Winter 2006 Faculty
Estela Velez
Flamenco
Estela Velez, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico,trained intensively with world-renowned Maestro Antonio Santaella and recognized Spanish figures La Tati, Omayra Amaya, Mercedes Amaya, Joaquin Grilo, Vero "La India" Pastora Galvan, Israel Galvan, Belen Fernandez, and Cristobal Reyes. She has trained locally with Ana Martinez, Jaime Coronado, and Ziva Cohen. In addition, she has studied with other noted flamenco figures Antonio Vargas, and Joaquin Encinias at the Flamenco Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has a background in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and belly dance.
In a 2002 review in the Washington Post, Ms. Velez was described as a stunning performer with a gaze that enraptured.
. She has been performing flamenco in the Washington DC area since 1998. In 2001, Ms. Velez was invited to perform with Ballet Antonio Santaella in a production of "Julia en Flamenco" at El Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has been noted for her elegance and vitality. Certain performers clearly stood out. One was Estela Velez . . . She delivered a strong, graceful performance to a haunting piece of Flamenco and Native American fusion music.
Ms. Velez is recognized for her style which combines the traditional gypsy with a modern touch, and for her strong technical delivery. Ms. Velez has performed in many venues, including the Kennedy Center, the Jack Guidone Theater, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Dance Place, Publick Playhouse, and Alden Theatre. She has appeared in festivals and showcases throughout the DC metro area, such as First Night Annapolis, Artscape, Magical Montgomery, and Creative Dimensions. She has also performed in flamenco demonstrations for District of Columbia and Montgomery County public schools, and with the DARE Dancers Program. In 2003 she founded the flamenco dance company Furia Flamenca, of which she is the Director and Choreographer.
| Day | Time | Class | Level | Instructor | Age Level | Enrollment Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | 8:30pm-9:30pm | Flamenco | Beg II/Adv Beg | Estela Velez | A/T | D/E |