|
Claudia P. Silva
Executive Director / Owner / Dance Instructor
Originally from Monterrey, México, Claudia
relocated to the United States at the end of 1996 after accepting a job offer from Southwestern Bell to work as a Network Engineering Assistant. In May 2000 she graduated as a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from St. Mary's University. In July of 2004 she committed herself to promote and preserve the art of Flamenco and founded the Academia de Arte Flamenco.
Today, Claudia continues working full-time as a Lead Financial Analyst for Corporate AT&T Inc. while running the dance studio in her spare time. In 2006 she was featured "Woman of the week" in KVDA-TV Telemundo.
Claudia has had the honor to learn flamenco with many renowned international flamenco artists. She recently had the opportunity to travel to Spain and attend the prestigious Flamenco dance studios "Amor de Dios" in Madrid.
She has also had the fortune to attend many prestigious tablaos and flamenco shows and festivals in Spain, USA and Mexico.
At the beginning of 2006, Claudia ventured to produce her first fully staged production of Flamenco dance entitled "Historias Flamencas" with huge success and rave reviews by the local press. She then brought "The Flamenco Company of Antonio Granjero" direct from Spain to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in December of 2007.
Carmen Linares "La Chiqui"
Artistic Director/ Choreographer/ Senior Dance Instructor
Carmen Linares "La Chiqui", born to Spanish parents began her dance instruction at age three in her home-town San Juan, Puerto Rico. At age eleven she presented her first Ballet show with choreographies of her own. This achievement earned her a certificate from the Dance Educators of America as a certified Ballet instructor. Later on she became a member of the Ballet de San Juan directed by Ana Garcia. At age sixteen, the government of San Juan, Puerto Rico awarded Chiqui a dance scholarship to continue her dance instruction in Ballet and Classical Spanish dance in Spain. In New York City she trained with prestigious dance instructors such as Andre Eglevsky, Frederic Franklin and Hector Zaraspe from the School of American Ballet. Chiqui also had the honor to study and dance under the direction of George Balanchine and the American Ballet Theater. In Spain she studied Flamenco and Classical Spanish dance with renowned dancers such as La Quica, Enrique El Cojo, Juanjo Linares, Pedro Azorn, Merche Esmeralda and Rosa Merce.
In the late seventies, Chiqui and her family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she began teaching Flamenco and Classical Spanish dance. Her husband Jose Linares is famous in his own right as a guitarist and composer of all types of Spanish music. In San Antonio, Chiqui and Jose founded "Compañia de Arte Español", a professional Spanish dance company. Chiqui was also the Artistic Director and choreographer of "Danza Hispana" - San Antonio Parks and Recreations dance company, for nine years. Today, many well-known professional Flamenco dancers and instructors in San Antonio are former members of Compañia de Arte Español and/or Danza Hispana.
As a professional dancer she has performed with the Philadelphia Ballet, and Ballet de San Juan in Puerto Rico. She has partnered with Teo Morca, a well-known American-born Flamenco dancer, as well as Spanish dancers Luis Montero and Antonio Santaella. Chiqui has also toured internationally with her husband Jose and their son Luis Linares, also a talented Flamenco artist.
Chiqui Linares is currently a semi-retired dance instructor and resides in Orlando, Florida. She spends much of her time offering intensive Flamenco and Classical Spanish dance workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Jackie Rodriguez-Navar
Choreographer/Part-time Instructor/Dance Program Advisor
Jackie Rodriguez-Navar "La Morena" from San Antonio, has been been dancing for over 20 years. She began her professional career as a member of Compañía de Arte Español under the direction of La Chiqui and Jose Linares.
She was one of the principal dancers for Danza Hispana San Antonio. She also performed at the Mexican/Spanish variety show at Fiesta Texas San Antonio. She has toured Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands and the nation dancing.
She has had the honor of performing for the 1997 inaugural gala for Former President Bill Clinton, the President of Mexico, and former First Lady Barbara Bush.
In 2000, Jackie was crowned Miss Fiesta San Antonio.
Jackie has traveled to Spain to take Master classes to further her flamenco studies with some of the most renowned Flamenco dance instructors. She recently returned from Santa Fe, New Mexico where she attended the prestigious Maria Benitez Flamenco workshop.
Jackie just had the honor of performing with The Flamenco Company of Antonio Granjero, direct from Spain.
Jackie dances Flamenco professionally at Carmens de la Calle Cafe and other local venues on a regular basis.
Aside from her passion of this beautiful art, Jackie believes education is also important. She earned her BA in Elementary Education in 2000, and recently her Master degree in Education. Jackie works full-time as a third grade teacher for the NISD.
Jackie is the Artistic Director for Arte Flamenco Dance Company, a young emerging flamenco dance company homed at Academia de Arte Flamenco.
Monica Moncivais -
Full time Instructor
Ms Moncivais has been dancing for over 20 years.
Monica began her dance career with Jazz and Ballet classes at age four with San Antonio Parks & Recreation and furthered her dance knowledge by beginning Flamenco dancing under the guidance of Javier Villegas.
She continued pursuing her passion for Flamenco with legendary Flamenco artist Carmen "La Chiqui" Linares. At age thirteen, Monica joined Fandango Folklorico Dance Company directed by La Chiqui and Huamantzin López, and at age sixteen she began dancing for Danza Hispana de San Antonio.
Monica credits La Chiqui and Maestro López for giving her a strong foundation in dance technique and for inspiring her devotion to the art of dance.
Monica’s professional dance credits include a three month tour along the east coast of the United States with the Boston Flamenco Ballet; performing with the San Antonio Symphony; dancing for Six Flags Fiesta Texas in its Latin variety show; performing in "Rumba Dreams" for A&R Productions; and many other venues and productions. Miss Moncivais had the honor to perform with The Flamenco Company of Antonio Granjero, an international dance company from Spain.
| 
