Today we’d like to introduce you to Katerina Tomás.
Katerina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a professional dancer and choreographer. I started dancing at 5 years old, learning the basics of ballet and modern dance.
I continued dance throughout my childhood, and created and performed my first dance in 6th grade in my school. No one urged me to start creating dances. I just loved creating dances, particularly to the most romantic music I found in my dad’s music collection.
Later, in colleges and 2 universities (4 colleges, and 2 universities), I was fortunate to study with professional teachers, learning more about dance styles in modern dance, ballet, jazz, and Cuban and Latin dance.
My first professional experience was with the wonderful Lucas Hoving, the partner of José Limon, and the Limon Modern Dance Company. The Lucas Hoving Dance Company performed throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. dissolving after 6 years.
The studio we had worked in also included a dancer from Spain, teaching flamenco. That was it! I dropped my modern dance classes and turned completely to flamenco. I just couldn’t image anything more beautiful and challenging than flamenco and Spanish Dance.
I have a 32 year romance with flamenco and Spanish classical dance and recently, with Spanish contemporary dance. Over these years I studied with Rosa Montoya in San Francisco, with Roberto Amaral, Linda Vega, Maria Bermúdez and Yolanda Arroyo in Los Angeles, and in Spain with numerous instructors in Granada, Cordoba, and Jerez de la Frontera. These three cities in southern Spain present the heart of flamenco in Spain.
Over 50 solo and group flamenco dances have been created from 1996 to the current time. Recent choreographic works incorporate a number of dance styles in fusion, though flamenco is center of all pieces.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A working artist is always looking for work, and in a variety of ways: for parties, weddings, large and small events, in black box theaters, festivals, workshops, at colleges, in restaurants, etc. This is an ongoing challenge. Our company Mojácar Flamenco has been fortunate, performing in all of these various venues, though sometimes, there is very little work. We are optimistic since we’ve worked in this arena for a long time, particularly L.A.!
I also teach, and have taught flamenco dance and music throughout Southern California. I’ve taught flamenco at colleges, in dance studios, and private lessons since 1993.
Obstacles: That’s a tough one. Classes and finances can often diminish during the year, making it hard to continue. But there are always answers, plans, new students, occasionally donors, and more new performance opportunities that allow me to continue.
Please tell us about Mojácar Flamenco Contemporary Music and Dance.
Our performing arts company is Mojácar Flamenco, Contemporary Music and Dance. My partner is flamenco and classical guitarist Stephen Dick, an award winning musician and composer. The two of us create new dances and original, new music for our performances. Our company promotes and features these works in Los Angeles, and particularly in Pasadena.
Our teaching entity is Studio Flamenco, and we have both taught flamenco throughout the L.A. community at LACC. We offer private and group classes in South Pasadena, and online for students that live in areas that don’t have access to flamenco classes.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In 2016, 2017 and 2018 we created 3 dances, based on the poetry of Federico García Lorca. One of the dances also features the renewed music of the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. The entire show- Toque Jondo/Deeply Felt is a 2-hour event! We’re presenting its entirety on June 12th and 13th 2020 at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood. The show includes 15-16 dancers. Each piece is full of Spain, and the moods of flamenco: love, hate, sorrow, courage, joy and more bold elements. The three dances incorporate flamenco at the heart, including Spanish dance, modern/contemporary dance, ballet, jazz and a bit more.
Our next big project is Soul y Sombra, a new flamenco dance show that includes new music, creating contemporary flamenco dances that include pure flamenco, flamenco jazz, and contemporary flamenco with a modern edge.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Dancing in Salt lake City at the University of Utah. I was learning with an incredible group of artists. This remained with me throughout life. A jump leap into dance, starting with modern dance and some ballet. Working in the children’s dance project, an organization created by the wonderful Virginia Tanner, who studied and worked with the famous Dolores Humphrey, the master teacher and choreographer of José Limon.
At an early life, I was fortunate! I haven’t stopped dancing since then.
Pricing:
- Flamenco dance classes: $25 per class; $65 for 4 classes; $120 for 8 classes; subscriptions online at: studio Studioflamenco.com
- Guitar classes: $200 for 1 month; single class: $65; subscriptions are online at: studio Studioflamenco.com
- Performance prices range from $200 to $3,000 depending on the event. Small events range from $200 to $1,000
Contact Info:
- Address: Katerina ´Tomás
Mojácar Flamenco
721 Mound Avenue
South Pasadena, CA. 91030 - Website: www.mojcacarflamenco.com
- Phone: 626-403-7489; 626-390-4189
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katerinasflamencolandia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katerina.tomas
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/katerinafuerza
Image Credit:
Efrain Valenzuela include: The 2019 Travel Show; 2018 Cantan los Fuegos duet; 2016 Nana del Caballo Grande duet; Concert photo from Romance Sonambulo by: Sari Makki-Phillips; Solo and group photos by Efrain Valenzuela: Stephen Dick, guitarist; Katerina Tomás in 2014 – Solo Soloistas concert; Flamenco dancers of Mojácar Flamenco. Nana del Caballo Grande and Cantan los Fuegos photos by Efrain Valenzuela.
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