So intimate are the new flamenco parties hosted by the musical ensemble Café Cantante, that one of the group's musician's says they're "better than church."

"People are just starving for it," says Madeleine Sosin, who plays the violin and cajón for the seven-member ensemble of dancers, singers and guitarists. The group began hosting "juergas," or flamenco parties, this fall.

In the Spanish gypsy tradition, audience members are invited to participate, says Café Cantante founder Esther Marion. Listeners form a circle around the musicians and help with the "palmas," or hand-clapping rhythms that fuel the flamenco dance.

"Whoever's got guts can come up and dance," Marion says. "The party-mood is high."

Flamenco fans have been buzzing about the group's last performance at Agua Verde in the University District. Lucky for them, the ensemble performs monthly, with its next show set for tonight at the Capitol Hill Arts Center. In April they will perform again at Agua Verde.

Sosin is better known as part of the duo Correo Aereo, which performs traditional music of Latin America. She and her musical partner recently returned from the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, where they attended the premier of "Before the Music Dies," a documentary that takes a critical look at the music industry with commentary from Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews and Elvis Costello. Correo Aereo appears in the film and on the soundtrack, which is produced by hip-hop artist Erykah Badu and will be released by the Starbucks record label, Hear Music, this summer.

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