Aloysius Leeson

Aloysius has been playing guitar since he was a child. After studying classical guitar at the Elder Conservatorium, he took up flamenco. This led him to spend time in Spain following the traditional apprenticeship of accompanying singers and dancers, studying with maestros and playing at Juergas (parties). Eventually he was able to work at the dance studios of Javier Cruz and Maria Angeles in Seville.

Since coming back to Australia he has continued to work as a soloist and with a variety of dancers and singers. He recently released his second CD of original compositions, "Chispa Flamenca", and continues to explore the possibilities of the guitar in many different styles.

"It is more than evident that Leeson is a virtuoso guitarist, with a style that easily moves from sensitive to frenetic"- Michael Hunter, dB magazine.
"Professional and intense" - Scott McLennan, Rip it up magazine.
"A superbly authentic sound" - Celia Brissenden, The Advertiser.

Performance Highlights

2008 Chispa Flamenca December Fiesta, at Casa de Flamenco.
2008 Chispa Flamenca perform at the Adelaide Fringe.
2007 Adelaide International guitar festival, Wah-bar series.
2006 WOMADelaide, with Studio Flamenco.
2006 The Singapore Feria de Abril, at Chimes plaza, Singapore with dancer Antonio Vargas and singer Antonio Soria.
2005 Premier of “Caminos”, a work by Adelaide composer Angus Barnacle, at Nexus Cabaret, with contempory dancers.
2005 Launch of his second CD “Chispa Flamenca” at the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel.

Kristy Manuel

Kristy's lifelong passion for dance first led her to Flamenco in 2001. In the relatively short period since, she has established herself as an outstanding Flamenco performer, being described as a 'wonderful, expressive dancer' by Radio Adelaide's Jane Costessi. Kristy's dedication led to her studying at the prestigious 'Amor de Dios' academy in Madrid. Here she spent 14 months studying with maestras 'La Truco' and Imnaculada Ortega in 2003 and 2004. Upon returning to Australia, it wasn't long before Kristy felt the lure of Spain again, returning in 2006, this time to Seville. She spent three months studying with some of the most accomplished dancers in Spain, including Manuel Betanzos, Isabel Bayon, Angel Atienza, Adela Campallo and Ursula Lopez.

Kristy has recently showed her unique blend of physical and emotive styles at several performances detailed below.

Performance Highlights

2009 Casa de Flamenco Winter Fiesta
2008 Sell out performances in Chispa Flamenca's debut performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
2007 Peña Flamenca at The Chapel Theatre
2007 The Adelaide International Guitar Festival
2006 WOMADelaide, Studio Flamenco
including Flamenco!
2005 Studio Flamenco's Tablao Flamenco II
2004 The festival of El Horno in Madrid

Guest Artists

Roshanne Wijeyeratne

Roshanne has been described as one of “Australia’s finest young flamenco artists seen in Australia today” (Flamenco Australia, Marina Tamayo 2008). Born into a family of musicians, Roshanne has a natural talent for rhythm and has been singing, dancing and performing music since childhood. She has been trained in piano and dance forms including tap, jazz ballet, classical ballet, ballroom, Indian, Sri Lankan, Pahan (candle) and flamenco dancing (since 1996).

Roshanne now travels to Spain and the United States regularly to undergo intensive professional training and has been instructed by some of the biggest names in flamenco dance. She returned from Spain in November 2008 from training with Pastora Galvan, Isabel Bayon, Miguel ‘El Rubio’, Alicia Marquez, Raphael Campallo, and Juana Amaya.

Roshanne’s skills as a dancer alone are impressive with fiery, rhythmic footwork and an authentic flamenco style but her ability to express her genuine emotions through dance and emote at the same time is raw flamenco at its core. “Flamenco fans packed the Darwin Entertainment Centre thrilling at Roshanne Wijeyeratne’s dancing in particular” (Northern Territory News 2007).

Performance Highlights

2008 Chispa Flamenca: Flamenco Fiesta at Casa de Flamenco
2008 Florian: Una Noche de Flamenco
Sydney 2007 & 2008 Marino Tamayo presents ‘Flamenco Tablao’ with Antonio Vargas
2005 & 2007 The Shell Darwin Guitar Festival
2007 Flamenco Tablao, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2007 Museo Del Grito (Adelaide Fringe), Velada Flamenco
2006 Supermegafashion, Velada Flamenco
2005 Sincopa, Velada Flamenco
2004 Primavera, Velada Flamenco
2003 La Carboneria, Sevilla
2002 WOMADelaide, Teatro del Mundo

El Titi de Algeciras

Salvador Ramon Flores Loreto Montoya Heredia Cortes Arroyo de Los Reyes known as 'el Titi de Algeciras' was born in Algeciras, Spain in 1942 into a gitano (gypsy) family whose tradition is flamenco.

Salvador, at a very early age, experienced the art of bullfighting under the name "el Gitanillo de Algeciras", but gave away this career after being badly gored by a bull.

Singing at a very early age under the name of "Montoyita" and later with his cousins in a group called "Los Montoyas", the young singer learned his art at the side of famous singers such as Antonio Mairena, who would come to fiestas in his family home. Related to the famous gypsy families of Los Montoyas, (nephew of Roque Montoya "Jarrito"), Los Chiquitetes, the Utrera Sisters, the late Cameron de la Isla and growing up with Paco de Lucia as a neighbour, the young Montoyita was offered work in the tablaos such as La Corral del la Morreria in Madrid working with such artists as dancer la Tati, Antonio el Pelau, and guitarist el Habichuela and winning awards for his singing.

He arrived in Australia in 1966 with the flamenco dance company el Sali and after being offered a contract in Perth stayed working with the gypsy dancer La Tani. Since then he has been the only authentic flamenco gypsy singer in Australia and in high demand by Australian flamenco artists of the calibre of Antonio Vargas, Diana Reyes and Gabriel Heredia in Sydney and Melbourne.

With performances too numerous to list over his many years of performing, one of his highlights was to feature in the spectacular “Carmen” Opera put on by the Victorian State Opera in 1992 in Sydney and Melbourne. This led him to have a 12 month contract with the Melbourne Hyatt Hotel in their Tapas Bar. Other highlights include supporting act with Julio Iglesias and the Gypsy Kings.

Lisa Vertue

Lisa has recently returned from Spain where she immersed herself in the exciting world of flamenco, studying in Seville with Alicia Marquez and Ursula Lopez.

Having performed and been involved competitively in dance from the young age of 5, she has gained experience in dance forms such as: ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and flamenco.

Her love for the challenge, strength and expression in dance has drawn her focus to flamenco for the past 8 years. During this time she has had the opportunity to learn from many flamenco artists including: Antonio Vargas, Ramon Martinez, Ana Romero, Ana Otero and Rosalie Tomas.

Lisa has experience performing with companies Chispa Flamenca, Studio Flamenco and Teatro del Mundo.

Performance Highlights

2008 Chispa Flamenca: Flamenco Fiesta at Casa de Flamenco
2008 Florian: Una Noche de Flamenco
2007 Adelaide International guitar festival, Wah-bar series.
2006 FAD Bar, Studio Flamenco
2005-present El Rocio: Spanish Festival held in Clare.

Adrian van Nunen

Adrian has been playing cajon for various flamenco performance companies for over 8 years.

In 2006 he performed with Studio Flamenco at WOMADelaide, in Velada Flamenco’s successful “Museo del Grito” at the 2007 Adelaide Fringe Festival, the inaugural Adelaide International Guitar Festival in 2007, and with Antonio Vargas in Marina Tomayo’s “Flamenco Tablao” in 2008.

He has also played cajon, tinaja, and derbouka on Aloysius Leeson’s CD, Chispa Flamenca, which was released in 2005.

His training was gained both in Australia and in Spain.