Ilisa Rosal, Founder/ Artistic Director, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa

Ilisa Rosal is an innovator in her art form, having created over one hundred pieces in pure Flamenco style as well as cross-cultural collaborations and full length dramatic Flamenco Ballets. In 1985 she founded and became the Artistic Director of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa AKA La Rosa Flamenco Theatre, and in 1995, founded PAN, Performing Arts Network. She has trained most of the working Flamenco dancers in Miami , some of whom have gone on to form their own performing groups. Under her guidance, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa has come to be respected as one of the finest companies in Florida , consistently performing to sell-out crowds, standing ovations and rave reviews. In addition to its regular concert season and National guest appearances, the Company has been invited to perform at major local events such as Pow Wow, The Miami Light Project, Arts a La Carte, Ocean Dance, Coconut Grove Orchid Festival, Miami Beach Arts Festival, The Florida Dance Festival and The Miami Beach Dance Festival. Ms. Rosal created and implemented an outreach program for schools and libraries with Lecture/Demonstrations and performances called “DanceReach�. She has received three Florida State Choreographers' Fellowships, The Miami-Dade County Choregraphers Fellowship and has spoken and performed at The National Dance Guild Conference and The Vail International Dance Festival. She choreographed and danced in the Palm Beach Opera production of Carmen and the lead role in the Florida Shakespeare Festival production of The Phantom Lady. Ms. Rosal spent three years on the faculty of Harid Conservatory.

Ms. Rosal performed in many Tablaos and Festivals in Spain , including Alicante , Santander, Talavera de la Reina , and Torres Bermejas in Madrid , as well as Costa Vasca, Malaga , El Cid and many others in Miami. From 1980 – 1985, Ms. Rosal toured Spain and France with various Flamenco groups including such great artists as Rocio Jurado, Isabel Pantoja, El Gitano de Bronce, Chiquetete, and El Caobo de Cordoba, in the Spanish Ballets of El Camborio, Antonio Alonso and Luis de Luis and in the U.S. with the Spanish Ballets of Paco del Puerto and Paco Montes, performed with Jose Molina in New York and was a guest teacher at Fairmount Center for the Performing Arts in Ohio, choreographing six Flamenco works for their Spanish Dance Company. During her time in Spain and New York , Ms. Rosal was sought after as a coach for Flamenco dancers and choreographed solos for many individual artists. Ms. Rosal created and performed in the opening for Joaquin Cortes at the Española Way Festival in Miami Beach .

Manolete, one of the most respected flamenco professionals in Spain, invited her to teach formal ballet technique to local gypsy artists at his school in Granada, and then collaborated with her on projects presented at Guzman Hall, Miami, Fl, The Harrison Auditorium, Philadelplphia, Pa., The Vail International Dance Festival, Vail, Co.,La Reina Mora, Granada, Spain, The Jackie Gleason Theatre, Miami Beach, Fl., and The Coconut Grove Playhouse. She has collaborated with dozens of the finest musicians and dancers from Spain for numerous projects for Ballet Flamenco La Rosa. http://www.panmiami.org/bflr.cfm

Hannah M. Baumgarten – Performer & Artistic Director, Dance Now! Ensemble

Ms. Baumgarten is the Artistic Director of DANCE NOW!, a unique new company that combines Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance. She has performed with Miami-based dance companies such as Momentum Dance Company and Karen Peterson & Dancers. Baumgarten began studying dance at the age of five in Israel and in the U.S. , then went on to graduate from Julliard Conservatory. She has also danced with the Utah Ballet Company in Salt Lake City and the Jennifer Muller Company in Manhattan .

Myriam Eli - Performer & Teacher, Harmonic Motion

Executive and Dance Director of Harmonic Motion. She also worked with a lot of Dance Companies such as: Serena Dance Theatre, Boston Flamenco Ballet, Anahid Sofian Near Eastern Dance, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa. Workshops in Florida , Puerto Rico , New York , California , Massachusetts , Turkey , Japan. Recorded for Stefan Enterprises on Middle Eastern influenced pieces, choreographed and toured with singer Shakira.

Paco Fonta - Singer & Guitarist

Paco Fonta is from Torre Perojil, in Jaen Spain . Singing and playing from earliest childhood in penas (Flamenco societies for aficionados), he grew up in the tradition of pure Flamenco style. At nineteen, he began formal study and pursued a professional career. He began performing in tablaos (flamenco clubs) in Madrid , accompanying Spanish Ballets, and playing for festivals and contests of singing. Mr. Fonta met PAN/ Ballet Flamenco Director Ilisa Rosal in Madrid in the early 1980's and they worked together at tablaos and festivals for several years. When Ms. Rosal founded La Rosa Flamenco Theatre in 1985, Paco Fonta was under contract to a local flamenco club, and he joined the company. They have worked together ever since on the many interesting projects the company has produced and created a great following for the high quality and pure excitement and beauty of their work. Mr. Fonta is a rare talent in that he has mastery of both the guitar and singing, and travels nationally & internationally with his own flamenco group.

Samantha Garcia-Teacher & Singer

A native of Miami Beach , FL , Samantha Natalie's musical career began at age four, studying classical piano at conservatories throughout the Greater Miami area. She began to explore her talent as a singer at age six, starting out at St. Patrick's Children's Choir. Since then, she has been involved with many musical groups throughout her gradeschool and college career, including Miami Beach Senior High School 's Rock Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Clark Doug Burris. A recent graduate of the University of Miami 's Frost School of Music, Samantha Natalie studied in the Studio Music and Jazz Vocal Performance Department and had the wonderful opportunity to perform with many prestigious jazz/pop artists including Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Elling, and Jon Secada. It's been close to 20 years since Samantha Natalie first began playing the piano and singing, and now she brings her original music to the table. She has been performing her original music in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area for almost four years now and had her self-titled EP released on June 2, 2007 , at the Pawn Shop Lounge in Miami Beach FL, where she had the chance to rock out in front of close to 175 of her fans.“I've been writing original music for almost seven years, and every song says something different about my journey to where I am now. These songs are my release, my therapy, and my one true love.� - Samantha Natalie www.myspace.com/samanthanatalie .

Orazio V. Giurdanella- Performer & Teacher

Mr. Giurdanella began his Ballet and Modern Dance education in Venezuela in 1994 at the Zulia Regional School of Ballet, and moved on to study at the Ines Laredo School of Theater and the Maracaibos Modern Dance School and Company. After moving to Miami , he continued his studies of Modern Dance, Ballet and Jazz at Miami-Dade Community College with Diane Brownholtz and at the Martha Mar School of Ballet. Mr. Giurdanella has participated in numerous workshops and seminars, including: Modern Dance at Taller de Danza Caracas , Flamenco with Rocio Perea at the Contratiempo Flamenco Studios, Capoeira and Contemporary Dance, Jazz technique with Roberto Diaz, Voice and Body at the National Institute of Dance, Dance Therapy with Marlon Barrios and Indian Dance technique at MDCC. Since his arrival in the U.S. , Mr. Giurdanella has collaborated with DANCE NOW!, Giovanni Luquini and Co., the Rosario Suarez Ballet Company and the Wolfson Dancers.

Jose Junco - Dancer & Choreographer

Began his Spanish Dance studies in Madrid , Spain at the age of 15 at the Escuela Real de Arte Dramatico y Danza (Royal School of Dramatic Art and Dance). He studied with numerous teachers in Spain including Rosa Naranjo, Edit, Julio Principe, Luis Fuentes, Paco Romero, Betty, Rosita Segovia, Pedro Azorin, Juanjo Linares, Guito, Carmen Cortes, Cristobal Reyes, Antonio Canales, Antonio Reyes, Susan Beltrami, and Jerry Houlihan. His professional debut as a Dancer was in 1989 with the Ballet de Espana of Paco Romero performing in Spain , Italy , Czechoslovakia , Switzerland and Mexico . He appeared with that Company in the movie Don Juan Mi Querido Fantasma. He continued to perform with the Companies of Alberto Portillo, Alberto Lorca, Carmen Cortes, Mariemma, Jose Granero and Rafael Aguilar, traveling through Spain , India , Moracco , Turkey , Japan , France , Austria and Italy . He performed with the Greater Miami Opera in the role of the lead Bull Fighter, in the Opera La Traviata, to great critical acclaim, as well as the lead dancer in Diefledermaus and La Gioconda. He danced with the Ballet Rosita Segovia and in conjunction with The Greater Miami Opera Young Artist Program in Miami , at The Joyce Theatre in New York City , The Civic Theatre in Johannesburg , South Africa , and at the famous Flamenco “Tablao� Café de Chinitas in Madrid , Spain . He worked as a soloist and assistant choreographer in Austin , Texas to re-create choreography by Jose Greco in a project sponsored by the National Endowment For The Arts. He has performed at the Dade County Auditorium, Jackie Gleason Theatre of the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Theatre, Colony Theatre, Tropigala at the Fountain Bleau Hilton and the Viscaya Palace in Miami with the Ballet Rosita Segovia and La Rosa Flamenco Theatre in Miami . He performed at Princeton University , Webster Hall in Pittsburgh , Penn. , and toured with the production of Flamenco Vivo with The Carlota Santana Dance Company. He is a sought after teacher/choreographer/soloist throughout the U.S. and Europe . He has conducted workshops in such cities as Valencia and Pamplona in Spain , Austin and Houston , Tx., Santa Fe , NM , Oklahoma City Oklahoma , The Florida Dance Festival in Miami and in Ft. Lauderdale , Fl. He has performed with such famous Artists as Los Del Rio, Rocio Jurando, Azucar Moreno, Los Romeros de la Puebla, Belmonte, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ricky Martin, Lucia Mendez and Olga Tanon and was featured in the lead role of the Andrew Lloyd Weber Musical “ Song & Dance.

Lela Lombardo – Teacher & Performer, Higher Ground

Has studied and worked in Europe and the U.S. as an actress, dancer and singer/songwriter. While studying musical theatre at Just School of Music and Dance in Munich , Lombardo formed her first Jazz ensembles, performing straight-ahead Jazz, Bossa Nova and R&B. She was awarded “Best R&B and Jazz Vocalist 1999, by “Power of the Drum World Beat Festival�. The Sun Sentinel called the vocal performance of her own compositions the highlight of Miami Light Project's Here & Now Festival 2001. She also created a musical tribute entitled “I have a dream�, an adaptation of her own compositions and the gospel of Dr. Martin Luther King. The work was performed live at the Bass Museum . She has been teaching dance, drama, movement, yoga and voice at many private and public schools throughout South Florida and is an artist-activist in the social justice and environmental movement. Lombardo is Founder and Artistic Director of Higher Ground, a community dance company, Lombardo is interested in exploring the identity of nature, race relations, anthropology, and the environment.

Paul Martin – Teacher & Performer, The Meridian Ensemble

Formally began studies in classical guitar with renowned teacher Jerry Willard, Timothy Walker, and Angel Romero at the age of 16. He studied further at Stonybook University in New York and at Bellas Artes in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico . He has taught privately and for New York , Jamaican and Miami Schools for the past twenty years. His solo and ensemble performances have taken him from New York to England , Mexico , Connecticut , Bermuda , and most recently in The Lincoln Theatre with New World Symphony Flautist Suzanna Self.

Emmanuel Mericier - Performer, Teacher & Artistic Director, Ayizan Kreol Haitian Dance Group

Manno Mericier is a “True Samba.� His spectacular dancing and fire-eating acts have often left audiences mesmerized. Manno has traveled all over the world and has performed in places such as the 1990 World Cup soccer games in Italy . He has traveled not only as a performer, but also as an Afro-Haitian folklore representative. Mr. Mericier is truly the soul of Ayizan Kreol. His credits include Principal Dancer, Choreographer and Musician for Ayizan Kreol, Miami, Florida; Dancer and Musician for Ayabonmbe, Miami, Florida; Dancer and Musician for Societte Coucouge, Miami, Florida; Dancer for the Troupe Bacoulou, Haiti; Dancer for Ballet National, Haiti; Dancer for INAX, Haiti; Dancer for I.R.N. Catherine Dunham, Haiti; and Dancer for Vivian G., Haiti.

Michael O'Hara – Performer & Director of Breffni Academy of Irish Dance

Michael O'Hara began his Irish dance training at the age of 12 at the Peter Smith School of Irish Dance in New Jersey .  He enjoyed great success as a solo and team dancer, having numerous national and international Irish dance champion titles to his credit.  Michael remained under the tutelage of the renowned Peter Smith for his entire Irish dance schooling. In 1993, Michael was awarded the title "Master of Irish Dance" and certification as a qualified Irish dance teacher from An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha in Dublin , Ireland.Michael has produced some of the finest Irish dancers around, claiming North American, All-Ireland , Great Britain , Southern and Eastern Region champions.  Many dancers have also gone on to star in professional touring Irish dance shows around the world.  Michael has performed throughout the world with entertainers such as Frank Patterson, Hal Roach, Andy Cooney, Stockton 's Wing, Clancy Brothers, Cherish the Ladies, Wolfe Tones, and also danced the lead role in the hit Irish dance show, Common Ground.  Michael O'Hara was recently unanimously elected to the Executive Board of the Southern Region Irish Dance Teachers Association as Recording Secretary.  Michael also serves as the World Entries Secretary for the Southern Region, responsible for overseeing the qualification and entry process for the World Irish Dance Championships.

Luz Pinto - Teacher

Ms. Pinto was born in Oriente , Cuba and raised in Manhattan, New York . Known worldwide for her Salsa skills, Pinto has done numerous commercials, theater, film, and television projects. Currently teaching salsa at Starfish and PAN, Pinto regularly presents performances & lecture/demonstrations specifically on Miami Style Salsa Dancing known as Casino in the community, including at Florida International University and University of Miami