Spanish Dance Society certification exams were conducted at the Flamenco Gitana studio on Nov. 11 and 14. The studio has the honor of the only qualifying center for Spanish dance certification in the U.S. for 2011. They were adjudicated by Profesora Nancy Sedgwick Monahan, president of the United Sates chapter of the international Spanish Dance Society. All participating candidates received certification in their levels with either merit or distinction. Congradulations to the successful participating dancers: Ingreso Level (Entry): Colleen Durkin, Etsuko García, Keiko Iwasaki, Yukie Lundblad, Katrina McCoy, Maria Michurina, Noriko Thygesen, and Emerald Ballet students, Brianna, Chloe and Madeline. Primer Año: Karen Chan, Colleen Durkin, Etsuko García, Keiko Iwasaki, Yukie Lundblad, Maria Michurina, Zina Sangirova, and Noriko Thygesen. Segundo Año: Karen Chan and Natalie Strazzera. Tercer Año: Natalie Strazzera.

Flamenco Gitana will be performing the first and third Thursday of the month starting December 15, 2011 at the Bilbao Spanish Restaurant, 4500 9th Ave. NE (9th Ave NE and 45th St) in Seattle, (206) 547-5034. Join us for an evening of tapas and flamenco dance. Shows at 8pm and 9pm.

Saturday November 5 is the Crown Hill Arts Festival featuring performances by Flamenco Gitana professionals and students with many other exciting activities and performances. All free to the public at the Crown Hill Center, 9250 14th Ave NW, Seattle. 98117. This year Flamenco Gitana will be presenting an exciting collaboration with musician/composer Hugh Sutton of the gypsy jazz group Zazou, as well as traditional flamenco.

A very big THANK YOU to Marylou Strazzera for her generous contribution to Flamenco Gitana for continuation of their work and in appreciation of their Arts in Education community outreach programs.

Maria Gitana was the recipient of the Youth Arts Award from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Affairs for the 2010-2011 school year. She used the grant to establish a cultural arts program in flamenco dance for youth at the Meadowbrook Teen Center adjacent Nathan Hale High School, from February through May 2011. Flamenco: Pride in Diversity Dance was a free program to 16 teens interested in a comprehensive flamenco dance program to build dance skills, self esteem, and intercultural communication. The 12-week program began on February 10 and culminated in a Cinco de Mayo presentation at Meadowbrook—the entire community was invited. THANK YOU to the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs for their confidence in Flamenco Gitana with the successful completion of the Youth Arts Program grant.

Flamenco Gitana performed two educational concert assemblies at Arlington High School in Arlington, Washington, hosted by the Spanish Club under the direction of Jessica Swainbanks-Cummings. The Spanish Club came to the Seattle studio last year for an Arts in Education lecture demonstration-workshop. The students enjoyed it so much that they raised the money themselves to bring Flamenco Gitana to their school for two shows so that the entire student body would be able to attend. Many thanks to Spanish Club and Senior Cummings for bringing us to Arlington High School.

Wow, Just WOW! I want to thank you for not only making the trek up to Arlington but really giving your 100% to our kids... You really sparked some inspiration... We are so grateful to be in a partnership with you and I hope it will continue long into the future. Mil Gracias. —Profesora Swainbank y el Club de Español.

Thank you so much for creating a visually stunning final to the "Gage Collector's Gala" at St Mark's. Your troupe was fabulous—the music, the dancers and the gorgeous Spanish costumes against the red background. You are the best! —Gage Academy of Art Gala at St. Mark's Cathedral.

Thank you so much for teaching us flamenco this past Fall. It was SO enjoyable. I will continue to be a huge fan... and I will always have fond memories of your class. You are a GREAT teacher! —A student.