RING IN THE new year a bit early at Queensbury Theatre near CityCentre. On Dec 30, the Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra (ECHO) presents Dance the Night Away — an exciting evening of Spanish and Spanish-tinged music, including works by Isaac Albéniz and Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona y Casado; selections from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein (Have you seen Maestro yet?); dances from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker; and a special performance on the second half of the program by Houston-based, internationally recognized flamenco dancer, Mercy Renteria.

It’s another example of ECHO’s innovative, audience-friendly approach to programming, and commitment to bringing affordable, professional-level performances of classical and contemporary music to the Energy Corridor.

Renteria, a striking and dramatic dancer who began flamenco lessons as a teenager, founded Undebel Flamenco in 2016. Through intimate performances produced in collaboration with businesses and non-profits around the city, her company aims to promote the art of flamenco and educate and empower the Houston community. In 2021, Undebel Flamenco was chosen to open the PIANO Y VOZ tour from the acclaimed Flamenco singer and Grammy winner Diego el Cigala and in February 2022, Renteria was also chosen by the Society of Performing Arts in Houston to open the gala night for mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile at the Wortham Theater Center’s Cullen Theater.

ECHO

Co-founded in 2014 by its music director and conductor Michael Fahey, ECHO continues to be a model for a successful community orchestra, with members that include both professional and volunteer players who motivate and support each other’s musical artistry.

Tickets for Dance the Night Away include wine, sangria, Spanish tapas and paella (a saffron-flavored dish containing rice, meat, seafood, and vegetables), Spanish tapas, and of course, a champagne toast.