BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS


Alicia Morena is a protege of Rosa Durán. Rosa Durán is a leading artist in the Jondo-Gypsy lineage of flamenco and received awards for her dancing from the heads of state in Spain, France, Italy and the United States. Alicia studied with notable flamenco artists, including: Teo Morca, Lupe del Rio, Rafael de Córdoba, La Tati, Maria Magdalena and Paco Romero. She has performed, choreographed and taught in Spain, Hawaii, Mexico and California with her artistic partner, Roberto Andres. Alicia's flamenco dance dramas, Pilar's Magic Castanets and Tu y Yo, are scheduled for production in 2003.
Bill Gibson (El Guillo) graduated with honors from San Jose State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Music, with emphasis in Classical Guitar Performance under Maestro Bahram Behroozi. He also received extensive training in jazz improvisation while completing his degree. As an accompanist for the dance, El Guillo crafts his Flamenco material for the dancers choreography with a vibrant and sensitive style. Mr. Gibson has toured with the Aditi Foundation as the lead accompanist on Flamenco guitar. As a soloist, he has performed profesionally for 15 years in venues such as Tapestry in Talent, San Jose; Mirassou Winery, Los Gatos; Pruneyard Summer Music Series, Campbell; Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, Carmel Valley; and TV/Radio guest appearances and interviews.
Paula Reyes is a professional dancer and choreographer schooled extensively in classical Spanish, Flamenco, and ethnic dance. Ms.Reyes is has been a soloist and company performer with Bay Area in Dance, Bailes Flamencos, and Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco. She has toured and performed in Honolulu, California, and the mid-West, and has been a guest artist with the San Francisco Opera, Young Audiences of the Bay Area, and the San Jose Flamenco Society. A protégée of Rosa Montoya, she also performs the choreographies of Carmen Mora, Elena Perez, Rosita Duran and Jose Galvan. Paula Reyes has received awards for her dance make-up and traditional and innovative costume design. She also holds a Masters Degree in Spanish and French and a California teaching credential from San Francisco State University.
Ana Malmuth-Onn is a former member of the Inba! Dance Theater of Israel. As a choreographer, she investigates movement and its cultural significance using videotaping as a tool. Ana has choreographed extensively for professionals and in the academic community. Her "Hidden light" and "Song of Songs" blend her wide-ranging dance experience with Sephardic-Ladino Culture. She received her BA in Anthropology and MA in Dance Education at Stanford University studying under Inge Weiss. Ana has studied Jondo-Flamenco with Alicia Morena and teaches modern and ethnic dance at West Valley College in Saratoga, California.
I'm Regina Kehau Redira, the Polynesian dance instructor of Kehau's Hula Ohana. The art of Hawaiian dance was first introduced to me at a very young age by my sisters. Soon after I began to study under the direction of Auntie Naty Mapuana Johnston for about 15 years. Her halau ( dance group) was called "Mapuana and the Polynesians. " Then, I studied the art of auwana (slow hula) and kahiko (ancient hula) under the direction of Auntie Naomi Leina ' ala Kalama- Logan, her group was then called "Halau O'Kalama. " Currently, she now teaches in Sacramento, California. The halau is now called "Ka Pa Hula Kanoelehuaokahalema."
Elizabeth "Betty"- Orrett received her liberal arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley taking special course work with Hans Hoffman, Arts Director. Betty's portfolios reflect her passion for and study of the dance, especially Flamenco. Her collections: "Dancers in Motion and Meaning", "Tango Gitano", "Bailes de Silla", pen and ink washes and water colors for "Dance Scenes From Here to There", are adapted to backdrops, skrims, gobos, art-in-suspension, art in the written programs and in theatre foyers. She is currently working on a new series of dancers in floral settings that reflect the colors and cultures of her extensive world travels as an artist who keeps building a bank of visual memories for movement and its settings.


Dena Ann Crawford holds a degree in Theater Arts with a Dance emphasis from the University of Santa Clara. Her initiation to the dance was in 1991 at West Valley College when she enrolled in flamenco classes with Alicia Morena. Dena has appeared as a dancer and a soloist in Deep Song, iAy Cordoba!, Blessing to You My Love, Choreographer's Gallery, and High Release Dance.