Performer Information

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Artistic Director Mara Maldonado  made her professional debut in l975 at Town Hall, NYC with Jose Antonio Spanish Dance Company.  From l975-l980 she performed with Teatro de la Zarzuela (Madrid, Spain), Rafael de Cordoba (Italy), and Rosario Galan Ballet Espanol (touring company based in NYC).  In l981 she relocated to Louisville and founded Mara Bergere Ballet Español (later renamed Ballet Español).

Guitarist Gregory Wolfe  made his professional debut in 1979 with Teo Morca in an extensive national tour with performances in the Pacific Northwest, Jacob’s Pillow, The Kennedy Center and Riverside Dance Festival in NY. He has performed with Ensemble Español (Chicago) ; Mozaico Flamenco (Los Angeles),, Zorongo (Minneapolis); and accompanied world reknowned Flamenco dance artists including Manolo Marin, Maria Alba, and Roberto Lorca.  Mr. Wolfe has been a featured guest artist with Ballet Español since 1996.

Victorio is an internationally acclaimed artist with performance /choreography /teaching credits encompassing Flamenco, jazz, and modern. NY credits include: soloist at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall (with Liza Minnelli), Kennedy Center, and Madison Square Garden. Teaching credits include: Alvin Ailey (NY); Harkness Ballet (NY), and Gus Giordano (Chicago). Ballet Español is proud to acknowledge a close association with Victorio, including featuring him as performing artist and guest choreographer since 1987.

Flamenco guitarist Arturo Martinez  started playing guitar at age 13 in the tradition of Black American music.  Throught the guitar, he discovered the black music of Spain - the music of the Arabs, Jews, and Gypsies - known as Flamenco.  He has spent years in Spain, performing with Chuny Amaya and Joaquin Fajardo and toured internationally with the companies of Pilar Rioja, Jose Greco, and Jose Molina. Mr. Martinez has developed a system for teaching flamenco rhythms to musicians and dancers and collaborated with noted choreographers in the creation of new works, including developing choreography for Ballet Español.

Guest dancer/instructor Peter Suarez  has performed throughout the U.S.in eight tours with the N.Y. based company Folklorica Latina. Suarez has danced and choreographed for numerous companies including: the Cincinnati Opera, the Lexington Ballet, Ballet Etudes (Miami), Ballet del Puerto Rico, and Ballet Español.

Resident guitarist Doug Jones

Company Members are: Mara Maldonado, Doug Jones, Sandra de Estrella , Roberto Elliott, Karen Koshewa, Mariya Tarakanova, Laura del Sol, Margarita del Alma,  Chandra Nair, Diana Dinicola, Graciela Perrone Krosnyak, Katie Spaulding, and Mary Ann Silveri.