Juanita Martin Guest Artist

Dancer Orla Curran started taking flamenco classes with Ana Castellanos in November 2001 in the City Arts Centre, Dublin and she continues her studies with Ana at the B-Famous Studios. She also took intensive classes in Madrid, Spain for 2 weeks in July 2002 in the Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco, Casa Patas where she was put through her paces by Profesora Maria Paz Lucena. She has participated in workshops in Dublin with Ana and La Serrana in February 2003. Orla was lucky enough to be in Barcelona dancing Sevillanas with Paco during their Feria de Abril 03.

Over two years Orla has performed with Ana and Flamenco y Mas for private parties, workshops and at many venues including Mother Redcaps, Whelans, The Castle Inn and The Drogheda Arts Centre where she was a featured dancer in the Eastern Dance meets Flamenco Tour.

Dancer Monica Maria is a native of San Francisco, CA , USA. She is presently working towards her Phd. in Linguistic Studies and Italian. With all the traveling she does she continues to study flamenco 'dance of the soul' as La Tati puts it, in any city she finds herself. Monica started dancing in Berkley, CA (1997) with Sara Ayala and continued in Bologna, Italy with Ada Grifini. Back in California she studied with Liliana de Leon Torsiello www.feelflamenco.com and Juanita Franco www.oleflamenco.com.

Monica spent a week in Sevilla in 1999 during the Feria. She has also participated in many events with Flamenco y Mas including a photo shoot, receptions and the performance/workshop August 2002 in Stillorgan for 'Saoire 02'. Look for Monica expressing her love of flamenco in the 'Vodafone' commercials at a theatre near you!

Marco Strickland Guitarist ~ is originally from Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego, CA. Coming from a large family of musicians and artists it is no surprise that Marco has been playing classical, flamenco and blues on guitar since he was a young child. Professionally he has accompanied 'Javid' a Flamenco Guitarist in performances around the San Diego and Los Angeles areas and is featured as a guitarist on the flamenco album 'Javid: Gypsy Flame' (2001).

Marco studied flamenco guitar with Juan Morro in San Diego and when he returns to California he continues taking lessons. He has been accompanying classes for Ana Castellanos since January 2002 and made his Irish performance debut with Flamenco y Mas in August 2002 at the 'Soaire 02' events in Stillorgan.

Anne King has been studying Flamenco and Spanish Dance with Ana Castellanos since she first held her classes at the Alliance Francaise in 1999. She appeared with Flamenco y Mas on TV 3's Ireland AM in May 2000 and since then has participated in performances at Dublin's Day of Dance, Bloomsday Festivities and Sari's Mardi Gras Press Conference at Chief O'Neil's in Smithfield. Anne most recently performed at the Grainstore Arts Centre and joined Ana and members of Tuna de Malaga for a Sevillanas at Cruzzos in Malahide in February 2002.

Anne has participated in workshops with Elena Vincini, Raquel de Luna and El Tigre not only taking class but chauffeuring them all around Dublin to get them from performances and to workshops on time. She has also been at times photographer and videographer for the company.

Guitarist Oscar Molina-Ninirola Sanchez is from Murcia, Spain. He began his classical study of guitar at a young age and completed the 4th course level at 'La Lira' Music Academy. He then began his Flamenco studies with 'Paco Sanchez' in Almeria, Spain. Oscar has over 12 years of experience performing and recording with various groups (Papa Luna, Iguana) throughout Spain, all this in addition to earning a Bachelor's Degree in English Language Education from the University of Almeria.

Since September 2001 he has been performing with Ana Castellanos and Flamenco y Mas in Dublin, Ireland. He played with guitarist Juanita Martin and singer Elena Castro at Frazer's O'Connell Street and continues to do workshops with Ana in local schools. He appeared with Flamenco y Mas at the Grainstore Arts Centre in Cabinteely, February 2002.

For twelve years, Lynn trained with Ann Cazzini in classical ballet. Having trained in flamenco dance with Esperanza Linares from 1997 for six years, she studied with Ana Castellano's Flamenco y Más group for 2 years. With Flamenco y Mas, Lynn has performed at the Rupert Guinness Theatre, the Dublin Writer's Museum and Killashee House Hotel. She performed with Esperanza Linares at a Christian Dior Fashion Show. With Aires Flamencos, Lynn performed at St Patricks Festival, Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures and World Routes Day at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

She has participated in many flamenco workshops including Raquel de Luna & El Tigre from Arte Flamenco Pura, Esperanza Linares, Elena Vicini, Carlo Maio, La Joaquina from Flamenco Express, Felipe de Algeciras, La Serrana and Lourdes Recio in Seville. She took a class with Victorio in Fazils of New York and in April 2002 went to London to study at the Escuela de Baile with Fernando Galan. In 2006, Lynn travelled to Holland to take a week long workshop with Farruquito and continues to take regular workshops with Felipe de Algeciras.

Alan Ryan A.V.C.M Guitarist, was first introduced to the guitar at an early age through folk-guitar and was self taught. He later developed a great interest in song writing and eventually went on to study the Spanish Classical guitar, when in 1994 he received his Diploma with the Dublin School of Guitar under Alan Grundy.

In 1997 Alan met the gifted Ukranian concert guitarist Galina Vernegora while she was living in Dublin. It was with her Alan got his first taste of Flamenco. Alan has taken Master Classes with Juan Martin and "Fiesta Flamenca" guitarist Juanita Martin during her performances with Flamenco y Mas. Alan continues to play in classes and perform at shows around Ireland.