DanceWeekend’24 Features: Ritmo Flamenco

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself/your company?

Ritmo Flamenco began in 1995 and since that time we have had so many wonderful experiences travelling the world and meeting many different types of people. Valerie and Roger formed Ritmo Flamenco to work on special projects coinciding with the release of Roger’s first CD in 1994. The company and school grew and eventually our daughter Anjelica became a partner with us and together we kept mounting productions at venues such as NextSteps at Harbourfront while continuing to tour and guest teach at schools across Ontario. Our most memorable performance was an invitation to travel to Amman, Jordan in 2015 to perform in one of Jordan’s oldest theatres, the Roman Theatre which seats thousands and dates back to the Roman period from the second century. The three of us (Roger, Anjelica and myself) performed alongside other esteemed artists from Jordan and Turkey in a unique evening of world music.

What will you be sharing at DanceWeekend’24?

We will be sharing a work called “Sacred Dances” which is an ode to one our past creations that really resonated with us on many different levels. Flamenco dance is considered a sacred art and the origins are equated with a merging of cultures through time. Ideas become “sacred” when we pay reverence to our own spirituality. The old and the new merge together and become an idea which is fluidly expressed in the art of flamenco dance and music. In such challenging times we return again and again to that which calms us and gives us hope.

How has the pandemic shifted your work as a professional dance artist?

The pandemic allowed me to take a break from the day-to-day teaching and running a dance school and company. There were moments of relief as if we had been given permission to stop and within those moments I had time to think about where we were all going to end up. There were so many people that faced challenging times but the artists became fearful of keeping their practice going and having funds to just live. I relied on my dedicated students who encourage me to continue the school online and as you all know, it was a strange time as we didn’t know how long it would last. This past year, everything is back to normal but now, I take more time off and make sure I am resting and taking time to pursue other things that make me happy. The health and wellbeing of myself and those I cherish are more important than ever and these new sets or priorities are going to last!

Please share what you are most looking forward to at DanceWeekend?

I look forward to seeing everyone and being back on the stage of the Fleck Dance Theatre. The entire process of preparing, going for the tech rehearsals and finally performing are always cherished memories for me. Our first time performing in Dance Weekend was the early late 1990’s so it is something that feels both nostalgic and memorable for me and Ritmo Flamenco!

Do you have any up-coming performances/workshops/events you would like to share?

Our school is going on a group trip to Jerez de la Frontera in Feb/March 2024!

In 1 or 2 sentences, what does dance mean to you?

Dance means life, a way to express everything inside you. It also entails a regimen of keeping your body moving, thinking about your daily practice and meeting people every day in your classes. It means continuity of something you have done your entire life.