Participants showcase their work in performance and compete to win scholarships to study and perform in Spain, among other prizes. The Flamenco Certamen supports rising flamenco artists by providing professional mentorship, workshops, and access to a global network of artists.
The schedule is as follows:
Flamenco Certamen USA
October 11-15
SPAC School of the Arts
In advance of the final performance in New York City on October 17, finalists will participate in an intensive residency at SPAC’s School of the Arts. Over the course of the week, rising flamenco stars will work with live musicians, receive daily mentorship from professional artists, and refine their craft in Saratoga’s inspiring natural setting before taking the competition stage.
Children’s Dance Workshop
October 14 | 5–5:30 PM
SPAC School of the Arts
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana will lead a children’s dance workshop at SPAC School of the Arts, introducing participants to the art of flamenco through movement, technique, and short choreography. This special workshop will be offered to students enrolled in SPAC School of the Arts’ Arts Discovery Afterschool Program and All-Access Nights.
Dance Masterclass with Flamenco Vivo
October 14 | 7:30–8:30 PM
SPAC School of the Arts
Open to the public
Participants will receive hands-on instruction in rhythmic handclaps (palmas), arm movements (braceo), body posturing (marcaje), and footwork (taconeo), tailored to the participants experience level. Designed for adults over the age of 18 years old, the class is supportive and fun, and flamenco technique is woven into a short choreography. By the end of the class the participants will be able to “perform” a simple choreographed dance. Learn more or register at spac.org.
The Flamenco Certamen USA is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the New York State DanceForce, a NYSCA partner.
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.