about Helena Alonso Paisley

Helena Alonso Paisley began her love affair with words as a hardcore high school “English nerd” who would take extra literature classes instead of electives and had the best teachers the 1970s Miami-Dade Public School system could offer. She later studied creative writing with Lester Goran at the University of Miami and with Ken Hall at Florida International University. Between those two schools, Helena ran off to Spain to become a flamenco dancer, studying at Amor de Dios, the main training ground in Madrid for flamenco wannabes. In the 1980s, she performed in many of Miami’s flamenco clubs, then was a founder and lead dancer in Ballet Flamenco La Rosa before leaving the company in 1990. She later became a teacher at MAST Academy, where she still works. Helena covers flamenco for ArtBurst.

More By This Author

Review: Live Arts brings Sona Jobarteh to Superblue in a spectacu...

Kora player Sona Jobarteh’s brightly colored traditional attire contrasts with the dark background of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s immersive installation in a

Not your abuela’s flamenco group: all-female Las Migas come...

From Barcelona, the dynamic stylings Las Migas bring a distinct flavor of flamenco to Miami-Dade County Auditorium in The Cultural Center of Spain in Miami's FlamenGO 2023.

They’ll put a spell on you: French-Cuban duo Ibeyi finishes out U...

Music is in the blood of twins Lisa-Kaindé Díaz and Naomi Díaz whose Cuban father is renowned conga player Miguel “Angá” Díaz. The duo known as Ibeyi has found its own voice.

“ALMA”: UN SAXO, EL SEXO Y LA SENSACIONAL SARA BARAS

Baras baila para el pueblo, y si a los eruditos les gustan también, pues mejor para ellos.

Greats Grace Miami Flamenco Festival XIV And Sara Baras Is One Of...

Spanish superstar Sara Baras headlines the 14th annual Flamenco Festival as Rafael Riqueni takes flamenco guitar aficionados outdoors at the Arsht Center.

MDC Live Arts’ Partnership with Urban Bush Women Comes Aliv...

Urban Bush Women in "Haint Blu" takes audiences through the historic Hampton House in an immersive dance journey exploring history and stories through movement.

GroundUp Festival on Miami Beach Serves Up Good Vibes, Great Musi...

With music as its staple, the GroundUP Festival also offers workshops, late-night shows and an a capella on the beach singalong.

EN ESPERANZA FERNÁNDEZ, LA NWS ENCONTRÓ UNA CANDELA GITANA CON SA...

Aparte de su magnífica voz, se notó en Fernández un dominio absoluto del espacio escénico.

New World Symphony Embraces Every Aspect Of ‘Spanish Dances...

New World Symphony plays the works of Spanish music's greatest contemporary composers with top-notch flamenco performers to bring it all together.

Epic ‘The Head and the Load’ headed for Adrienne Arsh...

Audiences are seated directly on stage at the Ziff Ballet Opera House for an immersive experience of the story of Africans in World War I in William Kentridge's "The Head and the Load" at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Browse content by Author