fin de fiesta
Alexandra trained as a ballet dancer at the Dance Conservatory of Montreal before travelling to Cuba and Mexico to perform and study Latin, contemporary and Afro-Cuban dance. She discovered flamenco at the age of 18 and decided to explore the complex and rich art form more deeply. To get closer to flamenco's roots, she travelled to Spain and studied with masters such as Belen Maya, Carmen Ledesma, Rafael Campallo, Chloe Brule, Ursula Lopez and Andres Pena. In 2011, Alexandra was selected to participate in the intensive "Paso a Paso" mentoring and coaching program directed by Myriam Allard in Montreal. In 2013, Alexandra joined FIN DE FIESTA and Ventanas, a Toronto-based world music group. Alexandra now divides her time between Spain and Canada and works professionally at tablaos and artistic events. She also gives courses and workshops in both countries.
Lia Grainger, dance
Alexandra Talbot, dance
Dennis Duffin grew up in a musical family playing guitar from a very early age, and was taught flamenco by his father with whom he performed as a teenager. He has since performed with renowned artists in Spain and in Canada including groups such Ventanas, Flamenguitos del Norte, Jesse Cook, Esmeralda Enrique, Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Joanna Moon.
Dennis is the creator and leader of the Toronto Flamenco ensemble Flamenguitos del Norte, and represents them in the urban folk collective Fedora Upsidedown. He organizes a growing underground flamenco scene and artistic collective called Flamenco Juerga Toronto. Dennis recently completed a one year period of intensive study at the Fundacion Cristina Heeren in Sevilla in 2012-2013, with guitarists such as Pedro Sierra, Niño de Pura, Paco Cortes, Eduardo Rebollar. In Canada, Dennis has studied with Nicolás Hernández, Jose Vega, Rubén Díaz, Oscar Lago, Tino van der Sman and José Valle “Chuscales”. Dennis also holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics from McMaster University.
Dennis Duffin, guitar
Tamar Ilana, song
Tamar “La Tama” Ilana grew up performing Sephardic, Medieval and Balkan music since the age of five. At eight, she began studying flamenco dance at the Esmeralda Enrique Academy of Spanish Dance in Toronto. In 2007 Tamar put singing and flamenco together, and began studying cante with renowned cantaora Montse Cortés in Barcelona. She has since studied with flamenco masters including Adela Campallo, Farruquito, Juana Amaya, Calixto Sánchez, Encarna Anillo, Rocío Márquez, Arcángel, Segundo Falcón and Esperanza Fernández, and she has performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2010, Tamar spent one year studying cante (flamenco singing) at the prestigious Cristina Heeren Flamenco Art Foundation in Seville. Upon her return to Toronto in 2011 and the discovery of the Fedora Upside-Down community, she founded Ventanas, bringing her flamenco, Balkan and Sephardic worlds together. In 2013 she received funding from the Chalmer's Professional Development Grant from the Ontario Arts Council to return to Seville for a three-month intensive study period. Tamar currently teaches cante at the Academy of Spanish Dance, and performs regularly in tablaos as well as with Flamenguitos del Norte, the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company, the Jorge Miguel Flamenco Ensemble, Maracatu Baque de Bamba, and Los Amigos de Pilar. www.tamarilana.com
Lia has been dancing flamenco across Canada for the past decade, and currently divides her time between Toronto and Seville. In Canada, she has been a regular performer at Kino Cafe in Vancouver, and last year performed in both the Vancouver Jondo Flamenco Festival and the inaugural Montreal Flamenco Festival with Toronto flamenco collective Flamenguitos del Norte. In Spain, she studies with masters such as Farruquito, Maunel Betanzos, Juan de los Reyes, La Farruca, La Faraona, Ursula Lopez, Alicia Marquez, Ramon Martinez and Miguel Vargas. In 2013 she was selected to participate in the prestigious "Paso a Paso" mentoring program run by Myriam Allard and Hedi Graja of La Otra Orilla in Montreal.
