Syracuse is filled with arts programs and dance troupes of all kinds, but if you are looking for a flamenco group, you will only find one: Puente Flamenco.
"I really didn't think anything was going to happen, I was like, flamenco in Central New York?" said flamenco dancer Marisa G zman. "I didn't realize the interest that was around for it."
But a year and a half ago Puente Flamenco began forming when Shander Bawden, a flamenco dancer, contacted Lonnie Chu and asked if they could get together to talk about the possibility of bringing flamenco to Syracuse.
"The group kind of came together through the Internet, otherwise I don't know how we would have found each other," said Puente Flamenco manager Lonnie Chu.
No one really knew what was going to come out of that Internet connection, but today Puente Flamenco has seven active members: Lonnie Chu, manager, singer and palmas; guitarists David Chu (also Lonnie's husband), and Andy Culpepper; dancers G zman, Joan Dear-Houseman and Anna Rupert; and David Colegrove, cajon/percussionist and G zman's husband.
A variety of talents and backgrounds
Each member brings a unique talent to the group, and they didn't necessarily learn the traditional way. As Lonnie Chu says, when it comes to flamenco in Syracuse, you have to get it where you can.
G zman's first experience with flamenco came at age 14 when her father entered her into a competition. She learned choreography from a videotape sent by her aunt, a former professional flamenco dancer in New York City.
She used her aunt's videos to learn flamenco dancing until she went to New York City at age 21, where she studied flamenco dancing with Andrea del Conte.
Although most of the group members didn't know each other before joining, they have learned to work together and capitalize on each individual's skills.
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