The Artistic Director

Kristina de Sacramento, founder and artistic director of Anda Flamenco, began her flamenco career, ironically, while living in Paris in 1987. After sneaking showers at a dance studio (her only access to that favorite American amenity), she would also sneak a peek at a flamenco class on her way out. One night, instead of just watching, she walked into the classroom and never turned back.

Since that fateful night, Kristina has studied with some of Spain’s finest and brightest flamencos: Javier Barón, Ciro, Jose Correia, Carmen Cortés, Merche Esmeralda, Alejandro Granados, Antonio Granjero, Carmela Greco, Joaquín Grilo, El Güito, Yolanda Heredia, Javier Latorre, Juanjo Linares, Manolete, Mario Maya, Inmaculada Ortega, Luis Ortega, Joaquín Ruiz, and the inimitable La Tati. Stateside, she has studied with Susana di Palma, María Benitez, La Tania, and visiting master teachers in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City. She returns frequently to study with her Paris mentor, Patricio Martin, and annually to Spain, where she continues to study both time-honored and new styles with the leading “figuras” of the day.

In a career that spans nearly two decades, Kristina has performed in such diverse Twin Cities venues as the American History Theater, Hennepin Center for the Arts, Southern Theater, O’Shaugnessey Auditorium, Macalester and Augsburg Colleges, the University of Minnesota Rarig Center, Theatre Garage, Intermedia Arts, Orchestra Hall, Teatre de la Juene Lune, and Pantages Theatre. Further from home, she’s been seen at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion; the International Dance Festival in Branson, Missouri; La Solea in Madrid, Spain; and the house of García Lorca in Fuente Vaquero, Spain (in celebration of Lorca’s 100th Birthday). She was even featured as the “clatter in your car engine” in a motor oil television commercial!

Currently, in addition to her roles as director, principal dancer, choreographer, and teacher with Anda Flamenco, she is a soloist with Rincón del Flamenco, a sister flamenco organization here in the Twin Cities. Rincón del Flamenco has performed regularly at Babalú and Nochee in Minneapolis, and most recently flew to California for its Hollywood premiere at the Ebell Theater!

An enthusiastic and compassionate teacher, Kristina has conducted classes and workshops at the University of Minnesota; the University of Missouri, Kansas City; Elderhostal; Ballet Folklorico of Sacramento; and the Minnesota Orchestra. She is particularly proud of “Fiesta Flamenca,” an interactive program for kids, parents, and teachers, that is in its 10th year at local schools, libraries, and museums.

In 1995, Kristina founded her own school and has been teaching group and private classes ever since. In 2001, Kristina established a performing company that combined with her school to form Anda Flamenco Company & School. Her first theatrical production for the company, “Que Será, Será: A Flamenco Comedy,” premiered at the 2002 Minneapolis Fringe Festival to rave reviews.

The company returned to the 2004 Fringe Festival with “Doña Quixote: A Flamenco Comedy,” which was the executive director’s featured pick of the Festival. The advertising photo for the performance was selected by the Wall Street Journal to represent Fringe Festivals around the world in a full-page story in the July 30, 2004, edition. Anda Flamenco will return soon to the Fringe Festival with “Señora Butterfly,” another of Kristina’s signature flamenco satires, which promises to be even more popular than its predecessors!