artists

Antonio Arrebola | Raphaela Stern | Sarah Marleen | Rosi Navarro "La Divi" | Juanillo | Miguel Sotelo | Ricardo Espinosa | Johannes Haage | Marcel Krömker | Diego Piñera

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Antonio Arrebola

Born 1981 in Malaga, Antonio Arrebola starts to dance at age eight and receives instruction in Ballet and classical Spanish dance at the Conservatory of Malaga. At the same time, he begins studying Flamenco seriously with Susana Lupianez and Pepe Ruiz.

In 2001 the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte de Flamenco in Seville offers him a full scholarship to continue his studies with Flamenco greats such as Manolo Soler, Javier Barón and Hiniesta Cortés.

One year later, Mario Maya selects him as a student at the Centro Escénico in Granada, where Antonio Arrebola studies with Alejandro Granados, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, Juan Andres Maya and Mario Maya himself.

After successfully completing a year of studies in Granada, Antonio Arrebola is called back to the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte de Flamenco to teach as a substitute teacher for Rafael Campallo. Back in Seville, he deepens his studies with Pilar Ortega, Andres Peña and others.

Since the age of 15 Antonio Arrebola has been performing in many tablaos of Andalucia, like El Ricon del Tiriri and El Tano in Málaga, La Cueva, La Rocio, Los Tarantos and Palacio Andaluz in Granada, El Arenal, Casa de la Memoria and Casa Carmen in Seville.

Antonio Arrebola has come to elate audiences in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Italy, Marroco, Canada, and Japan. Most prominently, he worked with Yoko Komatzubara, Ursula López and Rafael Cortés, with whom he opened up for Paco de Lucía at the Leverkusener Jazztage Festival in November 2006.

In Spain he danced at many festivals like the Festival de Castiblanco de los Arroyos and the Festival Flamenco de la Alameda de Hercules. The former he perfomed with Rosario Toledo and Chano Lobato. In 2007 he appeared at the Festivals Los Veranos del Corral in Granada and the Festival de Jerez, also with Mercedes Ruiz, Manuel Liñan and Belen Lopez at the Bienal de Málaga.

Antonios technique is exceptional. He combines his temper and power with sensuousness, subtlety and humor to arrive at a style all his own. He is one of the most promising young dancers in Spain today.






Raphaela Stern

Raphaela Stern is born 1979 in Hamburg, where she starts to dance flamenco at age 15. She takes classes with visiting teachers like Rafaela Carrasco, Javier Latorre and Joaquín Ruíz, before she moves to Seville in 2000 to study at the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco. There she continues her studies with Carmen Ledesma, Manolo Soler, Milagros Menjíbar and "La Choni". After graduation Raphaela Stern stays in Seville to intensify her studies with Miguel Vargas, Carmen Ledesma, El Torombo and in various cursillos by artists like Manuela Carrasco, Alicia Marquez und Pastora Galván.

In the spring of 2004 she moves to Berlin and opens the Centro Flamenco Raphaela Stern in June of the same year.

In 2005, Raphaela Stern was presented at the 10th annual Flamenco Festival in Berlin as a promising young dancer, and performed with Carmen López y grupo in Münster. In April of 2006 she is part of the world premier of El Torombos piece "sembrar - así sentimos" at the Flamencofestival Düsseldorf. In the summer of the same year she is on tour with the renowned dancer Miguelete and his show "en corrillo - con mucho cariño".

Raphaela Stern conducts workshops all over Germany and has worked as an assistant to teachers like Miguel Vargas, Carmen Ledesma and El Torombo.

Raphaela Sterns dance is full of a sensuous, playful lightness, but powerful and energetic at the same time. Her elegant style is best reflected in her handling of the Bata de Cola. No doubt - Raphaela Stern is one of the most promising young dancers of Germany.


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Sarah Marleen

Sarah Marleen is born 1980 in Liesfeld, Germany. At a young age she starts studying various dance styles such as tap dancing and rock´n roll, until she finds out about flamenco with 17, studying with Ina Heller in Kiel. Soon she begins to take courses intensively with dancers like Juan Polvillo, Maria Serrano, Angelita Gómez and Manolete.

After finishing High School in Germany, she decides to study flamenco dance at the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco. Her teachers there include Milagros Menjibar, Carmen Ledesma, Rafael Campallo and Manolo Soler. After one year at the Fundación she receives a full scholarship to deepen her studies. After graduation she continues to study at different academies in Seville with Pilar Ortega, Alicia Marquez, Adela Campallo, Pastora Galván, Manuela Reyes and Manuel Betanzos to further develop her personal style. Sarah Marleen has performed both in Germany and Spain and has conducted workshops for Flamenco all over Germany.

In her dancing, Sarah Marleen combines elegance and power. Her elegant, feminine moves contrast her powerful temper and expression. Without a doubt Sarah Marleen is a promising dancer with a great future ahead.






Rosi Navarro "La Divi"

Rosi Navarro "La Divi" is born 1981 in Málaga and begins there to play Flamenco guitar at the age of 10. Through playing this music and accompanying singers she discovered her love of singing herself.

Her father, Miguel Navarro "El Joyero", is a flamenco singer himself. From him she learns the different styles of flamenco from a very young age.

At the age of 13 Rosi already wins first prize at the Concurso de Cante Flamenco Villa de Mijas - followed by many other prizes, most notably the 1º Premio de Cante Joven.

In 2001 she moves to Seville to study at the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte de Flamenco on a full scholarship. There she is able to learn from teachers such as Naranjito de Triana, José de la Tomasa, Milagros Menjíbar, Manolo Soler and Paco Taranto.

Rosi Navarro has performed in Peñas, on festivals, and in many of the great concert halls of Spain - with artists like Esperanza Fernández, Miguel Poveda, José de la Tomasa, Mayte Martín, Manuela Carrasco and Tomatito.






Juanillo

In 1981Juan Manuel Reyes is born into a Sevillian family of great Flamenco tradition. His father and grandfather have accompanied many Flamenco celebrities of the last century. Naturally he was taught to sing in the Flamenco tradition from a very young age. With his voice, his stage presence and sense of rhythm he is an enrichment of every concert he is part of today.

Since 2005 he lives in Hannover, Germany and works all over Europe with artist like Miguel Sotelo, Leonor Moro, Quisco de Alcalá and Ismael Fernández.






Miguel Sotelo

Miguel Sotelo is born 1970 in Seville and begins to play guitar at age six. He grows up both in Spain and Germany and founds his first group in 1979. He performs with flamenco greats such as Juan Polvillo, El Torombo, Rafael Cortés and Leonor Moro. Today Miguel Sotelo lives in Seville again. In 2007 he performs with Antonio Arrebola at the Bienal in Málaga. He conducts workshops for guitarists all over Germany. Primarily as a accompanist for dancers he is an indispensable member of todays Flamenco community.

Miguel Sotelos way of playing his instrument reflects his personality; powerful, impulsive and empathetic at the same time. With his unique style he enriches every concerts he takes part in.






Ricardo Espinosa

Ricardo Espinosa is born 1964 in Zurich. He grew up both in Switzerland and Spain and thanks to his musical parents he was raised listening to and playing Flamenco music from a very young age. After his formal education as actor and dancer he toured with various international groups. He proved to be an exceptional musician playing at numerous festivals and concerts all over the world.

Ricardo Espinosa is one of the best percussionists of the flamenco scene today. His experienced eye for the dance and his unmistakable sense of the soul of flamenco make his music unique.






Johannes Haage

Born in 1977, Johannes Haage gets classical training on the violin from the age of five. Around age 13 he picks up the guitar and starts to play concerts with various jazzbands in Germany and the United States.

Johannes Haage studies Jazzguitar at the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen, at the School for Improvisational Music in New York City and at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, where he lives since 2002. In 2004 he takes part in the prestigious Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at the Banff Centre of the Arts, Canada.

As a composer he writes music for his Quintet Party of Five, the Slowrtio and Benito DiJoma. Apart from his own bands he plays with various other groups like Croomp, the Dan Freeman group, or Gayle Tufts´ Soul Sensation Orchestra. He performs all over Europe, in the USA and Canada and has shared the stage with jazzgreats like Bill Frisell or Bob Mintzer.

In the summer of 2007 he founds the trio penumbra with Bassist Marcel Krömker and drummer Diego Piñera, to combine the rhythmic structures of Flamenco with the harmonies and improvisational tradition of Jazz.

With his flowing single lines and his modern, colourful chord playing Johannes Haage has found his own distictive sound, which incorporates the different musical influences of his musical life, like European classical music, free improvisation and the north American jazz tradition.






Marcel Krömker

Born 1981 in Bielefeld, Marcel Krömker begins to get classical training on the guitar and starts to play the blues at the age of six. At 15 he starts playing double bass and gets into jazz. At a workshop he meets the L.A. drummer Douglas Sides (Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin), who introduces him to the secrets of traditional jazz playing for two years. Soon he gets invited by both the national jazz and classical youth orchestras, in which he plays for two years. In 1999 and 2001 Marcel Krömker wins the first prize at " Jugendmusiziert", several scholarships and two first prizes at "Juagendjazzt". From 2003 to 2007 he studies at Conservatorium van Amsterdam and at the Jazzinstitut Berlin, where he receives lessons from David Friedman, Bobby McFerrin, Joey Baron, John Scofield, and the bassists Mike Richmond (Miles Davis), Martin Wind (Pat Metheny) und John Clayton (Count Basie).

Marcel Krömker is one of the most promising young bass players in Germany. With great virtuosity he applies his creative, energetic playing to various styles.






Diego Piñera

Born in Uruguay in 1981, Diego Piñera begins to play drums at a young age. After turning 18, he leaves his country to study at the Universidad de arte y musica in Havana, Cuba. There he learns to incorporate afrocuban influences into his way of playing the drumset and timbales, and starts to work with famous cuban musicians like Enrique Pla and Joaquin Pozo.

In 2000 he moves to Seattle, USA and joins the salsa orchestra "Orquesta Cambalache featuring Melcochita" as a singer. Back in Uruguay he records the CD "Buscando" for the label Perro Andaluz with his own trio.

From 2001 to 2004 he returns to the United States to study at the famous Berklee College of music in Boston. There he meets many influential musicians. With Edu Tancredi he reords the album "Ongoing Dream" featuring Antonio Sanchez, Jerry Bergonzi and Miguel Zenon. Since 2004 he lives and works in Berlin and plays with musicians like Wilson DeOliviera, Sebastian Schunke, Dan Freeman, Johannes Haage, Andreas Schmidt, Martin Auer and Christian Grabandt. Diego Piñera leads two ensembles at the Berlin Central music school and teaches drumset and percussion at various other institutes. With the band "Clave Azul" he wins the first prize at the Jazz and Blues award 2005 in Berlin.

Diego Piñera has found his own rhythmical voice between Jazz, Latin and free improvised music, which features modern Polymeters and his breathtaking technique at the drumset.