Evento

ADRIANA MARESMA.GUEST ARTISTS: LAS COMPAÑERAS

Performances:
7:30 7:45 pm. Guest Artists
7:45-8:45 pm. Adriana Maresma

LAS COMPAÑERAS (DIRECTOR, MELODY VASQUEZ) with musicians Tom Kimball and Mike Cuchna.
Melody Vasquez was a principal dancer and soloist with "Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Company" under the direction of Teresa Cullen. She began her training with Dame Libby Komaiko, continuing with Vida Peral and Teresa Cullen, later receiving a dance apprenticeship with the renowned Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre. Her knowledge of Spanish dance encompasses classical, regional, as well as flamenco. Her master study includes internationally known dance artists Luis Montero, María Alba, Ciro, Francisca "La Tati" Sardonil, and Carmela Greco. Other dance training includes classical ballet with Betsy Herskind and Ida Velez, as well as international folk dance with Jean Barys.

After leaving "Los Preferidos", Melody joined talents with colleagues Lila Dole and Monique Di Varco to form "Las Compañeras." Their initial productions En La Alhambra and Viva España were under the guidance by renowned Spanish dance master and choreographer Luis Montero.

Melody currently teaches at Flamenco Arts Center in Chicago, Illinois. She also taught Spanish Dance at Le Ballet Petit School of Dance and Belle Plaine Studio. She has coached singing artists in Spanish character and castanet work for a Lyric Opera production of Carmen, and has taught dance workshops for the Field Museum, local grade schools, and for the Chicago Park District. Recently, Melody was invited by Main Street Opera/MSO Singers to provide choreography in their first zarzuela production, La Dolorosa, which was presented at the Instituto Cervantes Chicago in the summer of 2014.