About Juanita Franco:                                                                                               

Born in Sevilla, Ms. Franco began dancing at the age of six.  Schooled by world acclaimed flamenco dancers like Enrique El Cojo and Maestro Realito, her natural artistic talent and passionate stage presence rendered her a full-time professional dancer by the age of 14, and she performed for Genralissimo Franco and Prince Juan Carlos (later King of Spain.)  Locally in San Diego, she was featured dancer at the Tablao Flamenco for many years. She spent eight years with the California Arts Council conducting workshops in San Diego schools as well as solo programs with young audiences.  Since 1997, Ms Franco has offered classes for adults and children of all skill levels at her Academia de Baile Espanol on Ashton Street in the Bay Park area.  Ole Flamenco consists of Ms. Franco’s most dedicated and experienced students; they regularly appear at restaurants around San Diego.  In 2006, Ms. Franco was a guest choreographer for the San Diego Opera’s production of Carmen.  Ms. Franco has been honored by the community for her extensive efforts and contributions to the art of Flamenco, and her dedication to her many students.

About La Reyes

The professional biography of Reyes Barrios is crossed, like a destiny written in the stars, by her personal life, her precedent and her determination.  Vibrant and powerful in her approach to Flamenco, La Reyes is one of San Diego’s up and coming artist. At a young age Reyes moved to Sevilla, Spain where she was surrounded by the ambience and aire of Flamenco song and dance. Her approach is steeped in purism with a modern twist.
 La Reyes has studied with artists such as La Truco, Farruquito/Farru, Domingo Ortega, Cihtli Ocampo, Juanita Franco, Ethan Margolis, El Funi, Lakshmi Basile, Juan Talavera, Luis Pena, Javier Heredia, Jorge “Canastero”, Saray Montoya, and Maria de mar Moreno and Yolanda Arroyo.   As a performer, La Reyes has graced the public with various academic performances such as Pasos y Colores, Entre Familia y Flamenco,Espiritu Flamenco and Flamenco del Corazon.. and also performs at venues such as Café Sevilla,Fountain Theater and Tablao Flamenco.     She has worked with San Diego and Los Angeles based artists such as Jesus Montoya, Juan Moro, Paco Sevilla, Jose Tanaka, Remedios Flores, Juanita Franco, Marysol Fuentes, Richard Chavez,Antonio de Jerez,Antonio Triana and Benjamin Woods.  La Reyes is known as a versatile performer able to surprise her audience with both song and dance and in a variety of styles ranging from legendary Flamenco strong holds such as Utrera, Lebrija, Sevilla, Jerez and Moron.
 La Reyes views Flamenco as a lifelong study and continues to teach and learn in the San Diego area."To be Flamenco is to have another skin, other passions, other desires. It is a different way of seeing the world, with music in one's nerves, a fierce pride, happiness mingled with tears; it is a loathing of routine and sameness; it is to be intoxicated in song, wine, and kisses. It is the translation of life into an art of caprices and freedom." - Tomas Borras.

About Erika Lopez:

Erika Lopez began dancing flamenco and Spanish classical dance at the age of eight. Her passion for the art led her to make it a lifelong pursuit, performing with professional dance companies in San Diego, San Francisco and Boston. In 1997 Lopez moved to Seville, Spain to study flamenco under master teacher Juan de Triana. Some of her most influential teachers have included Juanita Franco, Yaelisa and Maria Teresa Gomez. She has also had the opportunity to study with many dance greats including Maria Pages, Domingo Ortega, Antonio Vargas, Maria Benitez and Lakshmi Basile. Most recently Lopez performed in the San Diego Opera’s productions of La Traviata and Don Quixote. In 2004 she danced in the San Diego Symphony’s tribute to Spain with members of the Ole Flamenco dance troupe. Lopez performs regularly in venues around Southern California. She is delighted to now be teaching at the academy of her very first flamenco teacher, Juanita Franco. Lopez can be reached at lopez.ef@gmail.com