Join dancer, choreographer, educator, and Mather House resident scholar María Aliaga for an introductory workshop on flamenco! Flamenco is a passionate, intense, and expressive music and dance tradition born in Andalucía in southern Spain. While its origin is attributed to the Roma and Gitanos, it is also the result of a very rich cultural interchange. 

In this hour and a half workshop, María will teach the basics of the dance form– arms and footwork technique, rhythm, and a short choreography– while providing historical background and context. A Q&A included at the end!  

Free and open to the public. No previous dance experience necessary! All are welcome! 

Dancer participants must be 18 years or older. Observers are welcome.  

Footwear: As an introductory workshop, students are asked to wear sneakers. Please bring an extra pair of sneakers to wear– this helps us keep our Marley floors clean from outside debris and ensures their extended lifespan.

For Harvard students only: Continue your flamenco journey with María at Mather House where she will be teaching beginning flamenco every Friday from 4-5pm!

REGISTER FOR INTRODUCTION TO FLAMENCO

Presented by Harvard Dance Center, Office for the Arts, and in partnership with Mather House at Harvard.

About María Aliaga

María Aliaga is a flamenco dancer, performer, choreographer, and educator based in Mexico City.  She is the director and choreographer of the touring show, “Flamenco a la Mexicana,” which has been presented since 2014 in Mexico City, New York City, and in Boston. Aliaga has studied in Mexico and in Spain at the Fundación de Cristina Heeren in Seville and in Amor de Dios in Madrid. She was a dancer at the Adonays Flamenco Company (2005) and with Isaac and Nino de los Reyes (2007). She has performed at tablao venues throughout Mexico, the U.S., and in Germany.                 

Aliaga has also produced dance films such as “Querida Remedios” (2018) and “La Catrina y La Llorona” (2016), which have been presented at film festivals around the world (Rumania, USA, Israel, Rusia, Brazil, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Portugal, Belgique, Lituania, Kenya, India, Switzerland, Sydney, United Kingdom). She presented her fashion flamenco collection in the International Flamenco Fashion Show (SIMOF) (2020) and WeLoveFlamenco (2023), both in Seville, Spain.   

Aliaga has taught flamenco for the last 18 years in dance academies in Mexico City and for the last three years at Harvard Graduate School of Education and in Mather House at Harvard where she has been a resident scholar. She has also taught flamenco in women’s prisons and in the John Langdon Down Foundation for kids with Down’s Syndrome. She has a degree in Art History and is a mother of two– María and Aure.

Accessibility:

All abilities are welcome! The Harvard Dance Center’s main floor–  housing Studio 1 and two all-gender restrooms–  is wheelchair accessible. For any other access needed, please email dance@fas.harvard.edu. We welcome the conversation!