Here you can browse a list of most, if not all, of the teachers in the DC area including Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. I do not have the space or time to keep up with constantly changing class schedules--sometimes teachers will cancel classes or send substitutes on days they have special performances. Please contact the individual teachers for more information. TIP: this is also a good place to find performers.
Estela Velez, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, trained intensively with Maestro Antonio Santaella and recognized Spanish figures La Tati, Omayra Amaya, Mercedes Amaya, Joaquin Grilo, Vero "La India" Pastora Galvan, Israel Galvan, Belen Fernandez, and Cristobal Reyes. She has trained locally with Ana Martinez, Jaime Coronado, and Ziva Cohen. In addition, she has studied with other noted flamenco figures Antonio Vargas, and Joaquin Encinias at the Flamenco Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has a background in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and belly dance.
In a 2002 review in the Washington Post, Ms. Velez was described as "a stunning performer with a gaze that enraptured." She has been performing flamenco in the Washington DC area since 1998. In 2001, Ms. Velez was invited to perform with Ballet Antonio Santaella in a production of "Julia en Flamenco" at El Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has been noted for her elegance and vitality. "Certain performers clearly stood out. One was Estela Velez, a student of both Flamenco and Middle Eastern Dance. She delivered a strong, graceful performance to a haunting piece of Flamenco and Native American fusion music" (Washington Area Mid East Dance Association Newsletter, March/April 2002).
Ms. Velez has performed in many venues, including the Kennedy Center, the Jack Guidone Theater, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Dance Place, Publick Playhouse, and Alden Theatre. She has appeared in festivals and showcases throughout the DC metro area, such as First Night Annapolis, Artscape, Magical Montgomery, and Creative Dimensions. She has also performed in flamenco demonstrations for District of Columbia and Montgomery County public schools. Most recently, Ms. Velez was invited to perform with her group Furia Flamenca at the Metro DC Dance Awards Nominations Reception at the Mexican Cultural Institute.
Felicia German (Baltimore/DC/Spain) DC number 443-564-1135 OR Spain number +011-34-680-27-26-15 feligerman@yahoo.com (Gives workshops when visiting DC area)
Genoveva (Washington, DC) (202)468-8461
Kayoko Iwamoto (Falls Church, VA) (Moved to Japan in August 2004)
Just added Genoveva's to the dance teacher listings. Currently working on class info--will publish soon.
1/18/2006
Just added Marsha Bonet aka Rosa la Huracana to the dance teacher listings. She teaches at Alliance Dance Institute in Alexandria, VA. Call 703-354-6000 and tell them Miguelito sent you! :-)
1/10/2005
To help you get to know more about local teachers, I just added the "Featured Teacher Profile" which is randomly displayed from a list of submitted profiles. Reload this page to see the other profiles. Teachers: send me your info and pic to be included here. It's FREE!
1/3/2005
Updated Estela Velez' info. She'll be starting a new Flamenco I class on Monday Jan 10th 7:15pm at Center for Ballet Arts. Visit her official website Furia Flamenca.
12/27/2004
Added Felicia German to the dance teacher listings. Although living in Spain, she plans on giving workshops whenever visiting DC. She's coming back in the spring. Here are some pics from her most recent one.
11/30/2004
Ulrika Frank will be taking over Sara Candela's classes at DC Dance Collective starting Jan 2005.
11/11/2004
Updated Richard Marlow and Kivanc's website address.
10/5/2004
Felicia German is giving a workshop at Experimental Movement Concepts (Baltimore). The workshop is Monday through Friday, October 25-29 at 8pm. There may be a small group class at 9pm for intermediate/advanced dancers. Call Stacie Lanier at 410-366-2626 for more information and to sign up.
9/30/2004
Debra Belo begins two levels of 8-week dance workshops this Saturday Oct 2. Details
9/23/2004
Ziva and Joy of Motion have parted ways. She is very focused on her students and will branch out into more specialized fields of flamenco. Her company is growing and will be doing more performances. She now teaches out of her own studio at Rockville. Details.
9/22/2004
Ulrika Frank has been added to the dance teacher listings. Welcome to the DC flamenco community, Ulrika!
Estela Velez added to the faculty at Joy of Motion. Congrats Estela!
8/29/2004
Fall 2004 flamenco shedule at American Dance Institute:
Thursdays: Intro 6:30-7:30 pm and Beginning I 7:30-8:30pm
Saturdays: Teen Flamenco 11-12pm, Beginning I & II 12-1pm; Intermediate 1-2:30pm
Study with the professionals - Anna Menendez and Sara Jerez-Marlow
Just added Kristi O'Brien to the dance teachers' listing. Originally from NYC,
she is now based in Charlottesville, VA. She starts a 6 week session Saturday,
September 18, with a FREE trial class on September 11th. Classes are at
ACAC, 29 N. from 4-5 pm. She will be focusing on sevillanas this session.
Live accompaniment.
Marsha Bonet aka Rosa la Huracana (Alexandria, VA) (703)354-6000 at Alliance Dance Institute.
Tamara Sol Flys (Baltimore, MD) (410)299-3926