OLÉ MUSIC AND DANCE OF SPAIN
FACTS AND HISTORY
MISSION To respect the music and dance of Spain’s
culture through education and performance
GOALS To create an appreciation for Spanish dance
and music, specifically flamenco, throughout Kansas City
ESTABLISHED 1991
LEADERSHIP Tamara La Garbancito Carson, Founder and Artistic Director
ACTIVITIES Educational outreach programs servicing the region as well as metropolitan areas, developed
and managed first by Young Audiences and later by Cultural Kaleidoscope over the last decade are
now available as an outreach program through OLÉ MUSIC AND DANCE OF SPAIN directly.
For more information, see the school performances web page or call 816-741-6171.
ACHIEVEMENTS from members and former members of OLE
Joan Esposito
joined the professional touring company of Jose Molina
Miguel Marin
became business manager of the New York based Carlota Santata Spanish Dance Company.
MIguel now owns Marin Production Company which produces flamenco shows throughout the world.
Melinda Hedgecorth
moved from Kansas CIty to perform with a professional flamenco company in Seattle, Washington and has returned to Andalucia in Spain since 2004 to study and performn.
(September 2006) Melinda is still in Spain as she continues to study and perform flamenco.
Melinda comes to Kansas City once or twice a year and is available for master class workshops
and private lessons while she is in the area. Check the 'coming events'
calendar for her next scheduled visit.
Erika Hernandez
is currently performing with a professional dance company in Brazil.
*********************Press
Release October 19, 2006 (copied by permission)
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Christine Farris,a student of Kansas City's own Tamara "La Garbancito" Carson has been chosen to
perform in the Summer 2007 tour "Young Tanzsommer." Tanzsommer is an annual
dance festival held in Austria which incorporates performances by world renowned professional dance companies such as Alvin Ailey, The Joffrey Ballet Company,
Bahia Dance of Brazil, Vienna Ballet as well as many other companies from around
the globe.
To be chosen is a prestigious honor as only 5 companies are chosen nationally to
join in this cultural event. Christine will perform with a coalition of dancers
performing as "Signature Dance." Christine was chosen specifically to perform
because of her fine training in the art of Flamenco. She will be a featured
dancer with a group of jazz dancers performing to a piece which was initially
choreographed for her instructor, Tamara, for the UMKC Conservatory of Music and
Dance Faculty Performance in 2003.
The tour normally presents dancers trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. This will
be the first time that a flamenco dancer will perform in this venue. Christine
will be performing in Innsbruck at the Dogana, next to King Maximillian's
palace; in St. Johann in front of 3,000 people; in Kufstein at a Medieval
castle, and in Graz in the Opera House.
Current members of OLÉ MUSIC AND DANCE OF SPAIN are comprised of energetic and diverse working professionals who are committed to the study and preservation of traditional Flamenco music and dance, enriching the community through private and group instruction, master classes and performance. Members of OLÉ are widely varied; some are professional dancers, PhD’s, students, professional women in their fields, and many other vocations. All members of the troupe are committed to the independent study of the Flamenco dance form, continually training and performing both on a national and international level. (please see the roster of artists page for further details)
OLE'
Facts
