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November 17, 2007, 8:00pm
Sechelt, BC
"FERIA DE LA COSTA"
The brilliant footwork and breathtaking virtuosity of flamenco come vividly to life in an exhilarating performance by Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre. Lead by Kasandra La China, this spellbinding program presents nine spectacular artists in contemporary flamenco vignettes and traditional cuadro flamenco! Join us on the Sunny Sunshine Coast for this fabulous flamenco fall feria!
Kasandra and Gerardo in Garrotin
Photo by Harry Brewster
Date: November 17, 2007
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Raven's Cry Theatre, 5559 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt, BC
Cost: $25 / $20
Box Office: Gaia's Fair Trade, MELOMania and Ashley's Books
on the Sunshine Coast
Online Sales: VTIX
Website: Caravan World Rhythms
Thank you to CARAVAN WORLD RHYTHMS and
ROBERT BENAROYA for producing this event!
Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre performers in "Feria de la Costa":
Kasandra La China, Artistic Director
Gerardo Alcala, Guitar
Pirouz de Caspio, Singer
Michelle Harding, Dance Soloist
Stephanie Pedraza, Dance Soloist/Singer
Andrea Williams, Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
Grace de la Cruz, Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
Lia Grainger, Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
Shyiang Strong, Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
Mozaico Flamenco Dancers
Photo by Harry Brewster
The program will include contemporary dance company vignettes featuring work with manton (shawl), bata de cola (long train) and of course, castanets! Also be mesmerized by stunning dance solos --Alegria, Garrotin, Seguirya and Solea por Bulerias -- by Kasandra La China, Michelle and Stephanie, and music solos by Gerardo Alcala, tocaor, and Pirouz de Caspio, cantaor.
BIOGRAPHIES
Kasandra La China
Artistic Director
VIDF 2007 - Photo by Elvira Yebes
Kasandra “La China” is the producer, choreographer and prima bailaora of Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre, where she has worked intimately with Oscar Nieto as his protégé since 2001. Kasandra has been identified as the city's rising flamenco star who has embodied flamenco with her dynamic, precise style, earning her the enviable reputation as one of the finest bailaoras in Vancouver. As a soloist, she is in high demand and has performed for the Vancouver Symphony, The Dance Centre, Folk Festival, Chutzpah Festival, Vancouver International Dance Festival & Vancouver Flamenco Festival.
As a choreographer, Kasandra has created many original pieces for Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre and has a reputation for her innovation, style and polish. As Canada’s only professional flamenco dancer of Chinese heritage, she leads the company’s project, Café de Chinitas or “Chinese Café”, as its artistic director. Café de Chinitas showcases Flamenco with an Asian twist, fusing the ethereal melodies of Vancouver’s Orchid Ensemble, integrating Asian themes and costumes. Two series have emerged --- the theatrical series and the Granville Island tablao series --- and both have received rave reviews from the press. Kasandra’s mission is to promote multiculturalism and innovate flamenco in a way that reflects her own cultural background and our distinct Canadian identity.
To stay on the cutting edge of Flamenco, Kasandra has made seven trips to Spain in the past nine years for intensive study in Madrid, Seville and Jerez de la Frontera. In 2005, the Canada Council for the Arts awarded Kasandra the Emerging Artist study grant to further her training. She has studied with Matilde Coral, Immaculada Aguilar, Victoria Eugenia, Merche Esmeralda, Manolete, Javier Baron, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, Isabel Bayon, Mercedes Ruiz, Ana Maria Lopez, Maria Chacha Bermudez, La China and Carmela Greco.
In September 2002, Kasandra and Oscar Nieto created Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy in Vancouver, BC. The academy’s mission is to provide the best flamenco dance training possible by integrating dance, music, song & rhythm, while adhering to the highest technical & artistic standards. Kasandra inspires hundreds of flamenco students each year and has brought countless devotees to flamenco.
Gerardo Alcala
Tocaor / Flamenco Guitar
New Orleans born flamenco guitarist, Gerardo Alcala, is one of the few foreigners to be respected as a full-fledged Flamenco artist by the gypsy Flamencos of Andalucia, among whom he lived the authentic lifestyle for many years. He learned his art from Rafael del Aguila, Parrila de Jerez, Nino Jero, Rafael Alarcon, Eduardo de la Malena and Pedro Bacan. In the intimate closed-door sessions, or juergas, where the pure soul of Flamenco, el Duende, can surge forth in all its savage beauty, he has spent countless hours accompanying great gypsy singers including the Agujetas clan, Gitano de Bronce, El Garbanzo, El Monea, Salmonete, Chato de la Isla and many others.
He has performed professionally in major theatres on three continenets, including Carnegie Hall, as well as for television, radio and film. In the US, he toured extensively with the Spanish dance companies of Jose Molina and Teo Morca and did many recitals with the legendary Anzonini del Puerto. In Spain, he performed with the all-gypsy company of Fernanda Romero and has had particularly long and close relationships with the Agujetas family, including Manuel Agujetas, who as preserved the deepest and purest singing in Spain. With them, he was featured as sole accompanist in the prestigious Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid and in the Dutch fiom Duende.
In 1990, he was honored to become the first North American ever to be contracted to perform as a soloist in the Bienal de Sevilla, Spain’s most important Flamenco Festival. In 1998, he accompanied Luis Agujetas on his CD “Entre Tu Tierra y La Mia”. In 2000, he appeared accompanying Luis, Diego, and Paco Agujetas in the film “El Turista Soy Yo”. In 2002, he was the first guitarist at Mexico’s most important tablao “Gitanerias” and did a three month tour of Spain and France, accompanying the singer, Dolores Agujetas.
Pirouz de Caspio
Cantaor / Singer
Born in Tehran, Iran in 1969, Pirouz de Caspio was brought up in a rich musical culture dating back thousands of years - A culture which has heavily influenced many aspects of the flamenco art form; especially the song forms.
Pirouz started his formal introduction to music at the age of six. This included singing, and learning to play the piano. It was not until age 15 when he was first introduced to flamenco through Paco de Lucia’s music. That was the start of his journey into flamenco which continued even after he migrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1988.
He has immersed himself in the art of flamenco in many different ways. He is the creator of www.flamenco.ca which was developed to promote and nurture the art and culture of flamenco in Canada. Now, after only 5 years, this site has over 30,000 visitors per month and offers one of the most popular internet-based flamenco radios called “Flamenco Beat” which broadcasts authentic flamenco music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This site was selected and published as “The site of the Month” in one of Spain’s most prominent flamenco publications called “Alma100”.
He also founded “Peña Bulería Flamenco Club” in Vancouver in August of 2003 (www.penabuleria.com). This club’s aim is to promote local and international flamenco artists by producing spectacles and coordinating workshops. Since its inception, the club has produced 12 unique concerts by local and internationally acclaimed flamenco artists.
As Pirouz does not believe that flamenco can be learned in the classroom, he has primarily learned his flamenco through interactions with national and international artists and through recorded music and videos. Pirouz has had the opportunity to study with and learn from many well known singers from Spain including David Lagos, Rafael de Utrera, Maria Fernandez, Cristo Cortes, Paco de Leon, and Enrique Soto. His favourite flamenco singer of all times is Camarón de la Isla and his favourite flamenco guitarist is Paco de Lucía, also known as “El Jefe”.
Pirouz has appeared in many flamenco concerts, festival, and shows with national and international flamenco artists since the start of his journey into flamenco.
Stephanie Pedraza
Cantaora y Bailaora / Singer & Dancer
Born in Toronto, Canada in 1980, Stephanie Pedraza carries with her over 17 years of artistic experience. She is a unique combination of singer/song writer, dancer and teacher.
Born into a Latin American family and having moved to Colombia at a very early age, she has been constantly immersed in her Latin roots of song and dance, these same roots which would become her main source for creative inspiration. Music and dance has always been an immense part of her life as well as her culture.
She began her studies in flamenco dance at Centro Flamenco with Rosario Ancer. Twice, she has been awarded the “Advanced Arts Scholarship” granted by “The Vancouver Foundation” which has enabled her to study in Sevilla, Spain, where she attended the recognized conservatory Fundación de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren and studied with some of the most significant figures in flamenco, including Milagros Menjibar, Carmen Ledesma, Javi Navarro, Isabel Bayon, Andres Pena and Sonia Miranda.
She has been a musical collaborator for various musical recording projects in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Canada. In 2005, she entered to form part of the Latin/Flamenco fussion musical group LAKAYE based in Sevilla. With the release of their first album, she has appeared on Canal Sur Espana television channel and performed at the Sala Chicote concert hall in Sevilla.
She has performed alongside notable flamenco artists in Vancouver including Oscar Nieto, Kasandra “ La China”, Peter Mole and Victor Kolstee to name a few. She has been invited on several occasions to sing for Al Mozaico Dance Academy and Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theater. She can be seen weekly performing at The Kino Cafe in Vancouver. She has recently completed the recording of her first musical production as a soloist in Bogota, Colombia.
On stage, whether it through dance or song, she conveys deep emotions and personal experience earning the hearts of audiences. It is with great determination she continues her journey towards success as a young artist.
Michelle Harding
Bailaora / Dancer
Michelle Harding made her debut as a member of Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre in Poemas de Alegria in 2005. She began studying flamenco in 2001 with Oscar Nieto and Kasandra La China at Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy. Since then, she has traveled twice to Jerez de la Frontera to learn from Mercedes Ruiz, Maria Jose Franco, Matilde Coral, Antonio El Pipa, Maria Bermudez and Ana Maria Lopez. She performs regularly with Moraima at the Kino Café in Vancouver and has worked with many local groups including Flamenco Alcala, Aire Flamenco, Mimbre, Pena Buleria and Sol Flamenco. She performs at community events throughout the Lower Mainland, such as Walk with the Dragon, White Rock Spirit of the Sea Festival, In the House, the PNE and the Powell Street Festival. Michelle is inspired most of all by the paradox that is the essence of flamenco, an art that is at once passionate and restrained, harsh and beautiful, profoundly moving and playfully lighthearted.
Andrea Williams
Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
"Imagenes del Oriente 2007 " - Photo by Elvira Yebes
Andrea is thrilled to perform with Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre in “Feria de la Costa". She made her debut with the company in the 2004 production “Espiritu sin Nombre” & has since performed with the ensemble in "Poemas de Alegria" (2005) and “Café de Chinitas” (2006), in the Vancouver International Dance Festival (2005, 2007 soloist), & with the VSO. Andrea's credits also extend to numerous performances in Vancouver & the Lower Mainland, 100 Mile House, Squamish & St. John’s, Newfoundland. She continues to train in Flamenco & Classico Español with Oscar Nieto & Kasandra La China & has studied with such renowned teachers as Rosario Ancer, Evelyne Benais, Sara de Luis, Concha Vargas, Carmen Romero, & Maria “Cha Cha” Bermudez. Andrea currently teaches dance at Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy in Vancouver.
Grace de la Cruz
Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
"Imagenes del Oriente 2007" - Photo by Sandra Leung
Grace discovered Flamenco on a trip to Barcelona. It was love at first
sight and today the love affair continues. “Flamenco attracts me in so many ways. I love how it challenges my intellect as well as my
body. I love how the music stirs up my passion and moves my soul. I love how it embodies what all women are: beautiful, strong and fluid.”
Grace has traveled to the birthplace of flamenco, Jerez de la
Frontera in Spain, where
she studied with Javier La Torre, Antonio El
Pipa, Angeles Gabaldon, and Rosario Toledo. She has performed
with Mozaico Flamenco in “Espiritu sin Nombre 2004”, “Poemas de Alegria
2005” , Cafe de Chinitas 2006 & 2007, and in the Tea and Trumpets series with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Grace has performed in Vancouver festivals including Chinese New Year, Celebrate BC, Heart of the City and the Vancouver International Dance Festival. Grace currently studies flamenco at Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy with Oscar Nieto and Kasandra La China. She has also studied at Centro Flamenco with Rosario Ancer.
Shyiang Strong
Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
"Imagenes del Oriente 2007" - Photo by Sandra Leung
Shyiang began dancing at age 9 studying ballet, tap & acrobatics. She discovered her passion for flamenco under the guidance of Kasandra La China & Oscar Nieto, and has been a member of Mozaico Flamenco since 2003. Shyiang has performed in “Lola Montes and the Art of Spanish Dance”, “Espiritu sin Nombre”, the 2005 Vancouver International Dance Festival, “Poemas de Alegria” and the "Cafe de Chinitas" series. She has also participated in local festivals including Imagine 2010, Celebrate BC, Canada Day & the Chinatown Festival. In 2003 & 2005, Shyiang attended workshops in Jerez de la Frontera with Inmaculada Aguilar, Victoria Eugenia, Maria del Moreno, Antonio El Pipa & Maria Jose Francos. She has also studied with Josua Vivancos, Cristina Hall, Myriam Allard, Maria Bermudez, Andres Marin, Alejandro Granados & Concha Vargas.
Lia Grainger
Mozaico Flamenco Dancer
Lia has studied with Oscar Nieto and Kasandra La China since 2004. This is her debut performance with Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theater. She is moved by flamenco’s ability to convey deep and powerful emotions not normally shared publicly in everyday life. She has studied with numerous instructors including Rosario Ancer, Maria “Cha Cha” Burmudez, Ana Maria Lopez, and Joshua Vivancos. She has appeared at the Vancouver International Film Festival, BC Fashion Week, The Pacific National Exhibition, Imagine 2010, The Chinatown Night Market, The Vancouver Cultural Festival, and the In the House Festival. She has also been a featured performer for Sol Flamenco, Flamenco Alcala, Miembre Flamenco, Flamenco Sin Casa, and Poema Flamenco and can be seen regularly at Vancouver's flamenco establishments: La Zuppa, Chai, and the Kino Café. “I love to perform, and to be able to share with an audience the personal joy and satisfaction that the art of flamenco has to give.”
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