Los Gitanos School of Spanish Dance student Eileen Barrientos recently won a scholarship as "the most outstanding exam candidate in North America" to attend classes and further study the art of flamenco in Europe later this year, announced Los Gitanos director Bev Mantovani.
"I try to instill the passion and technique for flamenco into all my students and this is such a honour that one of my students won," said Mantovani.
Barrientos was recently awarded 97 per cent for her elementary examination.
Mantovani also said there will be a workshop at the Tsawwassen dance school next month with dancers Adriana Maresma and Sara de Luis.
Maresma, who has performed and choreographed work throughout North America, South America, Asia and Europe, is a "world-class flamenco dancer."
She has been a soloist for the Switzerland-based company Flamencos En-route for the last eight years and has co-founded her own company, El Amor Brujo.
Maresma, a native of Albuquerque, now lives in Jerez in southwestern Spain.
Seattle's de Luis brings "performance quality" to her teaching, said Mantovani.
"I am honoured that dancers of this caliber want to work with Los Gitanos and dancers as far away as Jerez have heard about the standard of flamenco that we are producing," she added.
The workshop, set for Feb. 4 and 5 at 40B-1835-56th St., is fully booked but can be watched for $10 an hour. For more information contact Mantovani at 604-948-8081.
