Toronto International Flamenco Festival

Artists

Rafael Campallo

Rafael Campallo was born in Seville, in 1974. At a very early age, he began studying with two prestigious teachers: José Galván and Manolo Marín and went to work in Seville’s best known tablaos: Los Gallos and El Arenal.

Rafael Campallo Rafael has danced with some with of the greats of Flamenco Maria Pagés, Manuela Carrasco, Andalusian Dance Company, José Antonio, and Juana Amaya. His performances have taken him to Jerez, New York, Miami, Mexico, California, Israel, Japan, Ireland, England, France, Holland and Italy. A rare honour, Rafael has performed for Her Majesty the Queen Sofia of Spain.

From the early days in his career, Rafael’s dancing attracted attention from Flamenco experts. His sense of rhythm is outstanding, and his footwork precise. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rafael puts his whole body into his dancing to express emotion and passion. Flamenco is an art of contrast, and Rafael shows this by juxtaposing of feverish activity with delicate, though no less intense, intimately expressive sequences. As an artist, he has irresistible charm and power.

Ruben Díaz

Ruben Diaz has Flamenco in his blood. His father, Luis Chavarría, a student and a disciple of Andrés Segovia, first introduced an eight-year-old Ruben to his icon, Paco de Lucía. Ruben’s youthful enthusiasm took on structure when he began formal studies with the renowned Argentinean classical guitarist, Manuel López Ramos, from whom Ruben obtained a solid foundation in classical guitar technique. He then became deeply involved in Flamenco music and culture with the gipsy community of southern Spain bringing him back to a longstanding and close association with Paco de Lucía, Ruben’s role model and mentor for nearly two decades.

Ruben Díaz Ruben also studied traditional Bachian harmony with the Mexican composer, Humberto Hernández Medrano (a devotee of Katchaturian and Carlos Chávez) as well as modern harmony with prominent Mexican pianist, Ricardo Páez.

Ruben performed as a soloist with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico and has toured internationally including Italy, Japan, the United States and, of course, Spain. Ruben also collaborates with artists from many different countries in projects that include his own compositions incorporating jazz elements as well as jazz performers resulting in a flamenco-jazz fusion.

Ruben is also committed to contributing to what has become a long tradition of great flamenco art by imparting his own skill and knowledge to those who share his interest and enthusiasm through his own individual classes, open clinics and conservatory teaching.

Hali Dale accompanied by Marija Temo

Hali Dale

Hali Dale (Lupe Heredia) has been immersed in Spanish dance since beginning her study in 1977 at York University under the tutelage of Paula Moreno. Throughout her career she has performed with the professional companies of Paula Moreno, Esmeralda Enrique, Ritmo Flamenco in Toronto, and Lupe Del Rio and Linda Vega in Los Angeles. A solo artist since 1997, Hali has continued to perform and attend workshops in Toronto, Spain and at the University of New Mexico under the privileged study of some of the most prominent Flamenco artists of our times including Manolete, Jauna Amaya, Farruquito, Belen Maya and Lola Greco. As a solo artist Hali performed the debut of Proud People: True to Tradition and the Powers of Nature accompanied by Marija Temo on guitar and cante at the 2003 Festival of Independent Dance Arstists (Ffida), in Toronto. She was the lead dancer in the Canadian Opera Company of Canada in the opera Carmen in 2005. Continued study of the evolution of Spanish dance and the production of future choreographies are her goals.

Marija Temo

MariJa Temo is a dancer, singer, and guitarist, and, she speaks English. She has been teaching the art of communication in Flamenco at the Festival Internacional de Alburquerque for over 10 years. Her teaching method is interactive allowing students practical application and time to grasp the concepts. Marija Temo plays a “Marija Temo” Model flamenco/classical hybrid TM, which she designed with luthier Tom Rodriguez. Ms. Temo has also received the endorsement of D’Addario Strings.”