AMPARO HEREDIA “LA REPOMPILLA” (Singer)

Born in Málaga, Amparo Heredia comes from a long dynasty of Gitano flamenco artists. She is the niece of the legendary Repompa de Málaga, a singer who gave name to several genres of flamenco song, including tangos de Málaga and tangos de la Repompa, and has influenced generations of singers to come. Amparo is the daughter of singer/dancer Rafaela “La Repompa” and the great guitarist Luis Heredia, and the sister of renowned dancer Raquel Heredia. In her youth, Amparo spent many years living in New York and worked regularly with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana. Since then, Amparo has performed extensively in Spain’s most prestigious tablaos and peñas. Amparo has sung for almost all the leading figures of flamenco dance, including La Lupi and Juan Andrés Maya. 

Although Amparo Heredia has dedicated her art and her voice to singing for dance, she is also a great cantaora for “alante” (a singing virtuoso in her own right).  She has won many awards including: first prize at Peña Flamenca El Canario in 2011; awards for seguiriyas and tangos in the 2015 edition of Cante de las Minas de la Unión; first prize in the Concurso Mirando a la Torre de Alhaurín de la Torre de Málaga (2016); first prize for singing peteneras in the Niño del Museo de Adamuz de Córdoba, second prize at La Silla de Oro de Leganés de Madrid; second prize in the Concurso de los Montes en Montejicar in Granada. Most recently, Amparo won the most coveted award in flamenco singing, la Lámpara Minera at La Unión’s 60th Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas (2021)— making history as the second Gitana to ever win the award.

CARLOS MENCHACA (Dancer)

Carlos Menchaca began dancing at age 9, receiving extensive training in Folklórico Mexicano as well as Ballet and Flamenco at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 2006, Menchaca received a scholarship to study at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts (CFA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico and began working with Yjastros: the American Flamenco Repertory Company. Menchaca has studied and worked with an array of some of the most important flamenco artists of this generation. Menchaca is regularly invited to perform nationally and abroad with La Juerga Flamenco Ensemble, Aparicio Flamenco, Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca among other companies and ensembles throughout the United States. Currently, Menchaca is a principal dancer in Yjastros and faculty of the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts (CFA) and the University of New Mexico.

GUILLERMO GUILLÉN (Guitarist)

Guillermo Guillén is an eclectic flamenco guitarist, born in France and trained in Spain.  He has toured around the world for over 15 years, accompanying renowned artists

such as Rocío Márquez, Ismael Fernández, Sonia Olla, Raúl Micó, Francisco Contreras “el niño de Elche,” la Lupi, José Galván, and Esperanza Fernández. He has performed in countless peñas flamencas and has been featured in the most famous international music & dance festivals in more than 20 countries— Festival de La Unión, Festival de Jerez, Flamenco Viene Del Sur, Arte Flamenco de Mont-de-Marsan, Los veranos de la Villa de Madrid, Vancouver International Flamenco Festival, London Festival Dance Umbrella, Mawazine de Rabat, Festival La Folle Journée— accompanying singers and dancers, and as a soloist and teacher.

SOL “LA ARGENTINITA” (Singer/Dancer)

Glenda Sol Koeraus, “La Argentinita,” is a Buenos Aires-born flamenco dancer who over the past decade has established herself as one of the leading flamenco dancers/choreographers in New York. Sol has been described by the New York Times as “seductively aggressive” and by Theater Online as “a master of her craft.” Sol has appeared at illustrious venues such as Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Symphony Space, and The Joyce Theater.  She has been featured in the pre-production of Tony Award-winning Christopher Gatelli’s In Your Arms (Powerhouse Theater), Zorro! The Musical (Alliance Theater, GA), Carmen & Traviata (Metropolitan Opera) Choreographer and Solo Dancer for Portland Opera’s production of Carmen (Keller Auditorium), and has toured the U.S. as a Solo Dancer, Singer, Choreographer for the world renowned Gala of the Royal Horses. Sol has worked as a performer and Teaching Artist for Flamenco VivoCarlota Santanafor over 10 years.

KAYLA LYALL (Dancer)

Kayla Lyall  began her flamenco career at the age of 12, studying under the Encinias family at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts. Kayla became a member of Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company in 2004 and is now the Assistant Artistic Director. She won first place in the Concurso Nacional de Flamenco in 2004 and 2011. Kayla has studied flamenco in Spain, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in Spanish, Flamenco and Photography, as well as her Master’s Degree in Education. She is an instructor at Tierra Adentro: The New Mexico School of Academics, Arts, and Artesanía Charter School.