Nélida Tirado is a New York Puerto Rican who is one of the best Flamenco dancers in New York City. Her Flamenco is very traditional Spanish Flamenco, but she also carries the heritage of Rumba Flamenca Caribbean traditions. (Don’t forget, we used to be New Spain).
- Nélida Tirado dances Flamenco Rumba at Chelsea Table and Stage on Sat, May 28, 2022 at 7pm. $45. 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Nélida Tirado is an Award-Winning Flamenco Dancer
Tirado began studying Flamenco at age six at Ballet Hispánico. By her teens she was touring and performing across the United States and Spain, Europe and Asia.
In New York City, Tirado has performed for the Metropolitan Opera, World Music Institute, Repertorio Español and the Flamenco Festival New York.
She was a featured Flamenco star in Broadway’s “Riverdance.” That’s an interesting connection because the stomping feet are in many traditions. American Tap dance is a mix of African Diaspora culture and Irish step dance. In Spain, the stomping feet are in Flamenco. In Argentina they’re in the Gaucho men’s Malambo dance. In Mexico, they’re in the Zapateado of Fandango. Somehow, they are all related.
Tirado opened for the Buena Vista Social Club at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis. She also dances in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed movie “In the Heights.”
She is a double recipient of the Tito Puente Scholarship, earned the Rosario Dawson Muse Fellow in 2017, and the BRIO Award for Artistic Excellence in 2007 and 2010. She held the Gibney Dance Process Residence in 2018-19.
“Dance Magazine” put Nélida Tirado on their “25 to Watch” list. That’s clearly a good call.
Dime Quien Soy
Tirado premieres her expanded solo show “Dime Quien Soy” at Jacob’s Pillow’s 90th Anniversary Season in the summer of 2022. Jacob’s Pillow is one of the leading dance festivals in the Northeast. It’s a big deal to be invited there.
“Dime Quien Soy” (Tell me who I am) is a timely concept because even though we are just as American as anybody else, our American Latin cultural identity is often challenged. The same is true for non-Spanish Flamenco dancers. Tirado is New York Puerto Rican. Puerto Rico was once New Spain. We were Spaniards, so we have Flamenco culture too. We still have Flamenco in Old San Juan and in Cuba as well. Our Caribbean and Latin American cultures also influenced Flamenco in Spain. Word on the street is that Tirado is a great Salsa dancer too.
Nélida’s description of this dance is instructive about who we are as Latins.
“Dime quien soy” is my lived in personal experience as a traditional Flamenco artist. It’s me moving unapologetically, fully embodied in all the layers that make me who I am. These layers, though they are separate, are intertwined and intersect in all of our bodies, the music and in history. They serve as fuel and inspiration for us.”
Nélida Tirado ~ Olè & WEPA! 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Nélida Tirado is a highly-trained and experienced Flamenco dancer, choreographer and teacher who draws from many different traditions. Her dancers come from all over the Caribbean and Latin America. In a way, that’s the true multicultural essence of Flamenco. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and show the world your biggest heart. Olé and WEPA! 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Previously
Nélida Tirado teaches Flamenco Rumba at the Bryant Park Dance Party on Tue, May 10, 2022 from 6-8:30pm. Free. 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Nélida Tirado: Dime Quién Soy dances traditional Spanish Flamenco con sabor Caribeño for the CUNY Dance Initiative at Hostos Center in Mott Haven, The Bronx on Sat, Mar 12 at 7:30pm. Free with registration. hostos.cuny.edu 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Nélida Tirado: Travesia Flamenca is traditional Spanish Flamenco at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NoHo on Sun, Feb 27 at 7pm (6pm doors). $30. 🇪🇸🇵🇷