Kristina Cobarrubia, Director
Kristina comes from a Latin background, including a great-grandfather who came from Spain (hence the Arana name). She has studied ballet and jazz, and has been devoted to flamenco for over 30 years.
She’s studied in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Fe, along with visits to Madrid. Her teachers include Sara de Luis, Yaelisa, Roberto Amaral, La Tania, Sara Olivar, Antonio Vargas, La Truco, and Domingo Ortega. She’s danced with the Solera Flamenco Dance Company, and has also appeared with Companía Antonio Vargas, and her own co-production with Las Chicas de Coral, as well as Flamenco Olivar. She worked as Assistant Choreographer for the SD Opera production of DON QUIXOTE in 2009, as Choreographer for LA TRAVIATA in 2010, Choreographer for CARMEN in 2011, as Assistant Director/Choreographer for Eugene Opera's CARMEN also in 2011, and as Choreographer for SD Opera's DON QUIXOTE again in 2013. She also has a B.A., Visual Arts (Media) from UCSD (Magna Cum Laude), and an essay of hers, “Madre de Baile,” was published in Mamaphonic: Balancing Motherhood and Other Creative Acts, 2004. For video footage, click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onn_Ck6LYJU or search for Flamenco Arana or Kristina Cobarrubia. Contact Kristina Cobarrubia for information: [email protected] |
cuadro flamenco arana
The team of flamenco arana comprises several skilled and lead artists:
EDWARD FISHWICK
Edward first became fascinated with the guitar at the age of fifteen. As the years passed, his musical influences grew to include classical, jazz, pop, rap, reggae, Spanish and Middle Eastern music. But the one genre that has made the strongest impact is flamenco.
His passion led him to Spain, where after subsequent trips, he studied with some of the greatest guitarists in the business including David Serva, Emilio Maya, Paco Cortés and Rafael Santiago “Habichuela”. Between trips Edward studied classical guitar at Grossmont College and San Diego State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2008.
Today Edward regularly performs as a soloist and with various ensembles ranging from pop groups to flamenco troupes. Additionally, his comprehensive studies in music history and theory, coupled with one-on-one ‘old world’ style lessons from flamenco masters, has given him a great foundation for teaching.
Edward has been performing professionally for more than fifteen years, bringing his diverse musical style to a wide variety of special events like weddings, corporate gatherings, private parties, and benefits. His audiences have included former president of México Vicente Fox, former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, television host Jay Leno, and the Miss Budweiser powerboat racing team.
Edward first became fascinated with the guitar at the age of fifteen. As the years passed, his musical influences grew to include classical, jazz, pop, rap, reggae, Spanish and Middle Eastern music. But the one genre that has made the strongest impact is flamenco.
His passion led him to Spain, where after subsequent trips, he studied with some of the greatest guitarists in the business including David Serva, Emilio Maya, Paco Cortés and Rafael Santiago “Habichuela”. Between trips Edward studied classical guitar at Grossmont College and San Diego State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2008.
Today Edward regularly performs as a soloist and with various ensembles ranging from pop groups to flamenco troupes. Additionally, his comprehensive studies in music history and theory, coupled with one-on-one ‘old world’ style lessons from flamenco masters, has given him a great foundation for teaching.
Edward has been performing professionally for more than fifteen years, bringing his diverse musical style to a wide variety of special events like weddings, corporate gatherings, private parties, and benefits. His audiences have included former president of México Vicente Fox, former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, television host Jay Leno, and the Miss Budweiser powerboat racing team.
MARTA SENTURIA
Marta studied ballet and modern dance as a child, but her interest in flamenco started later in San Francisco where she studied with Rosa Montoya and Cruz Luna. She moved to Philadelphia and became a soloist with the Flamenco Ole Company under Julia Lopez, and also spent time in Seattle studying with Sara de Luis. Subsequently she has studied with Yaelisa, Roberto Amaral, La Tania, Sara Olivar, Alejandro Granados, Domingo Ortega, and many other in the U.S. and Spain. She was a member of the Flamenco Olivar Dance Company and currently dances with Flamenco Arana. She also performs regularly at Costa Brava in San Diego, where she is a favorite for her solid compas, and highly-skilled accompaniment with palmas.
Marta studied ballet and modern dance as a child, but her interest in flamenco started later in San Francisco where she studied with Rosa Montoya and Cruz Luna. She moved to Philadelphia and became a soloist with the Flamenco Ole Company under Julia Lopez, and also spent time in Seattle studying with Sara de Luis. Subsequently she has studied with Yaelisa, Roberto Amaral, La Tania, Sara Olivar, Alejandro Granados, Domingo Ortega, and many other in the U.S. and Spain. She was a member of the Flamenco Olivar Dance Company and currently dances with Flamenco Arana. She also performs regularly at Costa Brava in San Diego, where she is a favorite for her solid compas, and highly-skilled accompaniment with palmas.
CARRIE PURCELL "LA CHISPA"
Carrie “La Chispa” started her dance education with Middle Eastern folkoric and belly dance. For over 12 years she pursued various regional styles from Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and other parts of North Africa. She incorporates the essences of these styles into her flamenco dancing, which has included almost 16 years of experience, both in the U.S. and in Spain: including study with Cihtli Ocampo, Lakshmi Basile, Juanita Franco, Sara Olivar, La Truco, and Domingo Ortega. She has participated in many local dance festivals, including the City Heights Dance Festival, Temecula “Dance Moves” with PGK Group, the Eveoke Dance Festival, the 2011 2nd Annual International Mariachi and Folklorico Festival, and the Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival. She’s danced with Flamenco Olivar and Flamenco Arana, has been a soloist at Olé Madrid, Café Sevilla, and La Gran Tapa, and currently dances at Costa Brava.
Carrie “La Chispa” started her dance education with Middle Eastern folkoric and belly dance. For over 12 years she pursued various regional styles from Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and other parts of North Africa. She incorporates the essences of these styles into her flamenco dancing, which has included almost 16 years of experience, both in the U.S. and in Spain: including study with Cihtli Ocampo, Lakshmi Basile, Juanita Franco, Sara Olivar, La Truco, and Domingo Ortega. She has participated in many local dance festivals, including the City Heights Dance Festival, Temecula “Dance Moves” with PGK Group, the Eveoke Dance Festival, the 2011 2nd Annual International Mariachi and Folklorico Festival, and the Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival. She’s danced with Flamenco Olivar and Flamenco Arana, has been a soloist at Olé Madrid, Café Sevilla, and La Gran Tapa, and currently dances at Costa Brava.
MELBA NOVOA
Melba Novoa is a performing artist born and raised in Mexico City. Melba began her flamenco studies in Los Angeles, CA and was first featured as a soloist at the Fountain Theatre’s flamenco adaptation of The Trojan Women in 1996. Melba continued her training with renowned flamenco dancers, including Farruquito, Manuel Liñán, Manuela Carrasco, Jose Maya, Fuensanta La Moneta, and Olga Pericet. Her cante teachers include Manuel Moneo and Felix de Lola. Most recently, Melba choreographed and performed at MiraCosta College’s production of Garcia Lorca’s play ”Blood Wedding” for which she received a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater, R. VII.
Melba Novoa is a performing artist born and raised in Mexico City. Melba began her flamenco studies in Los Angeles, CA and was first featured as a soloist at the Fountain Theatre’s flamenco adaptation of The Trojan Women in 1996. Melba continued her training with renowned flamenco dancers, including Farruquito, Manuel Liñán, Manuela Carrasco, Jose Maya, Fuensanta La Moneta, and Olga Pericet. Her cante teachers include Manuel Moneo and Felix de Lola. Most recently, Melba choreographed and performed at MiraCosta College’s production of Garcia Lorca’s play ”Blood Wedding” for which she received a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater, R. VII.