Sit back and enjoy the powerful emotion that is essence of Flamenco art! Alma Flamenca is Saskatoon’s longest running music and dance organization dedicated entirely to Flamenco, intended to promote and inspire the music, dance, poetry and art in Saskatoon and Canada.
Founded by the artistic director, Kari Alba in 2000, Alma Flamenca is responsible for bringing International and Spanish artists (such as Celedonio Garrido, Jesús Muñoz and Ricardo Diaz) to Canada to train and perform with Alma Flamenca members. Their most recent professional production with “Duendecillo” was selected to be presented at the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival in 2020. It was initially presented in 2019 at The Bassment Jazz and at the Mayor’s Culture Gala in Saskatoon.
In September 2016 “De Cal, Canto y Arena” at The Bassment featured Alma Flamenca members performing with international flamenco group ‘¡ARTE! Flamenco‘. The production was selected to open for world renowned legendary flamenco dancer Mercedes Amaya “La Winy” at the Vancouver Flamenco Festival and presented in Portland, US by The Peña Flamenca.
In March 2014, the Alma Flamenca production called “Flamenco Chill” at the Roxy was given rave reviews by critics in Saskatoon and took the dancers to perform in a sold-out show in Calgary.
Alma Flamenca offers classes in both Flamenco Music (guitar, ‘cante’ or voice, ‘cajón’ and ‘palmas’ percussion) and Flamenco Dance. All flamenco styles i.e. ‘jondo’ (deep) such as Soleá, Tientos, Seguiriyas; ‘chico’ (light) Tango, Tanguillo, Garrotin; ‘folclorico’ (flamenco folk music) Sevillanas, Fandango de Huelva and ‘ida y vuelta’ (South American influenced) Guajiras, Columbianas.
In 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2006, artistic director/owner Kari Alba took several of her dancers on the “Canada Meets Spain” trip, in which students had the opportunity to experience and learn Flamenco in the heart of Andalucia, Spain.
Kari Alba, “La Aceitunita”, has been living and breathing the art of Flamenco for many years. Known as one of Saskatoons pioneer Flamenco Dance Artists, Alba has lived and trained in Spain cumulatively for over 4 years; attended the Teacher Specialization certification at La Fundacion Cristina Heeren Flamenco in Seville, Spain in 1998 and performed internationally and nationally with distinguished high profile flamenco professionals such as Ricardo Diaz (SF USA/Spain), Mercedes Amaya (Mexico/Spain), Manuel Tañe (Spain), Juan Martin (Spain) and Amparo Heredia (Spain) from 2007 to 2016. In 2013 she was invited to perform her production “Flamenkura” at the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival along with her group members Celedonio Garrido (cante voice), Alberto Ciofani (guitar) and José Fuenzalida (cajon/palmas percussion). Alba has spent a total of 4 years in Sevilla, the hotbed of Flamenco in Spain, mentoring with some of the best dancers as well as attending the Teachers’ Specialization Course at La Fundación; she returns regularly to hone her skills with many of the most prominent flamencos (Eva La Yerbabuena, Farruquito, Pastora Galvan, La Lupi, Mercedes Ruiz and Matilde Corral) of Spain.
Visit Alma Flamenca’s website and find them on Facebook @saskatoonflamenco.
Heritage Festival of Saskatoon 