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Maria Osende. Principal dancer
artistic director, choreographer
Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Maria started dancing at age seven . At fifteen she became one of the youngest members of the National Ballet of Spain. At seventeen she received a Fulbright Scholarship to study dance at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Maria was a soloist with the Deutsche Oper Berlin Ballet where she danced a wide ranged repertoire of classical and contemporary dance for eight years.
Maria left the Deusche Oper Berlin to focus exclusively on Flamenco, which at the same time, brought her back to her Spanish origins.
In September 2003 Maria moved to Canada, taking Halifax by storm and turning it into an international flamenco hotspot. Maria performs with the company, teaches at her dance school and is the founder and artistic director of Halifax's Fall for Flamenco Festival. established in 2006, www.flamencofestival.ca
Maria has received the support of the Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage, as well as the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. See Press for reviews.
Francesca Nardi. Dancer
The newest member of the company has studied with Maria Osende since 2006 and recently premiered as a soloist at the Fall for Flamenco Festival in Halifax. In July 2010, she attended a month-long intensive course at the renowned Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco in Seville, Spain becoming the youngest Canadian dancer to study flamenco in Spain. She is the winner of a 2010 Nova Scotia Talent Trust Award.
Colleen Power. Dancer
Originally from Halifax, Colleen always dreamed of becoming a dancer. She began studying Flamenco with Evelyne Benais and continued since 2006 with Maria Osende. Colleen started performing in 2008, amongst others with local group Viva Flamenco. In 2009 Colleen joined the Maria Osende Flamenco Company for the first time premiering in February 2010.
Michelle Raiche-Marsden. Dancer
Originally from Dartmouth, Ns, MIchelle started flamenco over adecade ago with the El Viento Flamenco School of Dance and with Maria Osende. She has travelled to Seville for classes and has participated in dance workshops with La Canela, Manuel Reyes Maya, Joaquin Ruiz and Inmaculada Ortega as well as performed extensively with various local groups in town. Michelle joined the company in 2008.
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Daniel MacNeil. Guitarist, musical director
Born in Cape Breton, Daniel continually works with and at his love and passion for music and dance. Playing both guitar and percussion in a wide variety of musical backgrounds he finds his heart rooted in Flamenco. He began studying the form in 2001 and has visited Spain to expand his knowledge in flamenco guitar, a number of times. Daniel joined the company early in 2005 and has in the meantime composed several pieces for the group. He also teaches guitar at the Canadian Conservatory of Music as well as privately. More on Daniel at MySpace
Enrique Rojo "el Henry". Vocals
A multi-talented artist, Enrique began singing as a child in Argentina. Thus began a life-long love affair with latin-american music and, through this, to an exploration of his Spanish roots in flamenco. Enrique travelled to Spain to further his flamenco studies at the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco in Seville, and spent time exploring Madrid's local flamenco scene. Singing for the group since 2004, el Henry's deeply emotional voice contains the essence of flamenco. To find out more about his work as an artist and painter, please visit www.henryrojo.com
Joyce Saunders. Vocals
A Halifax based singer-songwriter and back-up vocalist for various groups. Her original songs, recorded on two albums, are rich tapestries of relationship, landscape, and spirit. She also writes and performs nature-themed songs as half of the duo The Wilderbeats . Joyce brings a seasoned and powerful voice to flamenco.
Gina Burgess. Violin
Gina received her bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University under the direction of Philippe Djokic. She has performed as a soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia, and is part of other Atlantic ensembles, such as Gypsophilia. She has received a number of Talent Trust Awards and String Music Atlantic Awards, as well as first place in the Canadian National Music Festival with the Quantum Quartet. Joined our group in early 2007.
Ian McMillan. Percussion.
Ian began drumming at the age of 12 in symphonic style drumming capturing many solo and drumcorps titles / awards on the Maritime and North American circuits including Champion Supreme on numerous occasions and the 2000 North American Championships. In 1994, Ian widened his focus to cuban, west african, middle eastern, and brazilian percussion. He is a founding member of the ECMA winning "Precision Drummers Squid", "McCrimmon's Revenge" and "Fola".Ian has been nominated for a Juno award with the internationally renown theatre show"DRUM", He has performed across Canada, including performances at Massey Hall in Toronto and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and has toured around the world. |
