Friends of Flamenco

Friends of Flamenco (FoF) is an organization with Olé Music & Dance of Spain that is dedicated to promoting the art of flamenco throughout the southwest United States. FoF regularly sponsors master artists and teachers from around the world to come to Kansas City and teach in workshops and master classes. These classes are open not only to Ole students but to all who have an interest and passion for flamenco. Past artists have included Vida Peral, and Jacco Mueller, Adriana Maresma, Melinda Hedgecorth, and Timo Lozano as well as many others. For more information on when these master classes will occur, please check our upcoming events calendar or write us at lagarbancito@kcflamenco.com or kirk@kcflamenco.com.

Vida Peral

Vida Peral began her dance training and professional formation with the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre, Chicago under the direction of Dame Libby Komaiko in 1976. For the following eight years her studies and company repertoire included the work of Maria Alba, Edo, Victoria Korjhan, José Greco and Nana Lorca and Manola Rivera within all styles of Spanish Dance: Classico Español, Jota and Flamenco.

In 1984 her dedication and career choice took her to Madrid, to Amor de Dios. There, she stayed for nearly ten years, studying, coaching other students and performing:

• Member of and assistant to Paco Romero Dance Company, Barcelona
• Principal in choreographies by José Granero, Palma de Mallorca
• Partner to José Miguel, Tokyo
• Member of the José Greco Company, New York City
• Choreographer for the World Press Gala, Hilversum, Holland
• Workshops in Cologne, Frieburg, Dusseldorf, Oslo, Utrecht
• Guest teacher for the World Music School, Amsterdam
• Guest Choreographer for Het Internationaal Danstheater, Amsterdam
• Choreographer and dancer for “La Vida Breve”, Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
• Performance series at Johannesburg Civic Theater, South Africa –
• Live on PaPaul, VARA TV
• Choreographer and dancer Rene Froger Show of the Year 2001, Ahoy, Rotterdam
• Choreographer for feature film “Leef “, Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen, director

In 1996 Vida received her Bachelors degree from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago for her achievements within the field of Spanish Dance. Now, together with her husband Mr. Jacco Müller, Flamenco guitarist and composer from the Netherlands, Vida Peral has established her home in two worlds, Amsterdam and Chicago, where she continues a full teaching schedule, workshops and performances.

Vida’s performances and workshops have brought her to 9 countries of the world: USA, Spain, Holland, Germany, Norway, Belgium, South Africa, Japan and Curacao. Major cities include: Chicago, New York, Detroit, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Oslo, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Cologne and Freiburg.

Adriana Maresma

World class flamenco dancer Adriana Maresma Fous is known for her elegance and firey style of dance. She has performed throughout North and South America, Asia and Europe. This includes New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, Festival Flamenco Internacional de Albuquerque, Milau International Dance Festival, Vancouver Flamenco Festival and Zuarich Theatrehaus. Adriana’s vast professional experience has given her the opportunity to work with celebrated artists including Maria Benitez, Susana De Palma, Juaquin Ruhz, Placido Domingo, Carmen Linares, Jose Greco, Angel Munoz, The Boston Pops, Antonio “El Pipa” and more.

Adriana received her Bachelors Degree in photography and danced from the University of New Mexico. She has continued growing as a professional, studying in Madrid, Seville and Jerez with master teachers such as Eva La Yerbabuena. Rafaela Carrasco, Joaquin Grilo, Merche Esmeralda and Mario Maya.

Adriana currently collaborates with various international musicians creating innovative repertories touring solo performances throughout Europe and The United States. She also enjoys conducting workshops, sharing her skills and motivating students of all levels and backgrounds.

Melinda Hedgecorth

Melinda has been called “spectacular” , “a delicate force”, and “ stylistically beautiful.” She draws her inspiration for her movement from her many teachers: Olé’s founder and artistic director Tamara ‘La Garbancito’ Carson, Isabel Bayon, Rosario Toledo, Israel Galvan, Belen Maya, Rafaela Carasco, Manuel Linan, and Mercedes Ruiz just to name a few. Her poise and control come from a life-time of training in ballet. Her fluidity and openness to new ideas come from her background in modern dance.

In 1997 she graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in ballet, modern, and flamenco.

In 1999 she began yearly trips to Madrid and Jerez to cultivate a more profound understanding of flamenco. She also performed flamenco as an on-going guest artist with companies in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Vancouver, Cananda. In various cities she was asked to give workshops in addition to her regular classes in Seattle.

For two and a half years now Melinda has been living full-time in Seville, Spain. She performs regularly, takes classes and works at a cultural center where she educates the public about flamenco. It is in Sevilla that she feels that she can best develop into a more able teacher and complete artist.

Kristina de Sacremento

Kristina has studied with some of Spain’s finest and brightest flamencos: Javier Barón, Ciro, Jose Correia, Carmen Cortés, Merche Esmeralda, Alejandro Granados, Antonio Granjero, Carmela Greco, Joaquín Grilo, El Güito, Yolanda Heredia, Javier Latorre, Juanjo Linares, Manolete, Mario Maya, Inmaculada Ortega, Luis Ortega, Joaquín Ruiz, and the inimitable La Tati. Stateside, she has studied with Susana di Palma, María Benitez, La Tania, and visiting master teachers in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City. She returns frequently to study with her Paris mentor, Patricio Martin, and annually to Spain, where she continues to study both time-honored and new styles with the leading “figuras” of the day.

In a career that spans nearly two decades, Kristina has performed in such diverse Twin Cities venues as the American History Theater, Hennepin Center for the Arts, Southern Theater, O’Shaugnessey Auditorium, Macalester and Augsburg Colleges, the University of Minnesota Rarig Center, Theatre Garage, Intermedia Arts, Orchestra Hall, Teatre de la Juene Lune, and Pantages Theatre. Further from home, she’s been seen at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion; the International Dance Festival in Branson, Missouri; La Solea in Madrid, Spain; and the house of García Lorca in Fuente Vaquero, Spain (in celebration of Lorca’s 100th Birthday). She was even featured as the “clatter in your car engine” in a motor oil television commercial!

Currently, in addition to her roles as director, principal dancer, choreographer, and teacher with Anda Flamenco, she is a soloist with Rincón del Flamenco, a sister flamenco organization here in the Twin Cities. Rincón del Flamenco has performed regularly at Babalú and Nochee in Minneapolis, and most recently flew to California for its Hollywood premiere at the Ebell Theater!

Antonio Vargas

Flamenco maestro Antonio Vargas has danced over 5 decades, studied with great masters in Spain and formed a dance company at age 22. Antonio’s vast experience in Flamenco working with great artistes from various stages to big festivals worldwide has given him a deep and broad understanding of Flamenco.

In the last 10 years, he has dedicated himself to sharing his knowledge to professional artistes worldwide and others. He is known for his creative choreographic capabilities and continues to break new grounds in experimental works with other dance and art forms, adept at the Flamenco vocabulary as Flamenco continues to be his passion and way of life.

Timo Lozano

Timo Lozano began his dance training at the age of nine and began touring the world with the Jose Greco Dance Company when he was seventeen. He has performed at such venues as the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and La Zarzuela Theater in Madrid and many more.

He taught at Amor de Dios School of Flamenco in Madrid for ten years and has given workshops in thirteen countries and twenty-two cities.

He wrote, acted and choreographed the movie “Alma Gitana” and played cajon in the Mike Figgis documentary, “Flamenco Women”.

Liliana Morales

Liliana Morales has performed in the US, Europe, Asia Australia and South America. She performed as guest solo artist with various dance companies such as Jose Greco, Maria Alba, Luisillo ballet de Madrid, Lola Montes, La Tati and many more.

She has worked in television, videos and major opera companies such as the New York City Opera, Amato Opera and Zarzuela in Madrid; and has performed in various flamenco tablaos in Madrid and Seville .

She has taught at Stephens College, MU, Ballet Hispanico of NY and Young Audiences in NY.

She has choreographed for various groups in Los Angeles, New York and Madrid and is the founder and director of Spanish American Dance Arts Company.