Flamenco is a living art form, originating in the south of Spain. It is a passionate expression of life involving intricate communication between four main components: Song, Dance, Guitar, and Rhythm. Characterized by driving rhythms and haunting melodies, it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.
The Edmonton Flamenco Festival was an annual festival that first appeared in the Spring of 2017 and finally closed after the devastating COVID-19 related cancellation of the fourth festival due to take place from March 12 – 15, 2020. The festival inspired awareness, understanding, and appreciation of traditional Spanish flamenco through an annual festival featuring performance, workshops, and outreach programs with world renowned international artists. Beginning in 2015 it ran an annual Fall fundraiser featuring performances and workshops with Canadian artists. From 2016 to 2018 it featured a community flashmob performed about the city leading up to the festival. The festival was produced by the Edmonton Flamenco Festival Association, a registered not for profit society created in 2015 for the purpose of producing an annual Flamenco Festival in Edmonton.
Artistic Director – Jane Ogilvie
Coordinators
Guitar Coordinator – Jim Findlay
Community Partnership – Irena Dumicz
Community Partnership – Sandra Mattar
Travel Coordination – Francesca Canalizo
Festival Board
President – Meilai Ha
Vice-President – Sue Lawrence
Secretary – Lisa Guirguis
Treasurer – Stephanie Ibach
Member at large – Bryce Stewart
Past Coordinators
Jen Dunford – Flashmob Coordinator
Past Board Members
Cat Moores – past President
Gail Moores – past Treasurer
Patrick Moores – past Member at large
Jane Ogilvie – past Vice President
Lana Whiskeyjack – past Member at large
Foundations
The Edmonton Flamenco Festival started as the the shared vision of co-founders Cat Moores and Jane Ogilvie. After more than a year of planning, the festival was officially founded in 2015 with Cat serving as the festival’s Executive Director, and Jane as the Artistic Director. After the inaugural 2017 festival Cat decided to move on to other exciting adventures. Jane recovered the festival with a new board and team of coordinators and went on to host two more successful festivals before the cancellation of the fourth festival in 2020 brought the organization to its end.
Edmonton Flamenco Festival 