Fiesta Project 2024-5
Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy is offering The Fiesta Project whereby flamenco dance students will be working on their first solos to Fandangos de Huelva, Tangos por Fiesta or Bulerias por Fiesta.
This is the first step for those who have never accomplished a flamenco dance solo before, as it is a major milestone to present a “Por Fiesta” solo between 1-4 minutes long. This is a friendly first step for dancers interested in pursuing greater knowledge about flamenco as an art form, the compas (time signature, tempo, groove, feeling), the interaction dancing with live musicians and experiencing the joy of dancing. This is a great journey for all those ready for a challenge and seeking to achieve an important personal dance milestone.
We would encourage students of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and backgrounds to experience The Fiesta Project. The level of the dance will be tailored to students with upper beginner, intermediate and advanced dance skills. The end goal will be to present your solo work to the best of your ability to live audience. The next milestones is February 2025 and subsequently, May 2025.
Director Kasandra “La China”
The “FIESTA” program is overseen by artistic director, Kasandra “La China”. Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy is renowned for the instruction of Fiesta dances and integration with live musicians including singer, guitarist and palmas/percussion. Kasandra developed the intensive “CUADRO” program in 2014 which has showcased dozens of dancers, challenging our mentees to their maximum ability in performances at the Norman Rothstein Theatre, Waterfront Theatre and Presentation House Theatre to standing ovation. Before attempting a 7-10 minute solo, The Fiesta Project is the intermediary bridge.
“FIESTA” is an important event to promote the growth of flamenco dancers of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. We celebrate our love of Flamenco in a friendly, inclusive environment where our dancers push themselves and achieve their personal goals in solo performance. The Flamenco journey to us is a vital and important step to self-discovery along the Cuadro path, as soloists discover the joy, power and complexities of dancing with live guitar, singer, palmas and percussion.
APPLICATIONS OPEN. Next Fiesta 2024-25!
To secure your cuadro spot, applicants please send $100 non-refundable deposit made to “Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy” via cheque or email transfer to register@mozaicoflamenco.com. Visa and Mastercard and Paypall, add 5%. Deadline: October 15, 2024.
“FIESTA” – Applicant Information
Please direct the following information to kasandra@mozaicoflamenco.com for programming.
1. What is your Name?
2. What is your Solo? Please select Fandangos de Huelva, Tangos por Fiesta (4/4) or Bulerias por Fiesta.
3. What Props will be used, if any? Usually this pertains to Fandangos only: Manton, bata de cola, small fan, big fan, castanets, baston, other please specify.
Kasandra will organize Fiesta private lessons, group cuadro sessions, live musicians and performance logistics. Participants are responsible for private lessons with mentor and session fees for live musicians.
Expectations and Budget
Developing a full solo is important work that requires dedication and discipline. In this process, students often learn that their flamenco journey becomes disciplined and requires time, personal practise and goal setting. Students should be practicing at least 2-3 times a week in personal practise, taking private lessons to choreograph or review choreography, technique, structure or artistic presentation.
In order to have a successful performance, we believe your Fiesta solo will be at least 5 private lessons for custom choreography and then cuadro workshop fees to work with live guitar and singer which is approximately $550 per project. These numbers are based on experience working with newcomers in previous years. If you cannot commit this time or budget at this time, we cannot recommend this program.
COSTUME: You must have a nice costume that fits the mood of your performance. Budget can range around $150.
PRIVATE LESSONS: The budget is a minimum of $575. Private lessons with Kasandra “La China” and musicians is mandatory for artistic programming and your success.
* The minimum number of private lessons to budget is 5 lessons at $60/hour+gst with Kasandra and highly depends on the individual. There is the option of hiring live guitarist in lessons at $50/hour+gst if necessary.
* Budgeting 5 Cuadro Workshops for practise run-through is $262.50. Once the student can execute their dance, Cuadro Workshops will be held with all musicians (guitar, singer, instructor) is approximately $50 for 90 minutes (assumes 5 people in attendance). This is enormously beneficial for dancers and necessary for preparedness and confidence levels for newcomers.
CHOREOGRAPHY FROM SCRATCH: Many students study in private lessons year round to create a choreography just for them and work on their own material. If you have zero choreography and want to work with an instructor this is called mentorship and regularly weekly lessons can be scheduled usually Monday, Tuesday, Thurdays.
CHOREOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE: If you are a student that has studied flamenco elsewhere, have your own choreography or a choreography set by another artist, this still requires artistic review for cuadro cues, structure and requires work with live musicians and mentor.
CUADRO WORKSHOP: Once choreography is set and the participant can execute their choreography, we hold small customized groups to work with live musicians. We have found that people that are able to do 5 workshops are enormously successful in their Fiesta performance.
Thank you for your interest in the Fiesta Project and wishing you the best in your flamenco journey.
MORE INFORMATION: Kasandra “La China” kasandra@mozaicoflamenco.com 604-671-9182
Cuadro Program 2024
Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy will present “CUADRO” on NOVEMBER 2, 2024 at the Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver, BC (date TBA). This is an elite solo showcase where students of intermediate and advanced level are presenting their solo work to the best of their ability. The “CUADRO” program is overseen by artistic director, Kasandra “La China”. The Mozaico Flameco “CUADRO” program has showcasing flamenco dancers since 2014, challenging our students and mentees to their maximum ability in performances at the Norman Rothstein Theatre, Waterfront Theatre and Presentation House Theatre to standing ovation. “CUADRO” is an important event to promote the growth of flamenco dancers of all ages in Vancouver. We celebrate our love of Flamenco Cuadro and see our dancers push themselves and achieve their personal goals in solo performance. The Flamenco journey to us is a vital and important one. The beauty is in the journey of self-discovery along the Cuadro path, as soloists discover the joy, power and complexities of dancing with live guitar, singer, palmas and percussion. The 2024 program will work with BC guitarists Peter Mole and Victoria Guitarist.
Director: Kasandra “La China”
Beyond regular classes, Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy offers an amazing opportunity to develop “cuadro” skills working with live musicians with mentorship under Mozaico instructors. For Intermediate and advanced students, there is a personal, customized route to studying flamenco dance in private lessons. Whether preparing your first “tangos” or “bulerias” patada or developing a full solo, private lessons are available to aid you on your journey.
APPLICATIONS OPEN. Next Cuadro 2024!
To secure your cuadro spot, applicants will send $300 non-refundable deposit made to “Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy” via cheque or email transfer to register@mozaicoflamenco.com. Visa and Mastercard and Paypall, add 5%. Deadline: March 31, 2024.
The participation fee is a $300 includes theatre, stage manager, lighting technician, sound technician, administration, dress rehearsal with all musicians and a technical/lighting rehearsal at the theatre. The participant will be given 12 tickets to sell or give away as his/her responsibility to ensure the theatre has an audience. The participant will also be given posters and/or postcards for marketing. As this is an event for our students, it is necessary that participants take ownership in the project to create a successful community event.
“CUADRO” – Applicant Information
Please direct the following information to kasandra@mozaicoflamenco.com for programming.
- What is your Name?
- What is your Solo? Which palo song form?
- Who is in your Cuadro? Please identify if you would like to use a specific singer, guitarist, palmas, cajon
- What is the Duration of the piece? – No longer than 10 minutes maximum
- What Props will be used? Manton, bata, fan, castanets, other
- Are there any special Drama or Staging requirements?
- What are the Lighting requirements?
- Will you order a Video? Approximately $120 for 2 camera angles and editing by professional videographer. To be booked at a later time.
This information will serve to consider which musicians are available for this event and the financial logistics. Participants are responsible for private lessons with mentor and musicians. The final roster of musicians will be determined once the entire 2024 program is set.
Expectations and Budget
Developing a full solo is important work that requires dedication and discipline. In this process, students often learn that their flamenco journey becomes disciplined and requires time, personal practise and goal setting. Students should be practicing at least 3 times a week in personal practise, taking private lessons to choreograph or review choreographic structure or review artistic presentation. In order to have a successful performance, we believe Cuadro costs a minimum of $2,000 per project. These numbers are based on what our student participants say from previous years. People can invest slowly over weekly privates over many months, or else they are cramming last minute but the budget is quite clear. If you cannot commit this time or budget at this time, we cannot recommend this program.
COSTUME: You must have a nice costume that fits the mood of your performance. Budget can range from $150 to $500+.
PRIVATE LESSONS: The budget is a minimum of $525. Private lessons with Kasandra “La China” and musicians is mandatory for artistic programming.
- The minimum number of private lessons to budget is 5 at $60/hour+gst with Kasandra. This is IF the student already has existing choreography, experience performing solo and can execute properly, in compas, with structural integrity to live musicians. The more honest answer is anywhere from 10-50+ hours.
- Include Peter Mole live guitar at $50/hour+gst. Available year round, trying to consolidate private lessons Monday afternoon/evenings.
- Include Victoria BC guest guitar at $60/hour+gst. *Travel costs included in this fee
- Include Davide Sampaolo cajon and percussion at $50/hour+gst. This requires some coordination to combine students utilizing percussionist at once.
- Practise Runs: We may be able to schedule practise runs with the Mozaico Flamenco Sunday Salon Series but this is at the discretion of the project director as there are other considerations to show programming. Usually there is no additional cost for this and is enormously beneficial for preparedness.
CHOREOGRAPHY FROM SCRATCH: Many students study year round to create a choreography just for them and work on their own material. If you have zero choreography and want to work with an instructor this is called mentorship. Private lessons are budgeted at $60+gst/hour and regular weekly lessons are scheduled. Choreography is a joint process at takes a minimum of 20 hours and can be up to 50+ hours.
CHOREOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE: If you are a student that has studied, has own choreography or a choreography set by another artist, this still requires artistic review and work with the musicians. See 2. Minimum is 5 hours.
CUADRO WORKSHOP: Once choreography is set and the participant can execute their choreography, we can hold small groups to work with live musicians. We have found that people that are able to do 6-12 workshops are enormously successful in the performance.
PALOS: The show can only have maximum two of the same palo. For 2024, please consider your palo because they will be allocated, first come first served as the cuadro deposit of $450-550 is made. Past palos: Cana, Alegrias, Cantinas, Solea, Guajira, Petenera, Solea por bulerias, Seguiriyas, Garrotin, Farruca, Tientos, Tango de Malaga, Tangos del Titi, Tangos, Fandangos con Abanico, Tarantos, Martinete.
VIDEOGRAPHER:To commemorate the event, as this is a serious achievement, it has been important to budget around $120 for video. The 2022 budget was $106.
Thank you for your interest in the Cuadro Program and wishing you the best in your flamenco journey.
MORE INFORMATION: Kasandra “La China” kasandra@mozaicoflamenco.com 604-671-9182
