Master Class with Manuel Soto and Juan Fernández 

December 5, 2023

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Esmeralda Enrique Academy of Spanish Dance
Suite B104 - 401 Richmond Street W

Cost: $75.00 plus HST 

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Immerse yourself in the exhilarating rhythm of bulerías, with its improvisational nature, complex rhythm, and nuanced cante. But dancing bulerías is less mysterious than you may think. Join dancer Juan Fernández and singer Manuel Soto to gain insights into being able to dance to the cante in this festive dance.

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Juan Fernández was born in Cádiz, where he began his studies of flamenco and Spanish classical dance. Throughout his artistic career he has been part of multiple companies and has toured the world impressing audiences with his virtuosity, intensity and artistry. A majestic and imposing figure, he will be performing with the show Authentic Flamenco at the John Basset Theatre of Toronto in December 7 - 8.

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Manuel Soto is a flamenco singer born in Jerez de la Frontera, to a family with a long flamenco tradition. He started dancing when he was 11 years old but soon realized that his real passion was singing, and followed the footsteps of his famous uncle, José Mercé, a renowned cantaor. In 2003 he joined the company of Rosario Montoya "La Reina Gitana” and continued to perform with them in the International Flamenco Festival in Seville, Caixa Forum in Barcelona, and the X Festival de Jerez. He has sung all over the world including America, Asia and Europe, with very important artists such as Pilar Ogalla and Andrés Peña, Chiqui de Jerez and Eduardo Guerrero, to name a few. Manuel has performed with the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company for their annual Toronto season productions since 2011. He was pleased to join the company in 2015 for performances in Vancouver and in Toronto for the inaugural Fall for Dance North at the Sony Centre. Manuel Soto uses his experience of the purest flamenco, to merge with his own musical vision that belongs to the new generation of flamenco, with a fresh viewpoint that links funky grooves, soul, pop, and rock influences to the base of his gypsy roots.

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