Kasandra Flamenco is thrilled to present “RUMBA RUMBLE!”, fiery Flamenco dance with a twist of Cuban Rumba! “RUMBA RUMBLE” features Vancouver flamenco dancer, Kasandra “La China”, with international guest guitarist from Havana, Josue Tacoronte, and Afro-Cuban and flamenco percussionist, Davide Sampaolo.
“RUMBA RUMBLE” depicts the evolution in the “Rumba” from folk origins to the “Son”. The music in the show features Josue Tacoronte, award-winning flamenco guitarist-composer from Cuba who lights the stage on fire with Afro-Cuban Flamenco percussionist, Davide Sampaolo. We also welcome notorious flamenco personalities including Father of Vancouver Flamenco, Maestro Oscar Nieto who will sing a fusion in Bulerias Rancheras. Experience the Kasandra Flamenco Ensemble, a group that has been dubbed “a feast for the eyes and ears with an energy that flows like water and skips like fire”.
Kasandra “La China”, Artistic Director and Flamenco Dancer
Josue Otero Tacoronte, International Guest Guitarist and Composer (Cuba)
Davide Sampaolo, Afro-Cuban Flamenco Percussionist
Maestro Oscar Nieto, Singer
Cyrena “La Sirena”, Singer
Mozaico Flamenco dancers
333 Chesterfield Ave, North Vancouver, BC
Tickets In Advance
$25 adult, $20 student/senior
Box Office: Eventbrite
“RUMBA RUMBLE” is a multicultural dialogue as we celebrate how Spanish Flamenco music was greatly influenced by Cuba. As many Spaniards left Spain during the civil war, they travelled to Cuba where they encountered groovy Afro-Cuban rhythms and percussion which merged with Spanish folk, country and traditional songs.
The result was a unique blend of music, that influenced flamenco forevermore! Vancouver’s bailaora Kasandra “La China” dances Guajiras, Colombianas & Rumba which are flamenco song forms that emerged from Cuba and now have become an integral part of the flamenco tradition.
Cuba is enormously important to world music, as the Rumba was born from Afro-Cuban tradition. Many Rumbas exist today, from Rumba Cubana to Rumba Catalan to Rumba Flamenca! Flamenco aficionados and world music fans will enjoy a fresh blend of virtuosic Spanish Flamenco infused with groovy Cuban rhythms and Latin jazz sensibility with music to rival any jazz festival headliner!
With emotional and musical chemistry, rhythm and soniquete , the Kasandra Flamenco Ensemble ignites the audience to an uproar. Enjoy spontaneity, passion and emotion as the artists torch the stage! One Saturday only 8pm at Presentation House Theatre for a unique one of a kind experience!
Kasandra “La China” is one of Canada’s leading flamenco artists renowned for her unrelenting drive to push the artistic envelope. Kasandra is always hungry for new sources of inspiration and knowledge, constantly pushing her musical and choreographic mastery to its limits. She elicits combustible chemistry among artists and has forged collaborations with national and international flamenco artists to critical acclaim. “Vancouver’s flamenco star who has embodied flamenco with her dynamic, precise style.” Flamenco-World magazine.
Kasandra is one of Canada’s leading flamenco artists well-known for her unrelenting drive to push the artistic envelope. She has dedicated and contributed 25+ years to the development and promotion of flamenco dance in Vancouver as a bailaora, artistic director, choreographer, mentor and teacher to many.
As Canada’s Chinese-Canadian flamenco dancer, she has created colourful Asian artistic fusions in theatre production “Cafe de Chinitas” 2006-2015 and its informal tablao cousin “Flamenco Dim Sum” 2022-3.
She is the artistic director of Kasandra Flamenco, known for high calibre shows with international guest artists including productions “Solo Flamenco”, “Encuentros”, “La Tarara” and “Ritmo y Soniquete”.
She founded Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy in 2002 with her mentor, Oscar Nieto, and has produced shows for the professional group Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre, managed Mozaico Flamenco cuadro performances and community group “Los Mozaicos”.
Kasandra is currently promoting the flamenco art form as director of the Mozaico Flamenco Sunday Salon Series and outdoor Pop Up Series. She continues to educate audiences in this digital pandemic age through “Flamenco Café” online intercultural, educational series on youtube and she is currently documenting the History of Vancouver Flamenco.
This is the premier of “ROJO Y SOMBRA” and the culmination of years of exploration and research dancing with red aerial silk fabric and her first full length flamenco-contemporary show.
Josué Otero Tacoronte, is a highly acclaimed guitarist, composer and musical arranger originally from Havana, Cuba. He began his musical studies at the age of six and trained in classical piano and guitar, winning numerous national competitions. In 1997 he ventured out into playing Spanish flamenco guitar working as a composer, music director and musical arranger for the Spanish Ballet of Cuba, and Aires Flamenco Company in Havana, and also the Ballet Español Proart, Cale Bari, and Mexico Flamenco in Mexico. He has studied flamenco guitar with many maestros including Antonio Rodriguez, Pedro Sierra, Paco Jarana, Jesus Torres, José Luís Rodriguez, Eduardo Rebollar, Pedro Sanchez and Antonio Rey.
One of his most important musical achievements has been his consistent contribution on research, musical arrangements, performance and recording of the Cuban guitar repertoire that includes pieces by composers such as Leo Brouwer, Ernesto Lecuona, amongst others, crossing over into other genres such as flamenco without losing Cuban essence. He has recorded several albums including “Josué Tacoronte y Skpao”, “Mexico Flamenco “ and “Brouwer Flamenco” for which he was awarded “Best Concert Interpreter” at the International Festival CUBADISCO Awards, in May 2013. He toured all over Cuba, Spain, Argentina, USA, Switzerland, Austria, Morocco, France, Dominican Republic, Peru and Mexico.
Originally from Rome, Davide was born into a family of musicians and studied music at the “Scuola popolare di Musica di Testaccio” and at the “TIMBA drum and percussion school” where he studied Afro-Cuban drums (Congas, Timbal, Bongò, Batà) with great maestros such as Roberto “Mamey” Evangelisti, Paulo La Rosa, Valter Paiola and Gabriele Gagliarini. He learned from prominent figures such as Reinaldo Hernandez Ramirez and Irian Lopez Rodriguez, growing his knowledge about Cuban folklore, Rumba, Son, Salsa and Latin Jazz.
He travelled to Spain regularly for many years to Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Barcelona to understand the language of the Flamenco Cajon, and then moved to Madrid to learn more about modern Flamenco Cajon with the great maestros José Ruiz “Bandolero”, Rafael Jimenez “el Chispas”, José Antonio Montaña and Kike Terron.
He has performed and toured internationally, playing for great Flamenco artists from Spain and Italy including dancers Pastora Galvan, Ivan Vargas Heredia and Cristina Benitez; guitarists Anton Jimenez, Manuel Montero Miranda, Vahagni Turgutyan; singers Antonio Villar, Davide Hornillo, Coral de los Reyes, among many others. He works in the Latin and Flamenco scenes here in Vancouver and regularly with Kasandra “La China”
Oscar Nieto is one of the original pioneers of flamenco in Vancouver where he has performed, taught and promoted the art for more than 40 years. He founded his dance company, Mozaico de Danzas, in Los Angeles in 1972. This was the seed that would eventually grow to become Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy and the professional company Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre. Through his many years as a mentor and role model, Oscar has become a respected pillar of Vancouver’s vital flamenco community.
A charismatic and consummate performer, Oscar has been called “a flamenco Fred Astaire” by the LA Times. His impeccable technique, striking choreography, and irresistible stage presence have brought countless devotees to the arts of flamenco and Spanish dance.
The recipient of numerous grants in support of his work, Oscar has dedicated much of his life to the study of the evolution of Spanish dance and flamenco. His productions have combined his vast knowledge of the traditions of Spanish dance arts with his unstoppable innovative spirit, including multi-media elements, non-traditional instrumentation and contemporary choreographic fusions.
Kasandra Flamenco and Mozaico Flamenco
Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy Ltd.
Kasandra Lea 604-671-9182
kasandraflamenco@gmail.com