MARIA OSENDE

Artistic Director and Dancer

Award-winning dancer, Maria Osende started dancing at the age of seven. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Osende became a professional Ballet Dancer in her late teens, first joining the Compañia Nacional de Danza in Madrid, followed by the Berlin Ballet in Germany.  After a decade of dancing professionally in these two major ballet companies, Osende chose to focus on flamenco.

In 2003 she moved to Halifax and since has been the motor behind Halifax’s Flamenco scene though her activities as artistic director of Atlantic Flamenco and through her flamenco and ballet dance school.

Her company “Maria Osende Flamenco Co.” has toured extensively in the Maritimes and across Canada. Under her artistic direction, Atlantic Flamenco produced the Atlantic Flamenco Festival (2008-2019), the FUSE Festival, the Flamenco Nights Performance Series and now, the first “Seville’s April Fair in Halifax“

ROSANNE DION

Dancer

Dion has been working in the world of Flamenco dance for over 24 years. She lived in Spain for six years, where she studied with the greatest masters of Madrid and Jerez de la Frontera.

Dion has performed in many festivals across Canada and Europe. Her career has led her to dance all over Quebec as well as in Ontario (Toronto, London, Ottawa, etc.), the United States, France and in Spain. She currently resides in Montréal where she runs her dance school and flamenco dance company.  Find out more at:

FlamencoRosanneDion.com

JOYCE SAUNDERS

Singer

Joyce is a versatile singer of multiple genres. Her journey has taken her from Nova Scotia to Spain to study flamenco in-depth. Joyce has been our flamenco lead singer for the past decade, performing with the Maria Osende Flamenco Co. and at the Flamenco Nights Performance Series. Besides, Joyce has performed various types of music, including original songs, music for family audiences, and church gatherings.

FERNANDO GALLEGO “EL BANCALERO” 

Singer

Beginning his career at the age of 9, Fernando has since performed in several flamenco bars and ferias on the Iberian Peninsula. He has accompanied several great masters such as La Tati, Manolo Marín and Curro Sendra. He shared the bill with other great singers such as Manuel Moneo and María del Mar Fernández and performed for three consecutive years at the Flamenco Festival of Montreal (2012, 2013, 2014) and two years in a row at the Flamenco Festival of Toronto (2012, 2013). He has also collaborated with the group Jorge Miguel Flamenco.

JOSÉ VEGA 

Guitar

José Vega’s passion for flamenco began years ago in his hometown of Cadiz, Spain. At the age of sixteen, José began performing in the flamenco bars and tablaos of Cadiz, and throughout Andalusia. José has performed in the most prestigious peñas (flamenco clubs) and tablaos (concert halls) in Spain, including Peña la Perla de Cadiz and Tablao Cordobes (Barcelona).

 He has collaborated with many different flamenco companies across Canada and has consistently received a warm reception from the Canadian public.