Baile - Patricia
Patricia has been dancing since the age of nine with a strong base in classical ballet and jazz dance. She became interested in Flamenco as an adult and began her studies under Rosaio Ancer in Vancouver. Locally she has studied with Rosario, Oscar Nieto, Kasandra (La China) and Gabriella Rojo. While Patricia has danced professionally in many stage shows and movies, she made her flamenco debut with Flamenco del Norte at La Zuppa in North Vancouver a few years ago and continues to dance at LaZuppa periodically. Currently Patricia dances in various cafes around Vancouver.
In Spain, Patricia has acquired extensive training and coaching with leading artists such as Marie Jose Francos, Maria Burmudez, Rafael Campallo and Ana-Maria Lopez. Other instructors include Marcos Flores, Inmaculada Ortega, and Francine Sweet (La Dulce). Patricia has taught flamenco in Vancouver and Regina.
Cante/Guitarist - Luis
Luifer/Luis is a singer-songwriter and a multi-talented artist who was born in Venezuela, with a family background of musicians. Luis was influenced by his father who was a very popular young singer in the country of Venezuela. Luis started in music when he was very young studying at the Jose Angel Lama's Superior Music School in Caracas, Venezuela, when he was 10 years old. Luis fuses multiple musical styles, such as the Flamenco, pop, Latin pop, trova, country and salsa.
In 1995 Luis participated in the OTI international festival (Version Canada ) as a singer-songwriter. Luis has also participated in many other Latin festivals in Toronto, Canada, and many different kinds of Flamenco and Latin events in Vancouver and other parts of Canada. Aside from composing and singing, he plays the Flamenco guitar and cajon Flamenco, and he is one of the main Salsa dancers and performers in the city of Vancouver. In 1995 Luis "Luifer" discovered his new passion for Flamenco music at the Kino Café.
As a singer, dancer, guitar player and most recently as a percussionist, Luis has also been performing with Peter Mole, Poema Flamenco, Jhon Guilliat, Xarabanda band , Ballarta band, Alma Libre, Juan de Marias, Gerardo Alcala, Tambura Rasa, and many others.
Guitarist - Ivan Dimitrov
Ivan is a professional guitarist. He graduated from the Academy of Musical and Dance Arts in Bulgaria and has been performing ever since. Ivan is especially interested in Latin American and Spanish music, Flamenco in particular. This passion for Spanish music led to his collaboration with different flamenco dancers, and he often played for the flamenco dance group of Jose Montoya. Ivan is a versatile musician who, in addition to entertaining with Columbiana, Rumba and Sevillianas, can also provide the perfect elegant background, with waltzes, tangos, ballads, light jazz, etc.
Ivan has performed in major resorts in Bulgaria, and while residing in South Africa, he played at Montecasino and at the Hilton Hotel in Johannesburg, the Manhattan Hotel and Lucid Candle Garden in Pretoria, and at many other venues and events, bringing the magic of the guitar to appreciative audiences.
Ivan is pleased to be joining the Flamenco community in Vancouver. Ivan's music is featured on the Flamenco Contigo website.