An enchanting night of the Spanish gypsy art of flamenco with music, singing and dancing. As an Azorean Portuguese-Canadian dancer, Kara Miranda is honored to be asked to perform as part of the Portuguese Heritage Month. She is happy that some of Vancouver's finest local flamenco talent will be joining her.

304 Dunlevey Avenue [View Map]

Friday June 13th, 8-9 pm

Tickets $10 for Sale at Door
Reserve Tickets at kflamenco@shaw.ca*
* Reservation cut-off is noon Friday
Doors Open at 7:30 pm - General Seating

Cash Bar and Concession at Event

Performer Bios:

Flamenco Dancer / Artist

Captivated by the passionate art of flamenco, Kara Miranda has pursued this dynamic expressive dance form for over a decade. A flamenco performance by her ballet instructor Veronica Maguire with guitarist husband Harry Owen inspired Kara to begin studying this compelling art form in 1994. While on the island, she performed in over a 100 shows, in Alma de España company performances and with the group Peña Flamenco. Winning a 2002 Kiwanis Art Award for her original choreography helped fund her trip to Spain that year to study with flamenco masters during the famed "Festival de Jerez". Over the years she has taken workshops from such teachers as Carmen Romeros, Yaelisa, Oscar Nieto, Javier Latorre, Julie Fontaine, Juana Amaya, "Cha Cha", Angelita Gomez, Beatriz Martin, Miguel Angel and Mariano Cruceta.

Following her move to Vancouver in 2004, Kara continued her studies under Rosario Ancer, joining her company in the Los Cuatros Vientos and Flamenco Ayer y Hoy theatre productions. In the summer of 2007, she was sponsored by the Azorean government to perform and take part in a dance workshop in Terceira with seven other dance professionals from across North and South America. Currently, while working on her 3D animated film and completing her Media Arts degree at Emily Carr University, she performs with her group La Triana and with various other flamenco groups in cafes around the city, such as La Zuppa, the Chai and The Kino Cafe.

At this event and throughout the Portuguese Heritage Month events at Chapel Arts, you can view Kara's artwork on display alongside her Azorean born mother Maria Miranda's paintings and other Portuguese Canadian artists.

Photo copyright © Maria Miranda Lawrence

Flamenco Guitarist / Singer

Juan Carreras aka ‘Juan de Marias’ started his musical studies as a classical guitarist in Barcelona, Spain in 1969, and three years later began the study of flamenco guitar with Niño de las Cuevas, Antonio Francisco and Luis Verdu in Barcelona, Andres Batista in Madrid and later on with Emilio Maya and Miguel Angel Cortes in Granada.

In August of 2002 he was awarded a Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study in Spain with Manuel Lozano “El Carbonero” in Jerez and Escuela 7 Hermanos in Barcelona. He has also studied cante in Seville with Esperanza Fernandez and Jesus Corbacho.

Juan has worked as both soloist and accompanist for numerous singers and dancers such as Ana Montes, Gabriela Rojo, Oscar Nieto, Jose Lara, Paco de Leon and Antonio Amaya among others. Musical director, founding member and principal guitarist of the flamenco troupe Flamenko’s formerly known as ‘Elias Vargas and Company’, arranged the production ‘Gypsy Soul’, which has been presented for two years in many locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Juan has performed in Spain, England, Chile and Canada. He is a regular performer both as guitarist and singer at the flamenco circles in Vancouver as a soloist and with his troupe Mimbre Flamenco.

Flamenco Dancer / Instructor / Singer

Born in Toronto Canada, Stephanie Pedraza carries with her over 17 years of artistic experience. She is described by peers and audiences as “soulful and conveyant of emotions” when on stage performing and as a teacher.

She began her classical ballet training at the early age of 4 in Toronto, with Romanian dance instructor Cristina Pora.
Her flamenco dance studies, and what would become a lifelong journey into this complex art form of song and dance, began in Vancouver under the mentorship of Rosario Ancer. In 2000, she was awarded a full time scholarship and entered to form part of the intensive dance training program for professionals at Centro Flamenco.

She has been awarded on two occasions the “Advanced Arts Scholarship” granted by “The Vancouver Foundation” which enabled her to attend the recognized conservatory of dance Fundación de Arte Flamenco Cristina Heeren de Sevilla, Spain. Throughout the years, she has had the opportunity to study with: Milagros Menjibar, Carmen Ledesma, Manuela Reyes, Isabel Bayon, Andres Pena, Sonia Miranda, Javi Navarro and Carmen Mesa. She has also taken various workshops in dance during The International Flamenco Festival of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain for three consecutive years.

She has performed alongside notable flamenco artists in Vancouver including Oscar Nieto, Kassandra “ La China” Lee, Peter Mole and Victor Kolstee to name a few. She has been invited on several occasions to form part of the dance ensemble for Al Mozaico Dance Theater Company for productions such as “Poemas de Alegria” and recently “Feria de la Costa” in Secheltz BC, where she was featured as a soloist. This year, Stephanie was invited to perform for the closing gala of the Vancouver International Film Festival 2007. She is the founder, host and performer of the monthly flamenco dance series “Noche Pena Flamenca” with her group “Zambra Flamenca”.

She has collaborated with international flamenco groups and performed in countries such as Spain, Mexico and Colombia, as well as with local groups such as: Los Canasteros, Flamenco Alcala, La Triana and Poema Flamenco Stephanie presently lives in Vancouver, where she can be seen performing regularily at venues such as Kino Cafe. She continues to make yearly trips to Spain to take workshops and keep up to date with new developments in flamenco.

Photo copyright © Danielle Baker

Flamenco Dancer / Percussionist
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Andrew Klukas began studying flamenco dance in 2001 at Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy with Oscar Nieto and Kasandra Lea. He has traveled regularly to Spain to learn from Javier Latorre, Raphael Campallo, Antonio El Pipa, Andrews Pena, Domingo Ortega and Farruquito.

Andrew works with various local groups and has performed at various events and festivals in the lower Mainland. He also plays flamenco percussion (cajon) and has studied with Alejandro Velasco "El Chapin".

Photo copyright © Sandra Leung