Twin Cities Flamenco Collective

Twin Cities Flamenco Collective inspires audiences through its passionate and soulful expressions of Flamenco music and dance along with special guest singer/guitarist Marija Temo.  

ARTISTS:

Marija Temo (Guest singer/guitarist)

Sachiko “La Chayí” (Flamenco dancer)  

Ross “El Vecino” (Flamenco guitarist)

Eva Makiko (Flamenco dancer)

A native of Osaka, Japan, Sachiko “La Chayí” is a Twin Cities-based Flamenco dancer, teacher, choreographer, and founding member of Twin Cities Flamenco Collective. She received a prestigious McKnight Dancer Fellowship in 2017. Sachiko’s artistic expression in movement and music are the heart of her artistry. She testifies Flamenco is a universal language which speaks the raw and authentic human emotions to the audience. She has received recognition and grants from Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota SAGE Awards for Dance, and New York State Flamenco Certamen by Flamenco Vivo. She has presented her original dance works at the Walker Art Center, the Southern Theater, and the Intermedia Arts. She was a resident artist and teacher of Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School from 2003 to 2009 before she moved to Seville, Spain to study the art of Flamenco for 5 years. She owes her artistic values and work to her incomparable teachers and mentors including Angelita Vargas, Farruquito, Javier Heredia, Juan del Gastor, Luis Peña, Miguel Funi, Pepe Torres, Pilar Montoya Manzano “La Faraona” and Susana di Palma (Alphabetical). 

Ross Fellrath is a flamenco guitarist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He plays flamenco guitar in the style of the Morao family from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The music of the Moraos combines mastery of flamenco rhythms, intricate melodies, syncopation, modern harmony and traditional family music dating back to the 1940’s.

He found flamenco at age 32, and quickly became obsessed with the rhythms and its phrygian keys. He was guided on his journey by his mentor Sachiko “La Chayí” and flamenco guitar teacher Scott Mateo Davies. He continued his studies with legendary teacher “El Entri” Jimenez in Madrid, Spain. He next learned from Moron de la Frontera guitarist Juan del Gastor. Since 2022, Ross has primarly studied with Pepe del Morao in Jerez. He is also fascinated by flamenco singing and studies with Javier Heredia and José Cortés Fernández.

Ross has shared the stage with incredible artists such as: Javier Heredia, “La Rhina”, Susana di Palmas, José Cortés Fernández, La Conja, Alfonso Cid, Maria Temo, Viecente Griego, Jose Moreno, Maria Guererro, Pepele Mendez, Sachiko “La Chayi”, Kristofer Hill, Melinda Hedgecorth, Bianca Rodriguez, and many more. Ross is a founding member of Twin Cities Flamenco Collective and plays and teaches regularly at Zorongo Flamenco.

Eva Makiko has always been passionate about the human body and its unlimited potential to express music. As a child she received ballet training in her hometown, Tokyo, Japan. It was not until her late 20s in Minneapolis that she found flamenco and was instantly captivated by its raw emotions, sense of urgency, and the enduring strength and beauty of the human spirit.

Eva danced with Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre under the guidance of artistic director Susana di Palma from 2012 to 2020. She has also studied with Sachiko “La Chayi”, Omayra Amaya, La Rhina, and Junko Hagiwara, all who have influenced her form and expression. In 2020 she began her deep dive into flamenco cante under Javier Heredia with members of Twin Cities Flamenco Collective, which has profoundly deepened her understanding and appreciation of the art form. Eva performs monthly with Twin Cities Flamenco Collective in Minneapolis.

Marija Temo, described as a “triple threat”, and is widely recognized as a classical/flamenco guitarist, flamenco vocalist, conductor, and former dancer. She has come into her own, combining her flamenco and classical abilities. She actively performs as a soloist with symphony orchestras, in guitar concert series and festivals, as a flamenco singer/guitar accompanist, and has been featured in unique types of performances. Some highlights include: A vocal competitor on La Voz US (the Spanish language version of the Voice) on NBC Telemundo and had a successful four chair turn for the first round of the competition. She was also a judge for The Guitar Foundation of America’s International Guitar Festival and Competition. Temo was a selected artist for both the NY Guitar Festival “Tribute to Julian Bream” and the Radford University International Guitar Festival. She was also the musical director, composer, and arranger for “The Flamenco Nutcracker” directed by Kerensa DeMars in its 3rd season. She has performed for many dignitaries and with highly acclaimed artists, and has also received several awards. In addition to her versatile performance career, she is known for her teaching methods, educational programs, and workshops.

Marija Temo plays a “Marija Temo” Model flamenco/classical hybrid TM, which she designed with luthier Tom Rodriguez. Ms. Temo has also received the endorsement of D’Addario Strings. Currently, Ms. Temo is Guitar Chair at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, WI. She is a former faculty member of the Preparatory of the Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University. She received her Masters and Bachelors degrees in music.

Host or Publisher Winona Arts Center