Master Artist / Teachers
"In order to be the best, you must learn from the best."
- Tamara 'La Garbancito' Carson
Olé 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.
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.
JULIA CHACON is the founder, director and choreographer for Flamenco Theatre. She was a finalist for the 2021 and 2019 Mayor’s Arts Award, the 2019 Arizona Governor’s Arts Award, is a two-time Artist in Residence at the Musical Instrument Museum, and 2022 marked her company’s fifth year on the season programming of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. In 2021, Julia curated the historic exhibition “Spanish Legacies,” with Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation curator, Brittney Arnold, at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts highlighting 75 years of Spanish dance in the Phoenix Valley. The exhibit was displayed from September 2021 until March of 2022. Julia served as Chair of the Dance Advisory Committee at Scottsdale Center from 2018 until 2023, advocating for opportunity for Arizona dance artists.
Trained extensively in Spanish dance, ballet and modern dance, Julia toured as a soloist with flamenco companies based in New York, Madrid, Seville and Santa Fe for over a decade, performing in Spain, throughout the USA, Colombia and Mexico. She founded her troupe in 2008 and has taught workshops at Louisiana State University’s Dance Program. She co-presented at TEDX LSU in 2016; was an invited presenter at the National Conference of the National Dance Education Organization; was featured in Dance Studio Life Magazine and has been on the Travel Channel with Samantha Brown. Her choreography was performed in the 50th Anniversary of the Shanghai Opera House in China. While dancing in Boston, she substitute taught flamenco classes at Harvard University.
Julia was named a Master Artist and awarded a Folk Art Grant by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs of New Mexico. Recent press includes Phoenix Magazine’s Monthly Top Ten, an interviewed by VoyagePhoenix; a five page spread in Images Arizona Magazine, and events listed in the top picks of Scottsdale Magazine and the New Times “Things to Do.”
Julia has executed flamenco arts education programs at schools across the Phoenix Valley districts and instructs students of all ages in the private sector. She is former lead teaching artist for “Project Olé,” where where she helped develop curriculum for arts education programming implemented throughout the five Burroughs of New York and across the state of North Carolina.
Born in New Mexico, Julia was raised in Arizona. She holds a BFA in Dance (magna cum laude) and BS in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico, an MFA in Dance and MA in Creative Enterprise and Cultural Leadership from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Theatre & Performance of the Americas. She received a JEDI award from the ASU Graduate & Professional Student Association in 2021 for her work in advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through advocacy and research and was recognized as a Notable Graduate Student upon completing her master’s degrees in 2022.
Bio forthcoming.
Julie Galle 'Julie Moon' has performed and choreographed flamenco dance for the Atlanta Opera, Georgia State University's School of Music, The Latin American Association, Gateway Performance Productions, Coves Darden P.R.E., Visa, and at universities and museums from the Southeast to the Midwest. She is a member of the faculty of Emory University's Dance Program, where she teaches flamenco as part of the university curriculum. Julie is a former instructor of the Atlanta Ballet, and currently tours her original shows for kids "Ferdinand por farruca" and "Mapping Flamenco."
Julie's dance style reflects continuing education and years of classes with dance and history teachers in Spain. Off stage, Julie produces flamenco performances and educational seminars involving Spanish flamenco artists in residence in the United States of America. She lectures on the history, evolution, and cultural significance of Flamenco and its artists. Julie is the co-founder of jaleolé, a grass-roots marketing organization that shaped Atlanta’s Flamenco landscape for a decade.
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”.
Timo passed away in 2014 but his legacy lives on in his students and in the many videos of his performances and workshops that can be found online. Here is a link to his YouTube channel where you can see some of his work:
https://youtu.be/j2Jxr9KgiQc?si=p1vBMAf5-mu4nUsh
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.
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.
Critically acclaimed and noted, Juan Talavera is a Spanish flamenco dancer, choreographer, instructor, company director, and actor. He has received numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Barbara Flamenco Dance Festival Association. His artistry has graced movies, TV shows, commercials, and music videos.
A teenage Juan Talavera received a call one day from Margarita Cordova, a Flamenco dancer in need of a partner. Talavera accepted the request to be her partner and together they danced at the Purple Onion -- the first place in Los Angeles to have Flamenco dance. After at least six years of dancing there, Cordova, Talavera and Cordova's husband, Clark Allen, started to think of the idea of opening up their own Flamenco hub. According to Cordova, this was their only way of holding a permanent job, after having random gigs lasting only four to six weeks.
“In Flamenco there are a lot of great dancers and guitarists and singers and I've got to work with the best at El Cid,” said Talavera who believed El Cid was an educational experience for him as he shared the stage with well-known performers.
YouTube
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.
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!