iloveflamenco.com

Maya de Silva, BFA, UNM, 1986. Maya has performed with Maria Benitez Estampa Flamenca, Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo, Andrea Del Conte Danza Espana, and Flamenco Latino at venues such as The Joyce, Dance Theater Workshop, Lincoln Center, Kaatsbaan, and Boston Pops. In 2000 she enjoyed a scholarship to the 4 Month Professional Course at the Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco in Sevilla, Spain with El Farruquito, Javier Latorre, Carmen Ledesma, Isreal Galvan, Isabel Bayon and Milagros Mengibar.　 Maya has choreographed and produced shows at the Kraine Theatre, PS 122, Third Street Music School, at Santa Barbara (CA) CenterStage, and at SUNY Orange in Middletown, NY.　 She danced for 5 years in the Met Opera’s "Carmen" and “La Traviata” and taught for 10 years at the Mason Gross School of the Arts Dance Dept. at Rutger’s University. She teaches at Roy Arias Dance Studios, at Rod Rogers Dance Studios and Ballet Hispanico, and is a teaching artist in the NYC Public School system for both Ballet Hispanico and Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo. Maya has her own dance company: Los Chavales del Barrio y Flamenco Revolucion, making their NYC debut March 28^th and 29^th.

“René Heredia is the most sensational young flamenco guitarist in the United States.” —Sabicas

“… Brilliant … phenomenal … exciting virtuoso.” —Variety

“The audience wouldn’t let him quit.” —Los Angeles Times

“René Heredia is a brilliant guitarist.” —Walter Terry, New York Saturday Review

“He played a Danza Mora that rivaled any I have ever heard.” —Dean Wallace, San Francisco Chronicle

“The guitar playing of René Heredia is in the finest tradition of flamenco, creating a flaming intensity that cannot fail to arouse.” —Denver Post

“If any musician on the local Denver scene deserves the moniker of legend, it would have to be René Heredia. Simply put, the man is a living history of the art of Gypsy flamenco guitar. He is both a link to its glorious past through his early association with legendary greats such as Carlos Montoya and Sabicas, and a bridge to its future through his love of teaching and performance…. René Heredia is an artist who is as passionate about the music as the music is itself…. René is a local artist of international stature … without a doubt, one of the greatest proponents of flamenco guitar music alive today….” —Classically Speaking

"To truly savor flamenco’s artistic essence, one has to experience it live with Gitano masters like guitarist René Heredia who makes a rare Bay Area appearance in concert." —San Francisco Bay Area News

Austin, TX

Olivia Chacón is a flamenco dancer, choreographer, and instructor with a uniquely powerful dance style and dynamic approach to teaching students. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Olivia recently returned to Austin after more than three years performing and studying in Madrid, Spain with some of the world's best flamenco artists. Her goal is to nurture the art of flamenco in the U.S. through high-quality performance and instruction.

After initiating her flamenco training in the U.S. with Omayra Amaya, Olivia continued her studies in Sevilla, Spain in 2001-2002 with Juana Amaya and Farruquito. She relocated to Madrid in 2006, where Olivia studied intensively with her mentor, Cristóbal Reyes, and other maestros including Concha Jareno, Alfonso Losa, and Jose Maya at the famed Amor de Dios academy. Olivia began her professional career performing frequently in Central Texas with local flamenco and world music artists. In 2005 Olivia premiered her own dance company at Austin's State Theater with "De Noche", a work commissioned by First Night Austin. In Madrid, Spain from 2006 to 2009 she performed at tablaos and clubs throughout the city, as well as in Germany. For two years, 2007 and 2008, she performed as a member of the Cristóbal Reyes Compania de Flamenco, and toured theaters throughout Spain, Mexico, and Cyprus. Of Olivia’s choreographic work the San Antonio Express News has written: "The choreographer's message is clear: This is a dance form that is alive and well, not a relic from a romantic Andalusian past." Olivia aims to keep the dance form alive and well in this country by performing frequently throughout Texas and the region, and teaching flamenco to a new generation of dancers at her studio, Flamencura Music and Dance in Austin.

Washington D.C.

Level of Expertise: 4

New York, NY

Lia’s unique background in flamenco dance and acting has facilitated her development into a strong, elegant, and accomplished artist. Her strong family background and values have provided her with a strong yet personable and accommodating personality, making her both a natural leader and a contributing member to any group effort. These traits have enabled her to work with premiere companies and individuals in both fields.

Based in New York City since 2005, Lia has been lead dancer and dance captain for Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, participating in two yearly nationwide tours, performing in venues such as the Discovery Theatre (Anchorage, Alaska), The Egg (Albany, NY), The Music Center at Strathmore (North Bethesda, Maryland), The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the Joyce Theatre (NY, NY). She is also a company dancer of Oscar Valero’s Fuerza, and has shared the stage with Antonio Hidalgo, Raul Ortega, “Chuscales” Valle Fajardo, and Hernan Romero. Lia is an avid educator, teaching flamenco workshops around the USA, leading and performing in lecture demonstrations, as well as conducting extended public school residencies.

Lia regularly dances as a soloist in the tablao circuit in the tri-state area around NYC and has performed in community shows at the Brooklyn Arts Museum, the Hispanic Arts Society, and the Bronx Botanical Gardens as well as the Battery Dance Festival. She is also actively involved in the Spanish speaking theatre and film community, having participated in Pregones Theatre Asuncion Series and the independent film Spanglish Girls. Lia is a member of HOLA, the Hispanic Organization for Latin Actors. She is regularly called upon to speak about flamenco and was featured in the History Channel International and the Discovery Channel. In January 2009, you will see Lia dancing in the movie Pink Panther 2 with Steve Martin.

Before moving to New York, she divided her time between Denver, Colorado and Sevilla, Spain. In Colorado, she received her BA in Theatre, emphasis acting and directing from the University of Northern Colorado. She has a special relationship with Denver’s ensemble theatre, Paragon Theatre Company, having developed, directed, and danced in their yearly fundraising show The Soul of Flamenco and acting in their production “Buicks”. Lia also participated in the Durango Shakespeare Festival. Since the age of 16, she has been travelling to Sevilla to continue her flamenco studies. Thanks to several merit scholarships from the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco, Lia was able to study with top flamenco artists in Sevilla, including Milagros Menjibar, Rafael and Adela Campallo, Manolo Soler, and Javier Baron. While in Spain, Lia also had the opportunity to study with Compañia Atalaya TNT, work as an English voice over actress, as well as assistant direct “Don Juan Flamenco”, a flamenco dance drama featuring Rafael Campallo presented in the 2004 Bienal de Flamenco.

Lia travels to Spain on a regular basis to carry on her creative investigation and development in flamenco. Most recently she went to Sevilla and Madrid from Sep-Dec 2008 for intensive study, and also received a Jacob’s Pillow dance scholarship to study with Noche Flamenca.

Santa Fe, NM

Flamenco dancer, choreographer and teacher, Julia Chacón has performed in Spain, Mexico, and the United States and has danced in the companies of renowned artists María Benítez’ (Santa Fe), Omayra Amaya (Boston), and Carlota Santana (New York). She continues to work closely with Benítez and Santana and also directs her own troupe, Inspiracíon Flamenca.