Company
Mozaico Flamenco has been a moving force in the world of Spanish dance for over 30 years, continuously pushing the outer edges of the artistic envelope, fusing dance, music and culture.
“Crackling hand claps, exploding heel beats, swirling flounces . . . ”
In 1972, Oscar Nieto created Mozaico de Danzas in Los Angeles, California. This ensemble performed a “mosaic” of Spanish Dances including classical, neo-classical, regional and flamenco. The group created a splash with its innovative choreographies, colourful costumes and blend of new sounds. In 1983, Oscar created Mozaico Flamenco in Vancouver, British Columbia. Far ahead of its time, he incorporated flamenco with heretical instruments such as electric guitar, base, congas and the cora, which are now currently used in flamenco music.
“. . . one of the most original and captivating artistic groups to appear in Canada for years!”
Since 2002, Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre has produced professional, engaging, artistic shows for Canadian audiences that promote flamenco as an art form. It has a reputation among local fans for producing performances of rare versatility, polish and exuberance. The company has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Opera, and has appeared at countless venues including the Vancouver East Cultural Theatre, Norman Rothstein Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Club Revue Theatre, Vanier Hall, Cowichan Theatre, Newcombe Theatre, Tidemark Centre, Canada Pavilion, Canada Place, Expo 86 and the Pacific National Exhibition. Our theatrical shows have included “Espiritu Sin Nombre“, “Poemas de Alegrias“, “Cafe de Chinitas“, “Flamenco Around The Map: Andalucia” and “Flamenco Around The Map: De Ida Y Vuelta“. The demand for Mozaico Flamenco continues to grow. It is a demand for stunning performances of traditional and contemporary flamenco, yet also for the striking originality of Mozaico Flamenco’s extension of the art through fusion of Latin Jazz, Cuban rhythms, Asian themes and pushing the edges of the envelope. Ravishing costumes, breathtaking virtuosity, evocative vocalizing, electrifying footwork…audiences are mesmerized from the beginning and left jubilant at the end. Spellbinding!
Today, Mozaico Flamenco is very active in the Vancouver community as a multicultural, integenerational and LGBTQ2IA performance group directed and organized by Oscar’s protege, Kasandra “La China”. Mozaico Flamenco is well-known for producing the Sunday Salon Series which promotes live, spontaneous Cuadro Flamenco with colourful dancers and musicians including guitar, singer percussion and lively community action. The Sunday Salon Series has rendered many multicultural innovations including “Flamenco Dim Sum” (Chinese fusion), “Flamenco Q” (queer flamenco), “Rumba Rumble” (Latin American, Afro-Cuban fusion). Mozaico Flamenco performs many colourful festivals including explorASIAN Asian Heritage Month, Latincouver Latin American Heritage Month, Vancouver and Victoria Flamenco Festivals, Greek/Serbian/Taiwanese/Korean/North and West Vancouver Multicultural Festivals, NAAD Spring Festival among many, many others! We love participating in cultural events! We also have community performance volunteer group called “Los Mozaicos” that can be called upon to participate in the community for honorarium.
The result: Acclaim for Mozaico Flamenco and a new following for the art of flamenco in Canada.
