Yolanda Osuna
October 19 -25, 2024
Toronto Flamenco Workshops is proud to present a 6-day workshop with Yolanda Osuna.​
In addition, we are proud to partner with Tablao Flamenco Toronto to bring Yolanda Osuna back to the stage! After her captivating performances last year, we simply couldn't get enough of her.​
When: Sunday, October 20, 3:30PM
Where: The Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
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Yolanda will be joined by established Canadian artists who are renowned pillars of the local flamenco community. Al toque: Nicolás Hernandez; al cante: Marcos Marin; and on percussion: Chendy Léon. Read their bios here.
About Yolanda
Yolanda Osuna is a prominent figure in the flamenco world, inspiring audiences and students alike with her dedication to the art form. She began her dance education at the Luis del Rio Professional Conservatory of Dance, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Dance Pedagogy from the Superior Conservatory of Dance of Málaga. In addition to Flamenco, Yolanda has trained in various Spanish dance styles including folklore, classical and bolero school.
As a performer, Yolanda has collaborated with artists who are considered flamenco institutions in their own right, including Paco Peña, Javier Latorre, and Faustino Nuñez, amongst others. She has toured nationally and internationally in important theaters like Sadlers Wells Theater in London, Joyce Theater in NYC, Radio City Music Hall, Teatro Real in Madrid, Palacio Bellas Artes in Mexico, Teatro Sucre in Quito, Teatro Bolivar in Bolivia, Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, National Theatre of Japan, Shanghai Academy Theatre, Opera House in Chengdu, Liyuan Theatre, and more.
Yolanda Osuna’s flamenco style is a captivating blend of traditional and contemporary elements. She seamlessly integrates traditional flamenco techniques with contemporary dance forms. This fusion allows her to create performances that are both rooted in flamenco’s rich history and innovative in their expression. Yolanda is known for her ability to convey deep emotions through her dance. Her performances are not just about technical precision but also about storytelling and emotional expression. This makes her shows deeply moving and resonant with audiences.
In addition to her performance career, Yolanda is dedicated to teaching and choreography. She runs her own dance school, where she imparts her extensive knowledge and passion for flamenco to the next generation of dancers. Her teaching approach is known for its emphasis on both technical precision and expressive artistry.
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WORKSHOP DETAILS
​Levels/Palos/Dates/Time/Location
OCTOBER 19 – ACADEMY OF SPANISH DANCE
Intermediate – Tientos – 3:30 to 4:30
Technique – 4:45 to 5:45
Advanced – Soléa por Bulerías – 6:00 to 7:00
OCTOBER 21 – WINCHESTER STREET THEATRE
Intermediate – Tientos – 6:00 to 7:00
Technique – 7:15 to 8:15
Advanced – Soléa por Bulerías – 8:30 to 9:30
OCTOBER 22, 23, 24, 25 – PIA BOUMAN STUDIOS
Intermediate – Tientos – 5:30 to 6:30
Technique – 6:45 to 7:45
Advanced – Soléa por Bulerías – 8:00 to 9:00
Fees
Full course (6 hours): $290 + HST
Single class (1 hour): $55 + HST
Locations
Academy of Spanish Dance
401 Richmond Street W, Unit B104, Toronto
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Winchester Street Theatre
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Pia Bouman Studios
TABLAO - MUSICIANS' BIOS
NICOLAS HERNANDEZ - With over 30 years of experience under his fingers, Nicolas’ style has evolved into a distinctive, modern “voice” in the flamenco genre. His debut CD “Buscando mi voz” won a Just Plain Folks Award for Best Flamenco Album in 2009 and his second CD “Rupakerias” was released in 2018. The highlights of his career include sharing a Dora Mavor Moore Award (with Chuscales) for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition Dance in 2015 and sharing a total of 6 nominations in the same category for 6 different productions (with Chuscales and Oscar Lago) between 2007 and 2013. Another highlight was when one of the tunes from his Rupakerias album, “Mociones y Emociones”, was featured in a short film by RealD which was shown at film festivals in the USA and Europe and used as a promotion for RealD’s 3D capabilities for the film industry. Nicolas was the musical director for the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company for over 20 years and toured the world with the Jesse Cook band for 16 years.
ROSENDO CHENDY LEÓN AROCHA was born and raised in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba in 1973. He grew up watching and playing most Cuban percussion instruments with his father, Rosendo León Sanchez. He also danced a lot with his mother, Maria J. Arocha Martinez. These two incredible human beings are the most important influences he had in his life. By age 18 he began his professional career, performing and recording with many Cuban artists such as: Yagrumas Jazz Band, Rodolfo Chacon, Melao Son, Roberto Javier, Rojitas & su Grupo and the Metropolis (band leader 94-98). In 1998, he was given the opportunity to participate in the production of the music for a Cuban documentary, Policlinico Infernal, which was nominated for an Oscar.
In 1999, he migrated to Toronto, Canada where he has collaborated and played with various artists such as: Havana Express, Nick Ali and Cruzao, Eliana Cuevas, Jane Bunnett, Luis Mario Ochoa and Cimarron, Son Ache, Roberto Occhipinti, Ricky Franco & P-Crew Orchestra, Alexis Baro, Amanda Martinez, Cane Fire, Hilario Duran Big Band and Trio, Sultans of String, EESDC, Chris Church, Nicolas Hernandez, Sophie Milman, Alex Cuba, Parachute Club, Jesse Cook, Patricia Cano, Rebecca Bennendyk, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Elmer Ferrer, Joy Lapps, Larnell Lewis and Dominic Mancuso Group. He has also collaborated and played with international artists Paquito D’Rivera and Angelique Kidjo.
MARCOS MARIN - Born in Spain, Marcos Marin started his musical journey in the famous boy choir Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal, under Gilbert Patenaude’s direction. He then pursued his studies at Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal, where he studied classical guitar with Alvaro Pierri.
Marcos discovered Flamenco when he was just 14 years-old, and from then on, it became the main art form to which he would dedicate his musical career. Musicians like Paco Pedrosa, Manuel Parilla and El Falo have helped him mold and hone his art throughout the years. Marcos’ international stage experience includes working with such artists as Paco Romero (Ecuador), Francis Brunn (Germany), Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca (USA), Juaquin Ruiz (Spain), Esmeralda Enrique (Canada), Caroline Planté and Mariano Cruceta (Canada), Myriam Allard and La Otra Orilla (Canada).