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| Member Bios | |
Dancer Evelyne Benais first encountered flamenco in 1993 at the Don Quixote, a flamenco tavern in Toronto, where she would later start her career under the direction of Carmen Romero. She then moved to Newfoundland where she convinced St. John's rock guitarist Bob Sutherby to plunge into the genre, and in 1996, El Viento Flamenco was born on the wind-swept shores of the Avalon Peninsula. The entire troupe, including singer Sean Harris and percussionist Tony Tucker, moved to Halifax in 2001, where they added dancers/singers Maral Perk and Megan Matheson. They have all pursued flamenco with a passion --traveling repeatedly to Seville to study with masters and steeping themselves in this rich cultural tradition. In the last five years they have toured extensively throughout Atlantic Canada, including all the Atlantic Presenters and Arts and Culture Centres; they have performed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa; they have made several regional and national appearances on CBC radio and television, they have performed at Government House for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, they have had their music arranged for orchestra for two concerts with Symphony Nova Scotia, and they have been featured in a half-hour documentary on Bravo Television. |
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Evelyne Benais Dancer Evelyne trained for six years in Seville under Juana Amaya, Concha Vargas, Manolo Marin, and others, and in Canada under Carmen Romero and Esmeralda Enrique. Her dancing is described as "charismatic, elegant and powerful". |
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Sean Harris Singer Sean's training in Spain under the legendary Juan del Gastor, along with many years of performance in classical, gospel and blues have given him that extraordinary voice that is described as "rich, strong, soaring and heart-rending." |
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Maral Perk Singer Maral began her singing career as a child in the Sayat Nova Choir in Istanbul. She has studied flamenco singing in Seville, Spain with teachers Paco Taranto and Laura Vital. In addition to singing, Maral has studied flamenco dance with Evelyne Benias since 2001 and has studied with teachers Pilli Ogalla, Yolanda Hereida and Carmen Ledesma in Seville. She brings to flamenco dance and singing her exotic background in Armenian and Turkish cultures. |
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Megan Matheson Dancer Megan began her studies with Evelyne Benais at the El Viento Flamenco School of Dance in 2002. Since then she has traveled to Seville, Spain to study with Juana Amaya, Rafael de Carmen, Andrés Peña, Manuel Betanzos and others. In addition to dancing, Megan is |
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Bob Sutherby Guitarist Bob trained in both Canada and Spain with master guitarists Juan Martín, Juan del Gastor and Patricio Tito, as well as more modern guitarists Miguel Angél Aragón and Flavio Rodrigues. His musical career has included rock, blues, and jazz. He is a dynamic and emotional player. |
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Tony Tucker Percussionist Tony's extensive experience with African and Cuban drumming, Newfoundland Celtic and Hard Rock kit drumming have given him the subtlety and dynamism necessary to a flamenco band. |
