JUAN CARLOS LERIDA
Juan Carlos began his studies in dance at the age of 3. He has trained in studies of drama, contemporary dance and improvisation in the Andalusian Center of Theater (Spain) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Choreography and Interpretation Techniques from the Institut d’Teatre of Barcelona. Since 2002, he has been an instructor of Flamenco, Contemporary Dance and Composition at the Theater Institute in Barcelona. In 2002 he was invited to Japan by Director Yoko Komatsubara where he set choreography for the company. He co-directed, performed and choreographed with Joaquin Cortes the work De Amor y odio and played the lead role in the musical Los Tarantos in 2004. His latest creation, El arte de la Guerra was premiered at the Flamenco Festival Berlin in 2006. In 2007 he co-directed and performed in Souvenir with Belen Maya. In 2008 he was director of choreography in the XV Flamenco Biennial of Seville and in 2009 he curated the first Flamenc Empiric Festival hosted by the Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona.

 JOSÉ LUIS RODRIGUEZ
José Luis Rodríguez was born in Ceuta, Spain and began studying guitar in Huelva at the age of nine in the Peñas Flamencas of the city.  From the age of 15, he studied as the favorite student of maestro Mario Escudero.  He has performed in numerous countries such as Belgium, Holland, Italy, Morocco, England, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, the United States and others.  He has accompanied numerous popular Flamenco singers and dancers such as La Niña de la Puebla, Carmen Linares, Jose Mercé, Fosforito, Manolo Marín, María Pages, Isabel Bayón and many others. In 1993 he became a member of the Ballet Cristina Hoyos for which he composed various musical scores including “Al Compás del Tiempo,” “A Tiempo y A Compás,” “Tierra Adentro,” and the movie “Despacito y a Compás.”  In 2003 he became the composer and invited guest artist for the Ballet Andaluz with the production of “Yerma.” His most recent composition for the Ballet, “Viaje al Sur” is currently on tour.  Among his numerous awards, those that most stand out are the one obtained in the 1984 Bienal de Sevilla and the first prize and gold medal conferred at Hospitalet in1989 and 1990. In 1999, he participated in the series “Flamenco Viene del Sur” next to artists Hiniesta Cortes, Manuela Rios, El Junco and Juan Ogalla.  Currently, he is recording and performing as a soloist with his production “De Mis Manos” and collaborating with Belén Maya on “Dibujos,” a production that premiered at the 2006 Festival de Jeréz.  Since 2005, he has collaborated with Bailes Ferrer on two productions as Resident Musical Director and Artistic Advisor for the Flamenco in the Sun.

NELIDA TIRADO
Nelida Tirado began her formal training at age six at Ballet Hispanico of NY where she became a scholarship recipient, member of the apprentice company, and received the Tito Puente Scholarship.  Barely out of her teens, she joined José Molina Bailes Españoles and toured the US for the next several years. She joined Carlota Santana's "Flamenco Vivo" company and was soloist and dance captain for several years. Also an original member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Spanish Ballet, she performed in Franco Zeferelli’s “Carmen” at the Met and toured Japan. In 1997, she received an Artist in Residence grant from the New York Foundation of the Arts.  That same year she relocated to Spain where she immediately began studying and performing professionally with Juan Andrés Maya in Granada. She joined Compañía Maria Pages where she was soloist and repetidora (dance captain) performing at major prestigious Flamenco festivals within Spain and Spanish television including the Bienal del Arte Flamenco, Festival de Jerez, Festival de Otoño, Festival de la Guitarra in Cordoba and the Flamenco Festival USA. She has performed nationally and internationally throughout France, Italy, UK, Japan and Germany. In 2000, she was part of World Music Institute's "Gypsy Caravan" with Compañía Antonio El Pipa. She has worked with many of Spain's major Flamenco artists, such as: Fernando Romero, Manolo Marín, Manuel Soler, Antonio Reyes, Juan Ogalla, Isabel Bayón, Manuel Liñán, Pastora Galván, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Antonio Malena, La Tobala, and Marina Heredia.  Upon her return to the USA, she worked with "Noche Flamenca” and was featured Flamenco artist in the highly acclaimed show "Riverdance" on Broadway. In 2005, she represented Compañía Maria Pages in the Aichi Expo in Japan as a solo artist.  Nelida's intense grace and powerful style are unlike any other causing critics to single her out time and again in her appearances at the Joyce Theater, Jacobs Pillow, Lincoln Center and at the Symphony Space. Ms. Tirado currently resides in New York City and was featured in Dance Magazine’s "25 to Watch" in 2007.

DAMARIS FERRER
Damaris Ferrer is the Artistic Director of the Bailes Ferrer Flamenco Dance Company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she has dedicated her career to promoting and teaching the art of Flamenco music and dance. Prior to founding Bailes Ferrer in 1995, she trained at the Ballet Hispanico of New York, Performing Arts High School, and the State University of New York studying Classical Ballet, Graham Technique, Limon Technique, Classical Spanish Dance and Flamenco. Ms. Ferrer has toured nationally and internationally with Ballet Hispanico, José Molina Bailes Españoles, All Nations Dance Company, Ballet Argentino Raices and Mary Street Dance Theater. Her efforts and talents as an artist, and her contributions to the arts have been constantly recognized through such awards as the Tito Puente Scholarship Fund (three time recipient), the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (1987) and the Individual Artist Fellowship from the State of Florida (2002). Ms. Ferrer is currently teaching classes and workshops at the University Center for the Performing Arts and continues her collaborations with different artists and dance styles.  She is the creator of Flamenco in the Sun, Café Cantante and several other Flamenco events and Festivals produced by Bailes Ferrer in the past 12 years.

NIURCA MÁRQUEZ
Niurca Márquez began her training in Classical Spanish Dance and Flamenco in Miami under Pepita Ibañez and Helena Alonso.  In 1996 she moved to New Mexico where she continued her training and performed as a guest artist of Dance España and an ensemble member of Alma Flamenca at the 1997 Festival Flamenco Internacional.  Upon returning to Miami, she toured with Ballet Flamenco Angela Rhea in Spanish Extravaganza and was one of five dancers featured in Susana Yamuchi’s Interactions (1997 FLA/BRA festival).  She has been with Bailes Ferrer since 2000 and performed as company member and soloist for Duende Ballet Español under the direction of Rosa Mercedes.  Her own choreography has been featured in programs of the Cove/Rincon of Miami, the Hallandale Symphony, FIU’s Department of Theater and Dance and the University of Kansas Dance Company.  Niurca has studied with top artists from the United States and Spain and is the recipient of the 2003 and 2006 Artist Access Grant and 2005 and 2007 Artist Enhancement Grant.  Niurca holds an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies with a concentration in Dance Ethnography.  Her work focuses on the study of Flamenco movement and music as a form of expression and the relationship of the art to other musical forms particularly in the New World.  She has been a guest lecturer at various institutions of higher learning, teacher-training workshops and conferences.  Her teaching and choreography are based on the integration of body awareness through techniques from the Feldenkrais Method and an understanding of Flamenco as an art form within a specific cultural and aesthetic context.

PAOLA ESCOBAR
Paola Escobar was born in Colombia. She has danced with the modern dance company L’explose with which she participated in the Festival de Almada (Portugal), Festival de Teatro de Cadiz, Festival de los Veranos de la Villa (Madrid), Festival Madrid Sur, Festival Latinidades (Sao Paulo). While with the company she also performed at La Maison de la Danse (Lyon), Theatre de la Comedie (France), Teatro Colón and Teatro de la Candelaria (Colombia). She was part of Afrocontemporaneo 34% visibles project and participated in the Let’s Kick up our Heels Festival in Toronto, Festival de San Sebastian in Spain and the Festival de Teatro de Medillín, among others.  As a Flamenco dancer, she has worked in Havana with the companies Ecos and Aires.   In Bogota she directed her own company Taconearte.  Her work Flamenco 24 horas received the National Prize in 2005 and the award for creation Pasos 2002 among others. Currently residing in Florida, she has participated in Calle Flamenca  with Bailes Ferrer (2006) and the lead role in Las brujas de salem with Ballet Flamenco La Rosa (2007).  In 2006 she premiered her work Viaje de regreso  at the Colony Theater in Miami Beach.

BRIANNA AUSTIN
Brianna Austin’s early natural talent for rhythms led to training in Middle Eastern and Flamenco dance and, shortly thereafter, to percussion. She has studied dance with an impressive array of teachers including Myriam Eli, Serena Ramzy, Virginia, Bozenka, Jillina, Rachel Brice, Elena Lentini (Middle Eastern), Leandra La Greca, Omayra Amaya, Joaquin Enciñias, Maria Pages, Damaris Ferrer, and Farruquito (Flamenco). Brianna has also studied dumbek with renowned artists “Sultan of Swing” Hossam Ramzy, Joe Zeytoonian, and Daveed Korup; Flamenco cajón with Manuel Soler and Francisco Javier Orozco “Yiyi”; djembe with Jan Sebon; conga with Richie Flores. As a dancer/percussionist, she has performed in South Florida over the past 12 years, as well as in England, Puerto Rico, New York and Texas. She frequently performs with Bailes Ferrer, Flamencos! Music and Dance Ensemble, and has been a company member of the Middle Eastern dance troupe Harmonic Motion. Additionally, Brianna contributes choreography and is a member and soloist for the innovative dance troupe TranZenDance.  Brianna has shared the stage with such renowned artists as Rachel Brice, John Compton, and Tamalyn Dallal, and appeared with Jill Parker and Heather Stants in “Spellbound" as part of the “Spark” tour.  She currently teaches Middle Eastern dance at the University Center for the Performing Arts and, together with Erin Harkin, is a co-founder of Masala Middle Eastern Fusion.