Current Guest Artists
These artists are on our current roster. They have been selected both for their exceptional talent in Spanish performing arts and for their desire to bring these art forms to communities where they are less well known.
Jose Manuel Tudela
Guitarist
José is a native of Seville, Spain, and began his formal training at age 11. His instructors included Jaime Burgos, Benito de Merida, and Carmen Mora. Jose has performed extensively in Europe, Asia, and America at tablaos, for dance companies, for singers, at festivals, and on television shows. He is a guitar instructor and performer and offers workshops in Europe. He is very well known for his impressive work in Spain.
Jose Moreno
Guitarist, singer, percussionist, dancer
Jose, now based in New Jersey, was born into a family of famous Flamenco artists, including Estrella Morena (dancer) and Pepe de Málaga (singer). Jose began his Flamenco career during his childhood. His debut was at the famous Tablao Flamenco Costa Vasca.
Jose continued his studies with the Great Manolete, Farruquito, and Andres Marin, and he studied el cajón (percussion) with Manuel Soler. Jose has been invited to perform with many distinguished international companies and artists around the world. He is also an accomplished choreographer.
Paco Fonta
Guitarist, singer, composer
Paco is internationally recognized as an outstanding Flamenco artist. He began his professional career performing in tablaos and festivals accompanying singers and dancers such as La Niña de la Huerta and Antonio Molina. In 1985 he won first prize in cante jondo at the Flamenco festival in Jaen. Paco came to Miami in 1986 to open the famous Cacharrito’s Place Tablao. He works in the U.S. and abroad with the Ensemble Español, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, Bailes Ferrer and Carman Garza Flamenco Ballet from Venezuela. His guitar and voice can be heard on famous artists’ recordings such as Gloria Estefan, Olga Tañon & David Beisbal to name a few.
Maria Del Mar Villaú
Dancer
Maria is the founder and co-director of the Hermanas Villaú Dance School and Company. She is from Alcala de Guadaira, Seville, Spain. A graduate of the Real Conservatory of Dance in Seville, she holds numerous certificates for performance, choreography and instruction. She has toured extensively throughout Spain and Europe and has earned first place in many competitions.
Patricia Cargo Andular
Dancer, singer
Patricia is a graduate of the Real Conservatory of Dance in Seville, Spain, and holds a license in textual interpretation from the School of Dramatic Arts of Seville. Patricia is the founder and director of Aire y Quejio, a school of dance and song in Tomares, where she is also an instructor. She combines her areas of study by working as a singer and dancer for different companies, television, and artists, including Haze, Alexandra Jiménez, and La Navegación/Teatromares. She has performed in the US, Mexico, Europe and Ecuador. In 2009, she founded the Flamenco group Puente de Barcas, which won the first place in the Modern Flamenco regional event.
Alejandro Vega
Dancer, percussionist
Alejandro is based in San Diego and is part of the second generation of a Flamenco family from Spain. He discovered the cajón —Flamenco percussion box— at age 16. After studying with the famous Spanish Flamenco cajón player Ramón Porrina, he began to perform with accomplished artists, including La Tati, David Amaya, El Cigala, Maria de Toledo, Antonio Reyes, and Domingo Ortega. Having danced Flamenco from a young age, he made his New York debut performance at the Casa de España with the Soul and Duende dance company in the late 90s.
Juan Polvillo
Dancer
Juan’s dance development began with the legendary instructors Manolo Marín, Matilda Corral, Manolete, and La Fonta. His performance experience includes Lancet del Arenal with the Heeren Foundation and De la Luna al Viento with the dance company of Maria Pagés. He has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Riqueña, Carmen Linares, Carmen Montoya and Maria Pagés. He has toured internationally in Russia, the Czech Republic, Canada, Japan and the US. His Spanish tablao experience includes Casa España and Casa de Flamenco. He also appeared in the movie Sevillanas, directed by Carlos Saura.
Liliana De La Caridad Fagoaga Lavandera
Dancer
Liliana began her studies at the Andalusian Center in Havana when she was just four years old. She studied and performed in Cuba with the National Ballet under the direction of Alicia Alonzo. Her instructors also include such masters as Cristina Hoyos, Daniel Navarro and Joaquin Cortes. At 25 years old, she was selected to work with the company Habana Night as a soloist in the Flamenco solo show “Gypsy,” presented at the Rio and Sahara hotels in Las Vegas. She currently performs in various shows in South Florida and at private events and Flamenco festivals, activities that she combines with giving private and group classes in Miami.
Marcos Jimenez
Dancer
Marcos was born in Seville, Spain. His extensive experience as a dancer has made him a name in the world of Flamenco. His instructors include Manolo Marin, Pilar Ortega, and Concha Vargas, among others.
Carolina Barrera
Dancer
Carolina is a native of Dos Hermanas, a city in Seville, Spain. She graduated from the Real Conservatory of Seville and is the artistic director and instructor of her own dance academy, La Fragua. She brings a unique combination of precision, elegance, and power to her performances.
Abel Naranja
Dancer
Abel began to study dance with Antonio Gades, Jose Antonio Benitez, and Anna Maria Lopez. Later instructors included Joaquin, El Grilo, and Manolo Marin. In Madrid, he studied with Domingo Ortega, Antonio Reyes, and La China. He has danced at numerous tablaos throughout Andalusia. In addition, he has extensive international experience in countries such as Japan, Dubai, Qatar, Marta, Norway, New Zealand, and the US. He is currently a member of the Andres Marin Company and performed in the production Quixote. He also regularly performs at La Casa de Flamenco in Seville.
Allan Naranjo
Dancer
Allan, a native of Costa Rica, is a Flamenco dancer, choreographer and instructor with extensive international experience. He has taught and performed in the US, Mexico, France, Israel, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Spain. Trained by the best instructors in Seville, Allan has his own dance academy and dance school, Flamenco Naranjo, in Costa Rica.
Melisa Cruz
Dancer
A native of the Philippines, Melissa lives in the San Francisco area and discovered Flamenco as a student at UC Berkeley. She then studied with Rosa Montoya, becoming the first dancer in Rosa’s academy. She also studied in Spain for several years. Currently, she teaches Flamenco full time and performs regularly in the Bay Area, in Flamenco tablaos, and as a percussionist and dancer with the groups LoCura, Istanbul Connection, and Soga. She has over 15 years of experience in Flamenco dance.
Maria “Marquesita” Heredia
Dancer
Marquesita began training at age four under Carmen Mora and her husband, guitarist Benito de Merida. She has shared the stage with Lola Flores and Faico and has traveled with instructors such as José Galvan, Manolo Marín, Antonio Canolels, and Manolete, among others. She has performed with the companies of Christina Hoyos, Manuela Carrasco, Alejandro Granados, Rafael Amargo, Eva la Yerbabuena, and Compañia Farruquito. She has performed in such theaters as Casa de Memoria, Museo Flamenco de Cristina Hoyos, and La Casa de Flamenco. She is also known as “La Marquesita”, is a Sevillian dancer characterized by her powerful footwork and graceful impudence.
Patricia Ibáñez Troupe
Dancer
Patricia started training and performing Spanish dance at age five, instructed by Cristobal El Jerezano. She later studied at the Anna Maria Lopez Academy and performed in the production of “Semilla Flamenca.” She performed for several years at Peña Flamenca de Huelva starting in 1997. Throughout her career, she has performed with numerous nationally known companies in Spain. She has taught workshops in Japan and Germany and performed in the US and Canada. A member of Ballet Andaluz de Cristina Hoyos, she has received first prize for her dance Alegrías, among many other awards in her career.