Check back soon for information on La Emi's upcoming 2023 Summer Series.
La Emi started studying flamenco with the María Benítez Institute for Spanish Arts (ISA) when she was four years old, her passion for the art of flamenco continued to grow and she went on to study intensively in Spain with Gala Vivancos, Carmela Greco, La Popi and many others. Launched in 2014, this dynamic company is comprised of an ensemble of local and international artists, dancers, and musicians. La Emi began her professional career with Heritage Hotels & Resorts in partnership with the National Institute of Flamenco in the summer of 2018 and founded her non-profit EmiArteFlamenco Academy in 2019, where she continues to teach and is the Executive Director.
From Dixon/Embudo, NM, Vicente is devoted to cante flamenco. In 1999, he toured internationally with José Greco II and mentored by Alfonso Gabarri, “El Veneno”. Griego is a pupil of guitarist (José Valle, Chuscales) and singer, José Fernández. Griego performs with Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, and EmiArteFlamenco. He is lead singer in the rumba flamenca band, ReVóZo. Griego is a faculty member in the department of Theatre and Dance at the University of New Mexico.
Gabriel Lautaro Osuna was born into a family of artists and musicians in New Mexico and began playing as a child. His first teacher was New Mexico legend Cipriano Vigil. Gabriel later studied with some of the greatest flamenco guitar masters both locally and in Spain including Chuscales, El Entri, El Viejín, Ramón Jiménez, Pedro Cuadra, Rafael Habichuela, Juan Maya Marote, Miguel Angel Cortés and David Marín. He has performed extensively in the United States and abroad.
Juan Siddi has been described by the Santa Fe New Mexican as “a bundle of beautiful energy tempered by technique and taste.” His high-profile presence in the United States where he directs, teaches, choreographs and performs for more than a decade, nominated him for various recognition archives such as San Francisco’s Isadora Duncan Award, and Santa Fe’s Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. Appearances include guest artist/ choreographer for Theatre Flamenco San Francisco. American Bolero Dance Company, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and most recently the 2021 Flamenco Festival Albuquerque.
Photo Credit: Morgan Smith
Meagan Chandler is a performance artist and expressive arts educator with over 20 years of professional dedication to Flamenco Cante. Flamenco first claimed her as a youth in her home town of Boulder, CO. She took her first wobbly cante steps in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain at age 20, and from there has built a flourishing career of her Flamenco love affair. Meagan has toured nationally with such groups as Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Flamenco Denver, Inspiracion Flamenca, and Abrepaso. Meagan also has two decades of experience teaching Flamenco arts education programs with Carlota Santana’s Project Olé based in North Carolina, sparking the passion of the art form in the next generation.
Cienna Chavez is a dancer, artist, and performer at heart. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and started dancing at Tierra Adentro of New Mexico and The National Institute of Flamenco, where she learned flamenco was her calling. She has been a part of groups such as Niños and Teeños Flamencos and Young Flamenco Philanthropists. In these groups, she performed for the community and raised money for young dancers to study flamenco. In her years of training, she has learned danza española, escuela bolera, jota, and ballet alongside studying flamenco. She has worked with dozens of guest artists; the one that influenced her the most was Hugo López due to his ability to dance freely and genderless, aspects she wants to incorporate in her art.
Photo Credit: Joel Wigelsworth
Janira Cordova started dancing at the age of five with Baile Español, a folklorico group in Santa Fe. Soon thereafter, she discovered flamenco and began studying under María Benítez at the Institute for Spanish Arts. By age 8, Janira joined Flamenco’s Next Generation group, a youth company through the Institute of Spanish Arts. As she continued to perform and cultivate her passion for flamenco, Janira studied under well-known artists, such as Adela Clara, Juan Siddi, José Junco, Antonio Granjero, Ileana Gómez, and many others. Later, Janira performed and studied under Mina Fajardo and Chuscales in Santa Fe. Janira has taught at EmiArteFlamenco Academy and holds a master’s degree in special education from Arizona State University, and is presently working in Santa Fe with children with autism.
Tessa Torres grew up in a family of musicians and performers who sparked her interests in the arts. At age five, inspired by watching her mother, aunt, and cousins on stage, she began dancing under the direction of her aunt, Sonya Casillas, with the San Antonio, TX Parks and Recreation Department's dance program. There, she joined the city's pre-professional youth troupe, Fandango, where a greater knowledge for learning and performing flamenco and folklorico was fostered for 7 years. Tessa has since moved to New Mexico, where she's furthered her studies at UNM and the National Institute of Flamenco.