FINDING COMMON GROUND DANCE WORKSHOP SERIES
Exploring the Roots of Flamenco Dance
Join us for a unique, interactive dance series that bridges cultures through movement! Open to both the general public and the dance community, this workshop series invites you to explore flamenco alongside other dance styles from around the world.
As part of our Seville’s Spring Fair in Halifax 2025 (now in its third edition!), each week, we’ll pair flamenco with another dance form—Merengue, Indian Classical Dance (Odissi), and Contemporary Dance—to discover their connections. Engage with dancers from diverse backgrounds, participate in movement sessions, and join a final discussion on the common ground we find through dance.
🌍 No experience necessary—just a love for dance and curiosity to explore!
Flamenco Meets Latin Dance
Flamenco & Latin Dance (in collaboration with Latispanica)
📍 Saint Andrew’s Community Centre (Dance Studio), 3380 Barnstead Ln, Halifax
About the Instructors
Jean Fraser and Alex Caballero (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!
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.
MariA Caballero (Flamenco)
MariA’s Flamenco studies began at 17 in Amor de Dios studios in Madrid with teachers Carmen Cortés, Javier Latorre and Manolete. MariA has toured internationally as a dancer and choreographer (Sentires, Zorro, Stage Entertainment International, Compania Antonio Marquez and Rafael Amargo) and was a Professor of Flamenco at the Arts Academy in Japan.
MariA arrived in Montréal in 2022 after fleeing the Russian attack in Ukraine, where she had previously built her Urban Flamenco dance company: Las Ukraínas. Since arriving in Canada, MariA has created shows In Montreal, (Encuentro, AmalgamA) and has collaborated and toured with artists from other genres including Jazz and classical musicians (Gabriel Evangelista, Babak Amini, Caroline Planté, Lara Wong and Melon Jimenez).
Flamenco Meets Indian Dance
Flamenco & Indian Dance (Odissi with Sangeeta Raju)
📍 Zatzman Sportsplex, 110 Wyse Rd, Dartmouth
About the Instructors
Maria Osende (Flamenco)
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 Artistic Director of Atlantic Flamenco, the organization behind this event.
Maria shares her wealth of experience and passion with adults seeking to explore ballet and flamenco. From beginners taking their initial steps to seasoned dancers seeking new horizons, Maria’s guidance nurtures growth, fosters passion, and cultivates a profound sense of community.
Sangeeta Raju (Indian Dance)
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.
Flamenco Meets Contemporary Dance
Flamenco & Contemporary Dance (Maria Osende & Meredith Kalaman)
📍 DanceSpace @ World Trade Office Tower, 3rd Floor, 1800 Argyle Street, Halifax
About the Instructors
Maria Osende (Flamenco)
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 Artistic Director of Atlantic Flamenco, the organization behind this event.
Maria shares her wealth of experience and passion with adults seeking to explore ballet and flamenco. From beginners taking their initial steps to seasoned dancers seeking new horizons, Maria’s guidance nurtures growth, fosters passion, and cultivates a profound sense of community.
Meredith Kalaman (Contemporary Dance)
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.
Workshop Details
🔹 First Hour – Welcome, introductions, and guided participation in both dance styles.
🔹 Second Hour – A collaborative exploration—let’s co-create a short choreography!
🔹 Closing Discussion – Reflect on the connections between dance styles and cultures.
🎟️ Registration required (link/email).
💡 No prior experience needed. Some movement experience is helpful but not necessary.
Why This Workshop?
Flamenco’s roots trace back to the Roma people of Rajasthan, India, who brought their traditions to Europe. Over time, influences from Latin America and Spain shaped flamenco into the art form we know today. By exploring flamenco alongside other styles, we celebrate dance as a universal language that transcends borders.
Admission is $5. Join us and move with us! Stay tuned for updates and ticket sales.
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.