Maria Gitana's Profile

Maestra Maria Gitana has been teaching and performing Flamenco and Spanish dance since 1980. She holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree and is a Maestra de Baile with the Spanish Dance Society.

The Spanish Dance Society (S.D.S.) is an international organization with headquarters in London, UK, and American offices in Washington, D.C. The Spanish Dance Society provides a teaching methodology with graded curriculum that begins its studies with students at age five. Students are certified in each level of study in the three forms of Spanish dance, i.e., classical, regional, and Flamenco. Maestra Gitana is one of the few authorized teachers of the S.D.S. syllabus and methodology in the western states.

Originally a Seattle native, Maria Gitana began her study of dance there with ballet and remained under the tutorage of Virginia Ryan-Corkel for ten years. She continued her study of dance for another ten years in California under Roberto Amaral, developing her flamenco and neo-classical Spanish dance. In California, she performed with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera and was the flamenco soloist in the Layalina Folkloric Ensemble.

Maria Gitana honed her skills in flamenco in Spain studying at Amor de Dios in Madrid, primarily under Merche Esmeralda and Maria Magdalena, the lead dancer and Ballet Mistress of the Ballet Nacional, respectively. In 1992, Maria Gitana was awarded a grant to study Escuela Bolera or classical Spanish dance with Dame Marina Keet before her retirement to Europe. As a founding member of the Spanish Dance Society, Dame Keet authorized and encouraged Maestra Gitana's use of the Society's curriculum and teaching methodology.

After her return to the Northwest, Maria Gitana's work has been endorsed by King County in their 2005-06 Touring Arts Roster in ethnic dance. Her performance company, Flamenco Gitana, presents traditional Spanish flamenco music and dance, with guitarist Maestro Joel Kabakov.

At this time, Maria Gitana is offering flamenco classes for adults and children in the Seattle-Bellevue area.

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