Traditional Spanish flamenco dancing comes to the Vail Valley
Rafael Bruno/Courtesy photo
The allure of the Vail Valley brings people from all over and it really becomes a melting pot of culture and Jessica Pinto wants to share her talents of flamenco dancing with the public.
With over 20 years of experience dancing internationally, Pinto settled in Edwards eight months ago and has been working on building a solid team of performers to bring an authentic look, sound and feel to the craft.
“The flamenco I’m bringing is not fusion, it is pure gypsy style, like what you would see at a tablao in Sevilla, Spain,” Pinto said.
The result is Dwende Flamenco, a trio that features a talented guitarist, a mesmerizing percussionist and a captivating dancer, each coming from diverse Hispanic backgrounds. Pinto hopes to transport audiences from the Rocky Mountains to the Mediterranean with a culturally rich experience that blends style, fiery rhythms and soulful melodies.
The name, Dwende also means “to have Dwende” which is a popular expression within the flamenco world that can be loosely translated as having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and heart while playing or dancing to flamenco.
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“It applies to the audience too,” Pinto said. “If someone gets a sense of emotion and connection while witnessing flamenco, it means the “Dwende” came to visit you.”
Pinto was driven to bring flamenco skills that she honed primarily in Barcelona, Spain to Eagle County to share a culture she loves.
“Dwende Flamenco aims to infuse the valley with a dose of international culture. Every show we deliver will serve as a captivating tour of the flamenco world, offering something entirely fresh and unique to our local audience. Our goal is to transport spectators to distant horizons through the captivating art,” Pinto said.
“Since my relocation to Colorado, I’ve longed to come back to dancing, but finding like-minded and talented individuals willing to commit to a band proved challenging since flamenco is extremely rare here,” Pinto said.
Pinto was able to find those individuals. Diego Espinosa, hailing from Cuernavaca, Mexico, is a multi-instrumentalist and composer with a wealth of international experience. From a young age, he explored a diverse spectrum of musical styles, including jazz, rock, funk, blues, Latin and Mediterranean rhythms.
Percussionist Santiago Doglione brings the rhythmic heartbeat of Buenos Aires, Argentina to the group. His deep love for Latin American styles to dynamic worlds of pop, rock and flamenco infuses Dwende Flamenco’s performances with a powerful energy.
The valley will get its first taste of Dwende Flamenco on Sept. 15 at Color Coffee in Eagle. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and there will be two sets lasting 45 minutes each with a 15-minute break in between. There will also be special Spanish wines for sale.
Pinto hopes to spark more performance opportunities, from private events to theater shows. She will also be sharing her knowledge and skills with the public. She will be teaching flamenco dancing at Vail Valley Academy of Dance in Edwards. There is a master class on Sept. 23 where aspiring dancers can immerse themselves in the world of flamenco.
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“I’ll teach the intricate steps, rhythms and soulful expressions that define this mesmerizing art form,” Pinto said. “Dwende Flamenco is not only here to perform but also to ignite a love for flamenco within the community.
To learn more, go to DwendeFlamenco.com or follow them on Instagram: @dwendeflamenco. To learn more about the master class, visit VailValleyAcademyOfDance.net.
