Dance Classes every Wednesday

Venue: Bursill Lane Studio, Bursill Lane, Katoomba NSW 2780
Enquiries and Enrolments: veronicagillmerflamenco@gmail.com
or 0413 058 754

CLASS DATES FOR 2025
For information on live class in our studio, please email: veronicagillmerflamenco@gmail.com
Fortnightly classes via Zoom with TOMAS ARROQUERO
Latest 2025 Dates – JULY 9, 23 | AUGUST 6, 20 | SEPT 3, 17
(See poster information below for costs).
COST: payable in advance and the sessions are in blocks of 6 lessons.
Contact veronicagillmerflamenco@gmail.com - for enrolment.
These classes are in our studio on Bursill Lane and screened onto a large monitor.
Most students join in the classes together but some others join the class remotely.
The classes are broken into two groups,
1) Basic principals of flamenco. Some footwork and some choreography.
– suitable for people with at least one year of dance training.
2) The second session at 6:40pm consists of exercises and a choreography.
Soleá por Bulería - un baile por derecho. A choreography with a no frills approach that stems from recognisable structures within the tradition of flamenco. This interpretation by Capullo de Jerez (singer) allows us to understand quite clearly the characteristics that define the form, which include variations within letras (verses) and the precise duration of musical falsetas (musical sequences).
Includes some footwork as well.

LIVE CLASSES – Every alternate Wednesday is a practice group where we revisit what was learnt at the Zoom classes. Occasionally we are joined by Robbie Varga, a highly experienced flamenco guitarist playing for the class.
COST: $20 payable on the day. 6-7:30pm

WORKSHOPS
Occasionally we have workshops – dance, guitar, cajón.

Enquiries for all classes: 0413 058 754 / veronicagillmerflamenco@gmail.com

VERONICA GILLMER is one of the very few flamenco dancers in this country who has an extensive history as a professional flamenco dancer in Spain, having worked alongside many of the most famous dancers, singers and musicians – the likes of the famous Camarón de la Isla, La Tati, Manolete Maya, José Mercé, Paco Cepero and a host of internationally famous artists.

ELENA VARGA – Elena is a powerful and very talented flamenco dancer with an extraordinary sense of musicality. She has studied in Spain with Manuela Rios, Andres Peña, Carmela Riqueni and Chiqui de Jerez. Elena is also an accomplished singer and cajón percussionist. 

The classes may include castanets, “braceo” (arm work) and “zapateado” (footwork) drills and exercises as well as basic flamenco “marcaje” (marking), “vueltas” (turns) and “palmas” (flamenco handclapping percussion). These elements are incorporated into choreographies. Some of the classes have guitar accompaniment. Students also have several performance opportunities throughout the year and perform regularly for charities.

At FlamencoVero we believe that flamenco is more than just dancing therefore, Flamenco chorus singing is sometimes included in the classes.

We love all forms of dance expression and - OUR FABULOUS STUDIO OFFERS OTHER FORMS OF DANCE AND TUITION WITH EXCELLENT TEACHERS.

TOMAS ARROQUERO has spent over 20 years training and working as a dancer in Spain, the source of Flamenco. He trained for 7-years in Madrid at El Centro de Arte Flamenco y Danza Española Amor de Dios. While studying with founding members Maria Magdalena, El Ciro and Paco Romero, Tomas worked in theatre and tablao settings across Spain and Europe. Tomas collaborated with numerous companies including Clara Ramona and Isabel Olivide in Madrid, Mi Flamenco in the UK and Gisa Michelón in Germany. Many productions engaged with a mixture of Madrid and Jerez-based artists.  These performances opened the way for Tomas’s explorations with Flamenco. In 2001 he moved to Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), and began refining his practice while living amongst Andalusian culture.

He studied with local artists Ana Maria Lopez and Maria Bermudez, working at Peña El Lagá del Tio Parrilla and Dama Juana in Jerez. He performed for 6-years as a soloist with the London-based company Flamenco Express.

In 2007 he moved to Seville training with Isabel Bayón and Alejandro Granados to name a few.

Tomas teaches Flamenco internationally and continues to have a presence in the UK, Taiwan and Hong Kong. He currently teaches in Melbourne and maintains partnerships with dance schools in Australia, including
The Australian Ballet School. He has made several guest appearances with Diana Reyes Flamenco in Sydney and Areti Flamenco in Adelaide.

Tomas is passionate about making innovative work in collaborative contexts. He is the producer of “Sonidos Flamencos”, which brings together a number Melbourne based dancers and musicians.  His recent postgraduate studies shift flamenco into the broader context of contemporary dance making. These include a Master of Fine Art (Dance 2014 – 2016), Graduate Research at the Faculty of VCA and MCM, University of Melbourne. 

Perceiving dance through a kinaesthetic lens has opened up rich territory for him to stretch the boundaries of the form and renegotiate Flamenco’s defining characteristics.

Photography: Jacqui Dean and Peter Adams.

STUDIO FOR HIRE - By the hour or talk to us about our co-operative.