Los Gitanos School of Spanish Dance is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a performance at the Royal Canadian Legion in Tsawwassen next Friday at 7 p.m.
The show is the latest edition “La Rosa Negra” series that are a signature feature of Los Gitanos, with the senior students performing their latest dances.
Los Gitanos was founded by Beverly Mantovani in 2001 teaching the syllabus of the Spanish Dance Society. Mantovani is an active member of the Tsawwassen community and a finalist in the Hats Off to Excellence awards in 2008, 2012 and 2013. She received the Mentor of the Arts Award in 2010. Her training was in South Africa where she studied at the Royal Academy (ballet), Modern Dance and the Spanish Dance Society (flamenco), and has become recognized as an outstanding performer and teacher. Since settling in Tsawwassen in 2001 and establishing Los Gitanos, she has created a highly respected flamenco school, producing a loyal and enthusiastic cadre of students and spectacular performances.
The 16th anniversary show will be a showcase of the unique features of Mantovani’s creative talent. The dancers have all achieved a high degree of technical excellence, the numbers flow virtually seamlessly leading the audience through an emotional experience.
“My students are like a family to me,” says Mantovani. “I push their boundaries and they respond with great performances. I am so proud of them.”
The dancers will be accompanied by Peter Mole on the guitar and singer Mario Sota. Both artists are regular performers of flamenco at a number of venues in the Lower Mainland. Mole is regarded as one of the pillars of flamenco in the Vancouver community and Sota has established himself as one of the favourite singers of flamenco. They have teamed up as accompanist for a number of high profile flamenco dancers and have been members of the cast in many of the Los Gitanos productions.
The 16th anniversary edition of “La Rosa Negra” is a culmination of work over the last two years.
Tickets are $15 and are available from any Los Gitanos student or directly from Mantovani at 604-948-8081 or [email protected].
