Emma Fernée (dance)
Emma has over two decades of experience as a flamenco dancer and her dancing radiates elegance and precision. Trained in Sevilla and Madrid under flamenco masters such as Inmaculada Ortega, Mercedes Ruiz, Manuela Rios, Manuel Betanzos and Angel Atienza, she founded Studio Flamenco, with sister Susi Masi, in 2004. Since then she has performed in and co-directed all of Studio Flamenco's performances, including the critically-acclaimed 'Recuerdos', and collaborations with Seville-based artists; 'Peña Flamenca' with Jazmin Centeno and Andrius Masilionis, and 'Paloma' and 'Arte y Compas' with ‘La Chica’ and Andrej Vujicic, She has appeared as an invited artist at WOMADelaide, the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and State Opera of South Australia’s ‘Carmen In The Square’.
SUSI MASI (DANCE)
Susi is a flamenco dancer and teacher who has trained extensively in both Australia and Spain. She has performed in countless theatre productions and festivals, including WOMADelaide, the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and Victorian Ventana festival. In 2004, she established Studio Flamenco with sister and fellow dancer, Emma Fernee where she continues to share her passion for flamenco. Together, and with international and Australian collaborators, they have created many independent theatre productions. Susi’s work has been described as “...rhythmically and technically impressive... powerful, sensuously aggressive and totally captivating” [Ausdance Magazine]. She has performed in collaborations with many international artists including recently with Seville-based Jazmin Centeno and Andrius Masilionis for the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe festival and has received many glowing review for her spirited and dynamic style.
Aloysius Leeson (guitar)
Aloysius is a guitarist with a long running infatuation with flamenco. This led to spending time in Spain following the traditional apprenticeship of accompanying singers and dancers, studying with maestro's and playing at juergas (parties). Eventually he was able to work at the dance studios of Javier Cruz and Maria Angeles in Seville , and since coming back to Adelaide, Australia he has continued to work with local singers and dancers, including Studio Flamenco . Before this Aloysius had been playing guitar for 17 years. It was after studying classical guitar at the Elder Conservatorium in 1992 that he took up flamenco guitar and began his flamenco experience. In 2005, he released his second CD Chispa Flamenca with the help of a grant from Arts SA, and in 2017 he released his third CD, 'Florilegium',
Marduk Gault (guitar)
Marduk joined Studio Flamenco in 2010 following many years as a street performer and guitarist working other genres. Having studied flamenco guitar with both local and international artists he has dedicated himself to the art of flamenco. His performance credentials include theatre productions 'Recuerdos', 'Zambra' and 'Fiesta' with Studio Flamenco as well as numerous events and functions. Highlights of his work have been accompanying flamenco dancer and singer, Isabel Rivera Cuenca from Barcelona, during her 2014 Australian tour, and presenting his own shows 'Pasos' and 'Vidorra' for the 2015 and 2016 Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festivals.
Adrian Van Nunen (percussion)
Adrian is an accomplished percussionist, specialising in cajón, tinaja and derbouka. Focusing on flamenco since 2002, he has performed in numerous festivals and theatre productions with Studio Flamenco and other flamenco companies Australia-wide. He has performed in four previous Adelaide International Guitar Festivals, with Studio Flamenco, guitarist Aloysius Leeson and in 2010 with Spanish guitarist Oscar Guzman and the world famous flamenco singer Pepe de Lucia. His other work includes performances in numerous Adelaide Fringe festivals, Sydney Fringe 2010, Bellingen Flamenco Festival 2003 and WOMADELAIDE. He has studied flamenco in Sevilla, accompanying the classes of flamenco icon ‘El Torombo’. Adrian was the principal percussionist on Aloysius Leeson’s CD, ‘Chispa Flamenca’, released in 2005.
Paul Hilton (flute)
Paul ("Charger") began playing the flute at age seven. He studied classical flute at the Flinders Street School of Music, and jazz flute at Dover Gardens TAFE. Under Alison Rosser he earned his Advanced Diploma of Music, and Licentiate Music Australia in 1996 on the flute. In 1997 Paul began accompanying flamenco on flute, performing in Flamenco shows at the 1997, 2004, 2007, and 2010 Adelaide Fringe Festivals, as well as the 2004 Telstra Adelaide Festival and the 2002 Feast Festival. In 2005 he completed the Bachelor of Music Performance (Piano) at the Elder Conservatorium. In 2006 he performed the Bloch Concerto Grosso with the Elder Conservatorium Orchestra, and in early 2007 completed the Honours of Music Performance (Piano). He has played and toured with Veronica Vargas, Titi de Algeciras, Teatro del Mundo, Velada Flamenco and Studio Flamenco.
Satoko Kelty (dance)
Satoko studied classical ballet, jazz and Japanese traditional dancing for over 10 years before discovering her passion for flamenco in 2008 when she joined Studio Flamenco. Since then she has studied with various maestros including Manuel Betanzos, Andres Peña and Paloma Gómez, and in Sevilla with Angel Atienza, Rafael Campallo and Guadalupe Torres. She has performed in many of Studio Flamenco's productions, including ‘Recuerdos’, 'Zambra' and 'Peña Flamenca' and in Marduk Flamenco's 'Pasos' and 'Vidorra' and her dancing exudes the grace, beauty and soulfulness of flamenco.
Zoe Vélez (guest artist- voice)
Zoe is a graduate of both NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) and the Fundacion de Cristina Heeren (Sevilla) where she studied flamenco singing intensively. Zoe began dancing flamenco at a young age and performs as both a flamenco singer and dancer in her hometown of Sydney and around Australia. She regularly joins Studio Flamenco as a guest artist. Zoe performs with "zest and charisma" (Dance Informa Magazine) and she has been described as a "powerhouse" on stage (Glam Adelaide).
Melissa Walker (dance)
Dancing since the age of four, Melissa studied classical ballet, contemporary and jazz dance before discovering her passion for Flamenco in 2010. Since then, she has studied with various Flamenco Maestros including Manuel Betanzos, Paloma Gomez, La Chica and Pilar Ogalla. Melissa has performed previously at Tapas on Hindley, Studio Flamenco Fiesta productions and in ‘Recuerdos’.
GABI BALTIC (DANCE)
Gabi was drawn to Flamenco's passion, story, rhythm and colours. She began her flamenco dance journey at Studio Flamenco and since then has taken the opportunity to learn from visiting maestros Manuel Betanzos, Paloma Gomez, Francesca Grima and Angel Atienza. In 2016, Gabi travelled to Seville to attend the Flamenco Biennal, and train with dancers Vicky Barea and Marco Flores.
Gabi brings her joyful, funky style to Studio Flamenco’s shows, appearing in 'NoMad' (Fringe 2017), in Studio Flamenco’s yearly Fiesta shows, ‘Recuerdos’ (Adelaide Fringe and Kangaroo Island Arts Feast 2019 & Cabaret Fringe 2018), Opera SA’s ‘Carmen In The Square’, as well as many community festivals and events.
MORE COMPANY MEMBER BIOS COMING SOON….