Alma de Espana

Artist Information

Biography

In 1991, dancer/choreographer Veronica Maguire and flamenco guitarist Harry Owen, co-founded a successful school of flamenco in Victoria, B.C., Canada, as well as their own touring company, Alma de Espana Flamenco Dance Company. Today, Alma de Espana (Soul of Spain) is recognized as one of North America's finest Spanish dance companies. Performance highlights include collaborating as guest artists with the Victoria Symphony to present Veronica Maguire's award-winning choreography.

VERONICA MAGUIRE brings an extensive dance and theater background to her artistic direction of Alma de Espana. A graduate from the Canadian College of Dance at Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Ont., and registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dancing, Veronica has dedicated her professional life to dance as a full time dance teacher, award-winning choreographer and performer. Her passion for Flamenco began in 1972 and continues to dazzle audiences and inspire her students.

In 2000, Veronica was a recipient of a Canada Council grant for dance professionals to pursue further studies in Spain with her husband Harry Owen and son Gareth Owen. Together they spent 2 1/2 months in Jerez de la Frontera, one of many visits to Spain spent absorbing the art and culture of Flamenco.

GARETH OWEN, is a talented young guitarist who is one of a privileged few North Americans born into the world of Flamenco. From an early age Gareth has been exposed to Flamenco through the work of his parents. At age 24 he is a key member of Alma de Espana and is quickly developing respect as a Flamenco guitarist.

The company dancers of Alma de Espana have all received professional coaching in Spain from some of today's top Flamenco artists, meaning we are proud to guarantee the best in traditional Flamenco.

For more detailed bios and video footage of Alma de Espana, please visit us at www.almadeespana.com.
We will happily send you additional promotional footage (DVD and/or CD), available on request.

Instrumentation

Veronica Maguire - Vocals, Dancer, Choreographer
Gareth Owen - Guitar

Discography

Alma de Espana
"Flamenco Live" CD

Selections from Alma de Espana's most recent live CD recording "Flamenco Live" have been played and promoted in Spain as well as North America.

Recorded Live January 18, 2002 at the McPherson Playhouse, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Distributed by Festival Distribution

To order call: 1-250-384-8832 or email: amity@almadeespana.com

Official Website

http://www.almadeespana.com

Links

• Facebook
• Recuerdos 2011

Audio

• Rumba Mora
  Listen  
• Sevillanas - 2007 Tour
  Listen  
• Malaguenas y Verdiales
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Haida Gwaii experiences Flamenco with Alma de Espana [+ Show ]
  

  "... amazing voices, hypnotic guitar playing and dramatic dancing... the hall lit up to the life and..."... amazing voices, hypnotic guitar playing and dramatic dancing... the hall lit up to the life and colour that is Flamenco... tight guitar playing of a high order. It was wonderful."

• A company worth seeking out [+ Show ]
  

  "This will amaze you...technique and spirit melded perfectly to create something powerful and life-a..."This will amaze you...technique and spirit melded perfectly to create something powerful and life-affirming... This is a company worth seeking out."
  

• Powerful Sound
  

  "A festive storm of sound... artistry of this caliber commands respect."

• Acclaim for Veronica Maguire [+ Show ]
  

  "Flamenco relies on exquisite timing and constant controlled tension. None exhibited this better th..."Flamenco relies on exquisite timing and constant controlled tension. None exhibited this better than Veronica Maguire, artistic director, soloist and choreographer of Alma de Espana... Her fluid movements and dramatic flourishes were indeed the spirit of Spain... Alma de Espana moved the audience to standing ovation and resounding applause - Viva Flamenco!"
  
  
  
  

• Harry Owen Guitar Master [+ Show ]
  

  "Those who came to hear guitar were far from disappointed as the passionate Spanish rhythms echoed t..."Those who came to hear guitar were far from disappointed as the passionate Spanish rhythms echoed throughout... Harry improvised his way throughout a program of more than a dozen different numbers... fingers fondled the strings to pluck out sweet melodic lines strummed fiercely to establish breathtaking passionate rhythms... thus a sizable Trenton audience was treated to an evening of stirring flamenco guitar music..."
  
  
  

• Rhythmical Patterns of Flamenco [+ Show ]
  

  "A dazzling recital of Flamenco guitar music... The songs all had archetypal dynamics beginning wit..."A dazzling recital of Flamenco guitar music... The songs all had archetypal dynamics beginning with soft melody-building chords moving to frantic middles and finishing with bold flourishes... Some selections emphasized the percussive as well as melodic aspects of the guitar by juxtaposing common chord progressions with intricate rhythmical patterns."
  

Setlist

Our show features live traditional Flamenco guitar music and can include dancers and singers. All the live music performed by Alma de Espana is arranged by members of the company with lots of room for improvisation. Depending on your financial and artistic needs, we are happy to adapt our program.

Our show is suitable for music and cultural festivals, theater concerts, Spanish theme days, parties and business functions. We have experience in all these settings plus, art openings, school assemblies, fundraising events and dinner theater. Audience members of all ages enjoy Alma de Espana.

For stage events, larger group choreographies to recorded music can be included in addition to our regular program.

Workshops in Flamenco dance, music and singing can be arranged, please inquire.

For bookings call: 1-250-384-8832 or email: almadeespana@shaw.ca

Basic Requirements

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