As one of Canada’s elite professional flamenco dancers, Karen Pitkethly is the face of flamenco in Vancouver. She is a life-long dancer, extensively trained in ballet, contemporary, and flamenco dance. Her journey as a flamenco bailora brought her to Spain thanks to Canada Council. The experience allowed Karen to immerse herself in flamenco culture and study with an array of flamenco heavy weights. In 2009, the Karen Flamenco Studio opened in the heart of Mount Pleasant. This airy studio loft serves as Karen’s headquarters where she teaches over 150 flamenco enthusiasts, rehearses with the Karen Flamenco Dance Company, and creates her feisty dances.
Her dance company can be seen throughout the city, spicing up events such as the 2009 Komasket Music Festival, Olympic 2010 Surrey Celebration Site, and the 2010 Canadian Cancer Society Diamond Ball. Karen will also be involved with the June 2011 production of "Moulin Rouge" (Molino Rojo) at the Centre for Performing Arts in Vancouver. Karen’s choreography graced the summer 2010’s successful Bard on the Beach production of “Much Ado About Nothing” and will be seen at the Arts Club Theatre’s fall 2010 season presentation of “Don Quixote”.
Karen Flamenco's 'Romeo and Juliet'
Karen Flamenco's annual shows are not to be missed as proven by summer 2010’s three sold-out performances of “Romeo and Juliet.” Set in turn of the century Mexico, the timeless love-tragedy is visually translated into the fiery poetry of flamenco dance. Beautiful bandidas feud flamenco-style and mystical gypsies cast their hypnotic spell, all to the accompaniment of live flamenco guitar and narration of master storyteller and magician Gerardo Avila.
Karen Flamenco performed the tragic love tale of “Romeo & Juliet” November 12th, 2010 at the Surrey Arts Centre and November 13th, 2010 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Two spring shows will be performed at the Heritage Theatre in Gibsons, April 9th and 10th, 2011.
Karen Flamenco with Tambura Rasa
In addition to running Karen Flamenco, she also brings her flamenco-flair to world music when performing with world fusion minstrels “
Tambura Rasa”. She regularly tours with the band and performed at the Western Canada Music Awards on October 24th, 2010. And, soon to be aired, Karen will be starring in the Bravo short film “Dance of the Little Old Men” by Kulchera Matson.
