DANCE REVIEW
"New stars in Caminos Flamencos"
Rachel Howard, Special to The San Francisco Chronicle
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
A Caminos Flamencos performance brings several guarantees: virtuosic music, striking lighting and a closing tour-de-force solo by artistic director Yaelisa to draw shouts of "olé!"
The sassy, mono-monikered Yaelisa is one of her form's most prolific local proponents and the
founder of the New World Flamenco Festival in Irvine. But she's also spent her last 14 years in the flamenco-crazy Bay Area training a new generation of dancers. And in the company's latest show, which played the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater over the weekend and repeats at San Jose's Mexican Heritage Plaza on Thursday, she hands the spotlight to a protege of dazzlingly soulful maturity.
Melissa Cruz takes the stage wrapped in a turquoise shawl for her soleares, fringe dripping dramatically from her arms with every commanding pause. Dark and defiant, she winces as her back arches, grimaces as her frenzy of crisp footwork climaxes. Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende -- the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art.
Rachel Howard, Special to The San Francisco Chronicle
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
A Caminos Flamencos performance brings several guarantees: virtuosic music, striking lighting and a closing tour-de-force solo by artistic director Yaelisa to draw shouts of "olé!"
The sassy, mono-monikered Yaelisa is one of her form's most prolific local proponents and the
founder of the New World Flamenco Festival in Irvine. But she's also spent her last 14 years in the flamenco-crazy Bay Area training a new generation of dancers. And in the company's latest show, which played the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater over the weekend and repeats at San Jose's Mexican Heritage Plaza on Thursday, she hands the spotlight to a protege of dazzlingly soulful maturity.
Melissa Cruz takes the stage wrapped in a turquoise shawl for her soleares, fringe dripping dramatically from her arms with every commanding pause. Dark and defiant, she winces as her back arches, grimaces as her frenzy of crisp footwork climaxes. Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende -- the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art.
BIOGRAPHY
Melissa Cruz is a Bay Area-based flamenco professional and has been a full-time flamenco artist for the past 16 years. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, she came to the Bay Area to pursue a law career. After being exposed to flamenco while studying Spanish at UC Berkeley, she began dancing with Rosa Montoya and soon thereafter, joined Ms. Montoya's professional company. Since then, she has built a career dancing, mentoring new dancers and choreographing flamenco across the United States. Garnering years of experience as a company dancer and soloist, she presented her own production in 2007, La Vida Flamenca, in both San Francisco and Houston, Texas. She regularly performs in the local flamenco cabaret circuit, allowing her to develop renown improvisation and responsiveness skills. A versatile artist growing up studying piano, guitar and drums has made her a much sought-after guest performer in many musical projects, including local bands, The Ponticellos and LaRuya. She can often be seen performing at the most prestigious theaters, including the San Francisco Opera House and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as at smaller venues like Yoshi's Jazz Club and the Elbo Room. Recently, she served as Adjunct Dance Faculty at The University of San Francisco and for the past two years has been a guest instructor at Danceversity, a world dance youth program. Melissa is a soloist and choreographer for the the San Francisco company, Caminos Flamencos, with whom she performed as a soloist at this year's San Francisco International Arts Festival. She has performed in seven San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festivals and has been presented as a soloist in the Festival for the past two years. As described by Rachel Howard of the SF Chronicle: "Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende -- the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art."
RESUME
Performance Experience
1996-2000
Company Member and Principal Dancer, Rosa Montoya Bailes Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2003
Compania Noche Flamenca, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
2005-present
Principal Choreographer, Riquezas Dance Group, Oakland, CA
2006
Dancer, “Aniversario” Theater Flamenco Home Season , San Francisco, CA
2001, 2005, 2007, 2009
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
2007
Dancer, “Magia Flamenca” Washington DC
2007
Artistic Director and Principal Dancer, “La Vida Flamenca,” Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA
2003-present
Dancer, Querencia Productions, San Francisco, CA
2003-present
Principal Dancer, Caminos Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
Original Choreography
2006 Riquezas Flamenco presented by Caminos Flamencos at ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA
2007 “Cana,” “Tangos,” and “Siguiriya” presented in “La Vida Flamenca,” Houston TX and San Francisco, CA
2007 “Lorca in a Green Dress” presented by St Mary’s College, Moraga, CA
2008 “Flamenco” presented in the Oakland Ballet Intensive Workshops Choreographer’s Showcase for The Ronn Guidi Foundation, Oakland, CA
2008 “Tientos” presented in “Atraves de Sus Ojos,” San Francisco, CA
2008 “Since I’ve Been Lovin You” presented in “Canciones,” by Caminos Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2009 “Coming into Aliveness” and “Tangos” presented in ”Eyes of Eve,” San Francisco, CA
2009 "Little Wing" presented in "Canciones 2," San Francisco, CA
2009 "Voz de referencia" presented in "Canciones 2," San Francisco, CA
2010 "Mirabras" presented in Spring Dance Inspiration 2010, San Francisco, CA
2010 "Alegrias" presented in Spring Dance Inspiration 2010, San Francisco, CA
2010 "Martinete" presented in the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco, CA
2010" El Fuego Fatuo" presented at the Crucible, Oakland, CA
2011"La Petenera" presented in the 33rd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco, CA
2011 "Romance" presented in "Solo Flamenco," San Francisco, CA
Education
1989-1993
University of California, Berkeley
BA, Rhetoric
Minor, Spanish Language and Literature
1993-1996
University of San Francisco
Juris Doctor
Dance Training
1993-2000 Rosa Montoya Bailes Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2001 Academia Amor de Dios, Madrid, Spain
2001-2004
Alicia Marquez Academia de Baile, Sevilla, Spain
Academia de Baile Manolo Marin
Academia de Baile Jose Galvan
Intensive workshops in Sevilla, Spain with Yolanda Heredia, Bata de Cola technique
Manuela Rios, Advanced Flamenco technique and choreography
Teaching Experience
2005 to present
Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Flamenco Technique
Studio Melissa Cruz, Oakland, CA
2005-2006
Intermediate Flamenco Technique and Choreography, Arte Flamenco, San Jose, CA
2005-2007
Guest Instructor, Flamenco Technique, Spanish Institute of Dance, Houston, TX
2007
Children’s Flamenco, Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City, CA
2008
Beginning Flamenco, Shawl Anderson Dance Center, Berkeley, CA
2009-2010
Adjunct Faculty, Dance, University of San Francisco
2011
Guest Instructor, Danceversity Dance Camp, Berkeley, CA
Film and Video
2005 Dancer, “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Independent Film, San Francisco, CA
2007 Dancer, “Boy with a Coin” by Iron and Wine, Black Dog Films, Los Angeles, CA
Audio Recordings
2005-2007 “Flametal” Demo Recordings, Oakland, CA
2007 “Found in Spain” by David McLean, Dimond Studios, Oakland, CA
2008 "Materdor” by Bruno Coon for PIXAR, Skywalker Studios, Lucas Valley, CA
2009 “Flamenco-Lessons.com,” by Jason McGuire, Dimond Studios, Oakland, CA
2010 "Rumbita" by LoCura, Berkeley, CA
Honors and Awards
2005 Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, San Francisco, CA
Best Company Performance “Mujeres” by Caminos Flamencos
1996-2000
Company Member and Principal Dancer, Rosa Montoya Bailes Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2003
Compania Noche Flamenca, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
2005-present
Principal Choreographer, Riquezas Dance Group, Oakland, CA
2006
Dancer, “Aniversario” Theater Flamenco Home Season , San Francisco, CA
2001, 2005, 2007, 2009
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
2007
Dancer, “Magia Flamenca” Washington DC
2007
Artistic Director and Principal Dancer, “La Vida Flamenca,” Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA
2003-present
Dancer, Querencia Productions, San Francisco, CA
2003-present
Principal Dancer, Caminos Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
Original Choreography
2006 Riquezas Flamenco presented by Caminos Flamencos at ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA
2007 “Cana,” “Tangos,” and “Siguiriya” presented in “La Vida Flamenca,” Houston TX and San Francisco, CA
2007 “Lorca in a Green Dress” presented by St Mary’s College, Moraga, CA
2008 “Flamenco” presented in the Oakland Ballet Intensive Workshops Choreographer’s Showcase for The Ronn Guidi Foundation, Oakland, CA
2008 “Tientos” presented in “Atraves de Sus Ojos,” San Francisco, CA
2008 “Since I’ve Been Lovin You” presented in “Canciones,” by Caminos Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2009 “Coming into Aliveness” and “Tangos” presented in ”Eyes of Eve,” San Francisco, CA
2009 "Little Wing" presented in "Canciones 2," San Francisco, CA
2009 "Voz de referencia" presented in "Canciones 2," San Francisco, CA
2010 "Mirabras" presented in Spring Dance Inspiration 2010, San Francisco, CA
2010 "Alegrias" presented in Spring Dance Inspiration 2010, San Francisco, CA
2010 "Martinete" presented in the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco, CA
2010" El Fuego Fatuo" presented at the Crucible, Oakland, CA
2011"La Petenera" presented in the 33rd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco, CA
2011 "Romance" presented in "Solo Flamenco," San Francisco, CA
Education
1989-1993
University of California, Berkeley
BA, Rhetoric
Minor, Spanish Language and Literature
1993-1996
University of San Francisco
Juris Doctor
Dance Training
1993-2000 Rosa Montoya Bailes Flamencos, San Francisco, CA
2001 Academia Amor de Dios, Madrid, Spain
2001-2004
Alicia Marquez Academia de Baile, Sevilla, Spain
Academia de Baile Manolo Marin
Academia de Baile Jose Galvan
Intensive workshops in Sevilla, Spain with Yolanda Heredia, Bata de Cola technique
Manuela Rios, Advanced Flamenco technique and choreography
Teaching Experience
2005 to present
Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Flamenco Technique
Studio Melissa Cruz, Oakland, CA
2005-2006
Intermediate Flamenco Technique and Choreography, Arte Flamenco, San Jose, CA
2005-2007
Guest Instructor, Flamenco Technique, Spanish Institute of Dance, Houston, TX
2007
Children’s Flamenco, Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City, CA
2008
Beginning Flamenco, Shawl Anderson Dance Center, Berkeley, CA
2009-2010
Adjunct Faculty, Dance, University of San Francisco
2011
Guest Instructor, Danceversity Dance Camp, Berkeley, CA
Film and Video
2005 Dancer, “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Independent Film, San Francisco, CA
2007 Dancer, “Boy with a Coin” by Iron and Wine, Black Dog Films, Los Angeles, CA
Audio Recordings
2005-2007 “Flametal” Demo Recordings, Oakland, CA
2007 “Found in Spain” by David McLean, Dimond Studios, Oakland, CA
2008 "Materdor” by Bruno Coon for PIXAR, Skywalker Studios, Lucas Valley, CA
2009 “Flamenco-Lessons.com,” by Jason McGuire, Dimond Studios, Oakland, CA
2010 "Rumbita" by LoCura, Berkeley, CA
Honors and Awards
2005 Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, San Francisco, CA
Best Company Performance “Mujeres” by Caminos Flamencos
