KW Flamenco Fest 2019

We’re excited to bring you the 2nd annual Little KW Flamenco Fest! Two theatre shows, two FREE street performances, and workshops for all ages!

Afterwards, we will be heading to the Toronto Tablao (August 2nd), the Flying Dance Festival in Guelph (August 3rd), and Hamilton’s Staircase Theatre (August 4th, matinee) for performances there.

Please see below for details on the itinerary, tickets and workshop registration, and artist bios, including those for our performances elsewhere.

Our goal is to add diversity to the rich arts and culture fabric of Waterloo Region while building a community around the art of Flamenco. We aim to be family-friendly, accessible, and enlightening by sharing the full range of Flamenco arts: dance, song, guitar, percussion and clapping (Palmas). We aim to bring in high-level performers to do this.

Any inquiries about the festival can be sent to contact@calujules.com.

Hope you join us!

Official program

Download the Little KW Flamenco Fest 2019 program here.

Testimonials from the Little KW Flamenco Fest

2018

You did an outstanding job of putting on an unforgettable evening of entertainment. Everyone I talked to was blown away by the high calibre of talent and skill, and those who had never seen flamenco were amazed. We are so lucky you decided to do this for KW and I hope to see many more such performances, fiestas and workshops/lessons! It was a very enriching experience – both the workshop and the evening of flamenco! Muchas gracias!

I loved the show. My partner and I are from different cultural backgrounds and we love to be able to share into different cultural experiences.

Well organized, informative and engaging program, positive participant/audience response throughout the events. A pleasure to be a part of KW Flamenco Festival 2018!

Would have attended more if it did not sellout. My child enjoyed the class. I hope there will be another time for the classes ongoing.

Incredible calibre. Friendly and educational.

Very generous yet real and approachable in many ways. Thank you. Big show in a little space by generous artists! Wonderful!

Had a great time! Thanks for your sincerity and your enthusiasm in organizing this festival!

Incredible! Hope it just gets bigger and bigger! One of my favourite things I did this summer.

My wife and I are really excited about Flamenco in KW. We spend Feb, March and April in Spain each year and are always attending the Flamenco bars and even small restaurants that have a singer or perhaps singer and guitar. Imagine having that all year round right here. We loved the show and the intimate atmosphere of the Little Theatre. We look forward to your next event.

Itinerary

July 29th
FREE street performances by CaluJules and Ronaldo Monge.
- 12 noon: Waterloo square.
- 7pm: Carl Zehr Square (in front of Kitchener city hall).
Stick around for a chat afterwards!

*NOTE: These performances are contingent on weather. Please check your forecast for rain.
July 30th
All activities on July 30th take place at or near Star Performance Academy, 455 Dutton Dr, in Waterloo.
- 4:30-5:30pm: “Flamenco in the forest”, children’s flamenco percussion workshop in Sugarbush park, meetup at SPA. Ages 6-12, parents/guardians welcome.
- 5:30-6:30pm: Flamenco dance workshop with Ronaldo. Experience necessary.
- 6:30-8:00pm: Intro to flamenco clapping & dance with Claudia. 1st half: Palmas (clapping), 2nd half: Dance, or palmas practice.
July 31st
- Noon: Street performance in front of Long & McQuade in uptown Waterloo.
- 5-6pm: Cajon and percussion clinic with Ronaldo Monge, at Long & McQuade in uptown Waterloo.
- 8pm: Flamenco show at the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre, 9 Princess St E, Waterloo.
August 1st
All events August 1st take place at the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre, 9 Princess St E, Waterloo.
- 12:30pm-3:30pm: Flamenco for Health 1: Authentic Voice through Flamenco Singing, with Hugh Smiley.
- 4:00pm-7:00pm: Flamenco for Health 2: Authentic Movement through Flamenco Dance with Hugh Smiley.
- 8pm: Flamenco show at the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre.

Go to workshops Go to Tickets

Hamilton, Guelph, and Toronto

Other activities in close proximity to the festival:

Aug 2nd: Toronto
Ronaldo Monge & CaluJules bring our performance to the Toronto Tablao, on Friday, August 2rd.

Links: Tickets – Facebook Event.
Aug. 3rd: Guelph
Ronaldo Monge & CaluJules teach a workshop (5-6pm) and perform (6-6:30pm) during the Flying Dance Festival in Guelph, on Saturday August 3rd.
Aug 4th: Hamilton
Ronaldo Monge & CaluJules bring our performance to The Staircase Theatre in Hamilton, on Sunday, August 4th at 2:30pm.

Links: Tickets – Facebook Event

Workshops

Workshop registration
Click to register for workshops!

"Flamenco in the forest"

July 30th, 4:30-5:30pm.
Meet at Star Performance Academy, 455 Dutton Dr, Waterloo.
$15.
Sign up here.

Experience rhythm and the essence of flamenco in a natural setting. For children 6 – 12. An adult can accompany the child, if wished.

Will take place in Sugarbush park. We will meet outside Star Performance Academy, and walk to the woods together. The children will learn about the flamenco tree, and a bit about flamenco’s origins, as well as some fun flamenco songs and rhythms. All attending children will be given a pair of castanets! Preregistration only. Bring a mat, towel, or camping stool to sit on!

Flamenco for Health with Hugh Smiley

These workshops have been cancelled as not enough people registered by the deadline. If you were interested, please write us. Hopefully we can bring Hugh in soon!

Art- and music-therapy have been proven to be powerful approaches to health and healing. FLAMENCO is a unique and exquisite art-form providing a passionate and joyful vehicle for physical resiliency, strength, balance and flexibility, as well as emotional expression, creativity and mental sharpness.

The Aug. 1st ‘Flamenco for Health’ workshops at the KW FlamFest will introduce you to basic sounds and movements from this art-form in an easy and fun way, while providing you with tools for a sound, healthy and passionate YOU!

$45 for one, $70 for both. Register by July 29th.
At the KW Little Theatre, 9 Princess St E, Waterloo
Sign up for both at a discount here.

Flamenco for Health 1: Authentic Voice through Flamenco Singing

August 1st, 12:30pm-3:30pm.
Sign up here.

Flamenco for Health 2: Authentic Movement through Flamenco Dance

August 1st, 4:00pm-7:00pm.
Sign up here.

Hugh Smiley BA, ARCT, Certified Hakomi Therapist
An experienced psychotherapist and passionate student of flamenco singing and dance. Hugh is a bodyworker and created the Korason Method for Authentic Voice and the New AndaLuz Centre for Authentic Dialogue. He has taught these workshops offered at the Festival in Canada, the US, Central America and throughout Spain. www.hughsmiley.com

0:00 – What to expect at these workshops
1:50 – What is this Flamenco ‘shouting’ all about?
3:32 – Emotions in Flamenco
5:13 – Hugh’s background as a psychotherapist

Introduction to flamenco clapping and dance

July 30th, 6:30-8:00pm.
At Star Performance Academy, 455 Dutton Dr, Waterloo
$15.
Sign up here.

Get an introduction to Flamenco from Claudia & Julian!

Learn some clapping rhythms (palmas) and then either learn basic flamenco dance moves or practice your palmas to accompany the music.

Cajon and percussion clinic

July 31st, 5-6pm.
At Long & McQuade, 36 King St N, Waterloo.
Free!

Come take a cajon workshop with Ronaldo. No need to bring your own instrument, as they will provide theirs. You can also attend to learn about palmas and other flamenco percussion. Register by emailing Graham McRae from Long & McQuade at gmcrae@long-mcquade.com, or upon arrival.

Flamenco dance workshop with Ronaldo

July 30th, 5:30-6:30pm.
At Star Performance Academy, 455 Dutton Dr, Waterloo
$25.
Sign up here.

For dancers with some basic training in flamenco movements and language, learn something from a master dancer.

This workshop is aimed at those with some experience dancing flamenco. You need to be familiar with basic footwork techniques: planta, tacon and golpe, as well as have some experience with flamenco rhythms. If you have taken lessons with Claudia this past year, you will have the knowledge necessary to attend. Students from other schools are welcome as well! If you are unsure whether you are eligible, feel free to email us and ask! Preregistration only.

Tickets

KW Performances
Tickets for the shows at the KW Little Theatre, July 31st and August 1st.

Printed tickets are available at Kultrun Market in Uptown Waterloo.
Toronto Tablao
Tickets for our performance at the Toronto Tablao, August 2nd, at The Supermarket.
Hamilton show
Tickets for our Matinee performance on August 4th at the Staircase theatre in Hamilton.
Workshop registration
Register for workshops here! Various workshops are happening, July 30th to August 1st.

Performers

Ronaldo Monge

Flamenco Dance & Percussion

Flamenco dancer and percussionist, studied in Granada, Spain. Ronaldo has performed in tablaos and festivals as part of a dance company in Spain, as a soloist, and with an ensemble in Chicago.

Juneyt Yetkiner

Guitarist

A powerful presence in the KW music scene since 1999, Juneyt has received much recognition and has performed at numerous festivals and venues in Canada and around the world.

Claudia Aguirre & Julian Berg

CaluJules

Claudia Aguirre — Vocals & Dance
Trained in Flamenco dance in Toronto and Spain, with a diverse musical education including a B.A and M.A. in dance.

Julian Berg — Flamenco Guitar
Began studying flamenco as a teenager, training in Spain and at Paco Peña’s conservatory flamenco program in the Netherlands.

CalúJules — Flamenco Plus offers classes in the full range of Flamenco arts, provides performances and collaborations, arranges visits from other Flamenco artists and is available for community and corporate special events and team-building.

Official program

Testimonials from the Little KW Flamenco Fest