Seville’s Spring Fair in Halifax 2025 Artist Bios
We have many talented local and international artists involved in our Seville’s Spring Fair in Halifax 2025. Whether teaching workshops or performing in “Between Shores” show, find out more below.
Between Shores – Cast
We have many talented local and international artists involved in our Seville’s Spring Fair in Halifax 2025. Whether teaching workshops or performing in “Between Shores” show, find out more below.
Maria Osende
Artistic Director and Dancer
Award-winning dancer, Maria Osende was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. Osende started dancing as a child, becoming a professional Ballet Dancer in her late teens, first joining the Compañia Nacional de Danza in Madrid, followed by the Berlin Ballet in Germany. Osende also studied flamenco at the world renowned Centro de Arte Flamenco Amor de Dios. After a decade of dancing professionally in two major ballet companies, Osende chose to focus on flamenco. She is the motor behind Halifax’s Flamenco scene and the director of Atlantic Flamenco, the organization behind this event.
Osende moved to Canada in 2003 and took Halifax by storm. Osende has since produced over 30 works, ranging from full-length main stage shows to solos and commissions. Her work continues to evolve over time, pushing creative boundaries, while also remaining deeply rooted in traditional flamenco.
Gad de la Fuente
Guest dancer from Spain
Making his Canadian debut in “Between Shores,” our guest artist is a highly accomplished bailaor flamenco, trained at Madrid’s prestigious Centro de Arte Flamenco Amor de Dios under masters such as El Guito, Alejandro Granados, Alfonso Losa, José Maya, Belén López, and Pedro Córdoba.
He continued his professional development at the Conservatorio Superior Casa Patas and broadened his dance vocabulary with classical ballet studies under Julia Estevez and contemporary dance training at Madrid’s Karen Taft School and The Place in London.
An acclaimed artist, he performs regularly in Madrid’s most iconic tablaos — including Casa Patas, Las Tablas, Café Zyriab, and the Centro Cultural Flamenco de Madrid .
He starred as principal dancer in the award-winning production “Lorca es Flamenco,” honored with the Godot Award for Best Performance in the Madrid Community Theatre Network.
A finalist at Madrid’s prestigious Spanish Dance and Flamenco Choreographic Competition, he is also a sought-after master teacher and juror at international dance events.
Today, he tours the world with various leading flamenco companies, sharing his artistry and passion for flamenco with audiences everywhere.
Gad will be performing in Between Shores. Our Seville’s Spring Fair 2025 Show Premiere.
Andy Webster (Guitarist)
Originally from Lanarkshire, Scotland, Andy Webster is a gifted musician and singer who captivates audiences with his unique interpretations of traditional Scottish songs and tunes. Extensively trained in traditional, contemporary, classical, and flamenco styles, Andy’s skill on both guitar and bouzouki transcends conventional folk and traditional music. His captivating and intricately detailed arrangements range from hauntingly beautiful to powerfully driving, immersing listeners in a deep cultural heritage.
Andy has always had a passion for flamenco, and in 2023, he connected with María Osende and Atlantic Flamenco, studying under Kaveh Nassehi. Inspired by the rhythmic complexity and expressive depth of the art form, he is thrilled to compose and perform for Between Shores, blending his deep-rooted love for Scottish and Celtic music with the intensity and soul of flamenco. This project allows him to explore the meeting points of these traditions, crafting a sound that bridges continents and cultures in a truly unique way
Andy will be performing in Between Shores. Our Seville’s Spring Fair 2025 Show Premiere.
Lisa Myers (Singer)
Lisa has been involved in the world of Flamenco through dance on and off for 15 years, and started on her Flamenco singing journey in 2016.
Performing with Megan ‘La Azulita” Matheson Hamilton and Compana Azul at the Rebecca Cohn inspired Lisa to take on serious vocal study with Laura Roman in Seville, Spain in the fall of 2016, and she has since then performed in numerous shows around Nova Scotia and at the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival with La Azulita, as well as for Maria Osende Flamenco Co. at the Halifax Public Library and numerous shows at the Seahorse in Halifax.
Lisa draws on the traditional vocal style of Flamenco singers of old, particularly inspired by ‘cante jondo’ or ‘deep song’ ; the most serious and deeply moving variety of Flamenco, or Spanish Gypsy song.
Lisa will be performing in Between Shores. Our Seville’s Spring Fair 2025 Show Premiere.
Ellen Gibling (Dancer & Musician)
Ellen began dancing flamenco in K’jipuktuk/Halifax as a teenager with Eveline Benais, and continued her studies in Quebec with Sarah Vincent at the Académie Flamenca de Montréal.
Since returning to the east coast, Ellen has been studying with Maria Osende, and she is delighted to be performing again with Atlantic Flamenco!
Ellen is also an incredibly talented harpist. She holds a BMus in classical harp performance from McGill University, and an MA in Irish traditional music performance from the University of Limerick.
Her recent solo harp album The Bend in the Light (2022) garnered Ellen a nomination for the Canadian Folk Music Awards’ Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year, as well as for Music Nova Scotia’s Traditional/Roots Album of the Year. Ellen has played with Symphony Nova Scotia and has toured with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She performs regularly with both local and national ensembles and folk groups.
Ellen will be dancing and playing in Between Shores. Our Seville’s Spring Fair 2025 Show Premiere.
Karen Staples (Dancer)
Dance was a big part of Karen’s life growing up in Cape Breton and she has dabbled in most dance forms at some point. Before starting to learn flamenco dance, Karen enjoyed belly dancing for many years. Twelve years ago she tried flamenco and hasn’t looked back.
Karen has danced regularly at the Flamenco Nights shows for the past several years and more recently for the Maria Osende Flamenco Company. Karen also teaches at Flamenco and Ballet School Maria Osende.
Karen will be performing in Between Shores. Our Seville’s Spring Fair 2025 Show Premiere.
Jaime Espinoza & Angelica Lagos
Jaime and Angelica immigrated to Canada a few years back with their family from Chile. Their musical journey spans classical guitar, Latin American folklore, and flamenco. Their background as indigenous Chileans brings a unique cultural richness to his flamenco practice. Their dedication to flamenco, alongside classical and folk influences, adds a profound depth to their performances, showcasing the intricate connections between Latin America and Spain and their diverse musical heritage.
They will performing for Family Fair Day and for Between Shores.
Finding Common Ground Workshops and Family Fair Day Performers
We have many talented local and international artists involved in our Seville’s Spring Fair in Halifax 2025. Whether teaching workshops or performing in “Between Shores” show, find out more below.
Sangeeta Raju (Odissi Dancer)
Sangeeta is a dancer and arts educator trained in the Indian Classical dance style of Odissi. Sangeeta recently had the fortune of furthering her Odissi training under the guidance of Bijayini Satpathy in a residential training program in Puducherry India. At the centre of Sangeeta’s dance practice is rhythm, somatic movement, and storytelling. Sangeeta seeks to share the joy of dance in accessible and uplifting ways.
Sangeeta will be one of our guest instructors for Finding Common Ground, our cross-genre dance workshop series.
Jean Fraser (Dancer) Latispanica
Jean Fraser has been an active volunteer with Latispánica for over a decade, first as a dancer, then choreographer, and now as the Arts and Performances Officer. With 5 years of teaching experience, Jean believes everyone should feel the joy of dance and the thrill of performing!
She currently teaches Salsa and Bachata classes through Halifax Recreation and the Canada Games Centre and prides herself on creating a fun and inclusive learning environment.
Jean will be one of our guest instructors for Finding Common Ground, our cross-genre dance workshop series.
Alex Caballero (Dancer) Latispanica
Born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, Alex Caballero has always had Latin Dance as a core part of his life. He has studied a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, hip hop and contemporary, but always had the most interest and passion for partner dancing like Salsa and Bachata. He performed several times during his college years in Mexico, and has built over 4 years of teaching experience since moving to Canada.
He was one of the main instructors from the University of Ottawa Salsa club (UOsalsa) and was also a guest instructor at Ottawa’s #1 Latin Social “Vibe Salsa”. In Halifax, he has volunteered for the past 2 years during the Latinfax performing cha cha, salsa choque, salsa casino and merengue!
Alex will be one of our guest instructors for Finding Common Ground, our cross-genre dance workshop series.
Meredith Kalaman (Dancer)
Meredith is a two time Chrystal Dance Prize recipient, dance educator and enjoys both dancing in other artists work and creating her own. She has created pieces about; giraffes, girl guiding, exploring constellations, superheroes, female identity and the impacts of gender socialization.
Along with her own creative projects Meredith is interested in shifting the context of how ballet relates to our 21st century bodies and inviting bodies to be in dynamic movement through education, sharing of knowledge and community engaged practices.
Meredith will be one of our guest instructors for Finding Common Ground, our cross-genre dance workshop series.
MariA Caballero (Dancer)
MariA Caballero (Dancer)
MariA began her dance training in Ballet and Classical Spanish Dance at the Africa Guzmán School in Madrid. She continued her intensive ballet studies at the Ruth Page Academy in Chicago and earned her State Ballet Teacher Diploma from the Institut Marius Petipa in Paris at age 22. In Paris, she taught at conservatories and private schools.
She began Flamenco at 17 at the famed Amor de Dios studios in Madrid. MariA has toured internationally as a dancer and choreographer, performing in Sentires, Zorro, and with Stage Entertainment International, Compañía Antonio Márquez, and Rafael Amargo.
After founding her Urban Flamenco company Las Ukraínas in Ukraine, MariA relocated to Montréal in 2022 due to the war. Since then, she has created original shows (Encuentro, AmalgamA) and collaborated with jazz and classical artists including Gabriel Evangelista, Babak Amini, Caroline Planté, Lara Wong, and Melón Jiménez.
Due to a family emergency, MariA had to Return to Spain and we hope she will be back in Atlantic Canada soon.
Event Produced by Atlantic Flamenco. Atlantic Flamenco recognizes the support of Arts Nova Scotia, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Craig Foundation, for making this event possible, as well as our volunteers and generous donors.
