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La Tempestad
The dance of the gypsies has been Tempestad’s lifelong passion. A recognized
performing artist with national acclaim, Tempestad is known for her rigorous devotion to the beauty and art of traditional
Flamenco technique. She began as a child taking lessons at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, progressed to major productions
in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and now performs as a featured artist with Del Espadin Baile Español and
teaches alongside her mother, Maria Del Espadin, at Del Espadin Flamenco & Spanish Dance Academy in Houston, Texas.
Tempestad was born in New York city in 1976, and began studies in ballet at the age of
four at the Neubert Ballet Institute in Carnegie Hall. Shortly thereafter, she began concurrent studies in Spanish Dance
at Carnegie Hall's International Studios. Her studies over the years with outstanding teachers and practitioners
like Maria Del Espadin, La Farruca, Rosa Montoya, Carlos Antonio Fernandez, Mercedes Amaya, and Carmela Greco have given Tempestad
a rigorous grounding in Flamenco fundamentals and a depth of artistic understanding. Tempestad firmly believes
that technique is a significant part of any performing art such as dance, however, she also believes that the expression of
a dancer's own feelings and emotion is vital to the art of Flamenco. One of the greatest lessons she ever learned
was from her mother...that Flamenco is not only a dance...It is a way of life. As a result, Tempestad's dancing
features both spectacular technique and remarkable emotional authenticity rarely exhibited in Flamenco tablaos today.
Tempestad's Louisiana appearances include performances with ¡Alegrias! Spanish Dance and Flamenco Ensemble at
the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, the French Quarter Festival and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. She
has also performed in productions at Tulane University, Loyola University, Louisiana State University and the University of
New Orleans. She was featured regularly on local New Orleans television. In 1994, Tempestad and ¡Alegrias!
were invited to perform at the re-opening of a national historical landmark, The Cabildo of the Louisiana State Museum, winning
a nomination for the "Big Easy" Award for artistic excellence.
Appearing in solo performances or as a
featured artist with Del Espadin Baile Español in Houston, Texas, Tempestad brings Spanish dance to the Houston community
through a variety of public and private performances, including an association with Young Audiences of Houston designed to
introduce the art to students. Recent highlights include Tempestad's featured performance at the Hobby Center for
the Performing Arts, cover of 002 Magazine and feature spread, Mango Punch's Video for "Que se lleve el viento mi
dolor", the 2005 Houston Symphony Ball, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's ¡Triunfando! Gala, ABC Channel
13, Fox 26, Channel 55 The Tube, HCC Heinen Theater,the National Football League Super Bowl XXXVIII party in Galveston, Texas,
the Houston IFest, the Bayou City Arts Festival, the Houston Polo Club's Paella Festival and MECA.
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