Tanya Bakala

Tanya Bakala, dancer, choreographer and teacher, the 2008 recipient of the Okanagan Arts Award, trained at the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada. She studied flamenco with the renowned Susana and Antonio Robledo in Germany and Switzerland and had the privilege of studying and performing modern dance under Daniel Lewis of the Jose Limon Company.

She was engaged by various companies and Musical Productions in Germany and later danced with Flamenco companies in Canada. She was featured in documentary film "Fringe Bound" on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and CHUM TV/ BRAVO.

For the last five years, as the artistic director to the Mission Dance Centre and Mission Dance Company, she has been producing her own full-length dance performances. Most recently, she was commissioned by the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra to choreograph for the productions of Carnival and Scheherazade. In the latter of the two she also performed as a solo guest dance artist.


A BEGINNER FLAMECO/TANGOS COURSE
This beginner course will explore the dance form of Tangos in the Flamenco style. The students will learn rhythms and accents using "palmas" (hand clapping), drums, canes and footwork. The dance style is expressed through the use of the body, arms and hands. The students will also have the opportunity to learn and practice the use the flamenco shawl.

Possible second half of this course for those who have some modern or ballet background and have taken the above course (or have previous flamenco dance experience):


MODERN-FLAMENCO FUSION CHOREOGRAPHY
Suitable modern-flamenco fusion choreography will be chosen for the level of the group. Through the study of the dance, students will explore the passion and beauty of flamenco when expressed through modern steps and movements. The students will be also taught how to hear the quality and rhythm in the music, and how they can perform this through movement and expression. They will be encouraged to open themselves to the emotions that the music emits and apply this to their own expression of the dance.