FESTIVAL FLAMENCO GITANO 2011
Instructor Profiles
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BAILE
JOSE MAYA
Jose Maya, AKA "Joselito Romero," one of the most explosive dancers in Spain today, is a powerful figure in flamenco's new generation. He comes from a family of Gypsy intellectuals in Madrid: artists, actors and writers, including painter Antonio Maya and dancer Fernanda Romero. He has collaborated with many of the most well-known flamenco artists including Farruquito, El Güito,
Manolete, Estrella Morente, Gerardo Núñez and Diego El Cigala, and has opened for pop stars Marc Anthony, Beyoncé and Björk. He was featured as the main dancer in Gypsy filmmaker Tony Gatlif's recent performance project "Vertigo" which toured throughout Europe.
As a member of Grammy-winning guitarist Tomatito's sextet he thrilled US audiences in an East Coast tour in 2008. Maya now returns to the US with his own company, hot off a busy year of performances including the prestigious 2010 Bienal del Arte Flamenco de Sevilla, International Flamenco Festivals in Brazil and Albuquerque New Mexico and the 2011 Flamenco Festival de Jerez.
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DIEGO DEL MORAO
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LUIS DE LA TOTA
Luis is a beloved teacher known for his ability to share the secrets of flamenco compás with endless energy, humor and grace. Born in one of the oldest Gypsy neighborhoods of Jerez de La Frontera, El Barrio de Santiago, Luis de la Tota began his career as a percussionist at the age of 8. He takes his artistic name from his grandmother 'La Tota', who has been an inspiration to him since his infancy. As a percussionist and palmero, Luis tours with flamenco's top artists such as Antonio Del Pipa, Fernando de La Morena, El Capullo, Moraito, Diego Carrasco and Angelita Vargas and has come to the Bay Area several times with dancer Maria "Chacha" Bermudez. As a Flamenco lyricist, his verses (letras) have been recorded widely and his work as a percussionist can be heard on many CDs.
Testimonial:
"I'm taking time off this summer to study with Luis de la Tota who is arguably the best palmero in the whole world...except he has an identical twin brother named Ali who is hmmm, well, just as good! I have seen Luis perform countless times and he is the embodiment of compas and accompanies with such JOY that you cannot help but watch him. Nevermind the dancer. The dancer can be doing the most spectacular footwork, but the man behind the dancer is Luis with all his palmas, jaleo and aire.
"Hanging out at the Pena Chacon with Luis, you start to realize that this man eats, drinks, lives, breathes flamenco, inventing bulerias letras on the fly about random people that walk into the bar and random situations. Alas, you realize that he was born with it."
KASANDRA "LA CHINA" Portland, Oregon
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CAJON/PERCUSSION
LUCKY LOSADA
Luis Fernández Salazar, Lucky Losada, as he is known artistically, was born in Madrid on May 20, 1978, within a family of great artists that include his uncle, "El Vaqui", a great musician and composer, his brother guitarist Ivan Losada and his father, Tito Losada, the figure who has contributed the most to his musical career and with whom he begins receiving guitar lessons at the age of 11.
At age of 14 he traded in his guitar for a cajon and soon became one of the most sought after flamenco percussionists on today's scene. From a young age he began working with Antonio Canales. He later worked with Merche Esmeralda in the show "Mujeres" along with guest artists Sara Baras and Eva "Yerbabuena". He accompanied Enrique Morente and Tomatito at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2005 and has worked with Duquende, Guadiana, Pepe Luis Carmona, Diego el Cigala among others.
His recording credits include Niña Pastori's "No hay quinto malo," Parrita's "Parrita con el Alma," Tomatito's "Aguadulce," Diego el Cigala's "Undebel" and "Picasso en mis Ojos"and Guadiana's "Cuando el Río Suena."
For the last four years, he has been a member of Tomatito's sextet and has performed with him all over the world and at Spain's most prestigious theaters and festivals.
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