“The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie”
Agnes de Mille
The Maria Osende Flamenco Co. brings the Soul of Spain to the Heart of Atlantic Canada. Founded by Spanish dancer and choreographer Maria Osende upon moving to Canada in 2004, the company has made a strong mark in Nova Scotia and beyond, touring extensively in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Vancouver, as well as performing at countless multicultural festivals across the country.
CONTRATIEMPO
The word CONTRATIEMPO has a double meaning in Spanish; musically it means “offbeat” and colloquially it means “setback” or “inconvenience”. In flamenco dance and music, to mark the contratiempo means accentuating the weak beats of the rhythm. Intricate, challenging and fascinating at the same time, the contratiempo is an essential part of the flamenco.
Maria Osende and Aurelie Brunelle (dance)
Alexandra Templier (vocals)
Quique (Guitar)
“Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of habit.”- W. Somerset Maugham
Maria Osende – concept, dance, choreography
Joyce Saunders – vocals
Jaques Mindreau – violin, vocals
FLAMENCO AND CLASSIC SPANISH DANCE FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS
Dances to Falla’s Fire dance, The Three Cornered Hat, Bizet’s Carmen and more works for orchestra featuring Spanish theme evenings. Contact us for details!
SUBLIME
A Dance and music fantasy
Passionate flamenco fuses with opera and blues for a never before seen production. Sublime is set to become a timeless classic with a modern flair. Inspired as the manifestation of a lucid dream you will go on a journey between beauty and passion; magic moments and the true essence of flamenco soul.
Cast: 4 dancers, 4 musicians
Concept, choreography, artistic direction – Maria Osende
Musical direction – Jose Vega
Photography – Michelle Doucette
Lighting – Robert Tracey
Costumes & Props – Rita Benz, Marcia Simmos, Ke Flamenka
FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE
In this thrilling dance-theatre production full of passion, humour and drama, real life and performance combine, taking the artists on stage to unexpected situations.
Cast: 2 dancers, 2-3 musicians
Requirements: video projection
“It was a stunning show and the film, with its informal remarks and candid photos of the performers as they worked or socialized, punctuated by lines from poet Federico Garcia Lorca’s Every Song sub-titled across the bottom of the screen. Lorca’s poem sums up the style, the heart, the meaning of flamenco as both passion and imitation of passion, “or not.” – The Halifax Chronicle Herald, Stephen Pedersen
The following festivals, theatres and presenters have presented our shows over the past decade.
| ANTIGONISH PERFORMING ARTS SERIES Antigonish, NS |
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| CHESTER PLAYHOUSE Chester, NS |
| DANSE/DANCE CAPITAL FESTIVAL Canadian Museum of Civilization Auditorium, Gatineau, QC |
| A COMPAS STUDIO Berlin, Germany |
| FESTIVAL DES TRADITIONES DU MONDE Sherbrooke, QC |
| FODAR Festival of Dance Annapolis royal, NS |
| FREDERICTON PLAYHOUSE Fredericton, NB |
| HALIFAX JAZZ FESTIVAL Halifax, NS |
| HARMONY BAZAAR FESTIVAL Lockeport, NS |
| IMPERIAL THEATRE, Saint John, NB |
| KING'S THEATRE Annapolis Royal, NS |
| MARIGOLD CULTURAL CENTRE Truro, NS |
| MOSAÏC MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Moncton, NB |
| NOVA MULTIFEST Halifax, NS |
| OSPREY ARTS CENTRE, Shelburne NS |
| PASSPORT TO UNITY MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Saulte Ste. Marie, ON |
| RIVERVIEW ARTS CENTRE Riverview, NB |
| SHIPS COMPANY THEATRE FESTIVAL Parrsboro, NS |
| SYMPHONY NOVA SCOTIA Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, NS |
| TRICOUNTY MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Yarmouth, NS |
| VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FLAMENCO FESTIVAL, Vancouver, BC |
The Maria Osende Flamenco Co. brings the Soul of Spain to the Heart of Atlantic Canada. Founded by Spanish dancer and choreographer Maria Osende upon moving to Canada in 2004, the company has made a strong mark in Nova Scotia and beyond, touring extensively in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Vancouver, as well as performing at countless multicultural festivals across the country.
The “company“ refers to the creative and artistic work of Osende, under the umbrella of “Atlantic Flamenco Productions Society“. Its flexible structure allows Osende to produce small and large scale shows, as well as to reconfigure when needed for specific projects. These may involve her Halifax-based core group of dancers and musicians or collaborations with various artists and institutions.