Although there is no actual Festival this year, we are pleased to be presenting this Flamenco at Noon concert in collaboration with the Calgary International Flamenco Festival as part of their yearly activities. Feature Flamenco Dancer is Anastassiia Moussatova who will be accompanied by Flamenco guitarist David Matyas and Pianist Mark Limacher.

Ali Kermanshahi, Eagle Eyed Photography

Anastassiia Moussatova (Dance) Fascinated with the beauty and expressive power of ballet, Anastassiia started dancing in Moscow at the age of five. After moving to Canada to pursue graduate studies at the University of Calgary, and after exploring various other dance forms, she found her ultimate inspiration in flamenco. As well as Canada, her flamenco studies have taken her to Spain, the United States, and Mexico. Most recently, following her passion to connect with the roots of flamenco, Anastassiia has begun intensive training in Madrid, Spain. There, she has been studying with flamenco legends “La Tati” and Merche Esmeralda, as well as other acclaimed teachers, including Manuel Reyes, Miguel Cañas, and Carmen La Talegona.

Anastassiia frequently performs at numerous venues and events around Calgary, and has also appeared at the Calgary International Flamenco Festival.

Presently, she splits her time, traveling between Spain and Canada, and continues to share her love for flamenco, teaching at the Fiona Malena Flamenco Academy in Calgary.

David Matyas (guitar) has studied flamenco guitar extensively in Spain, and has frequently accompanied flamenco dance classes at the School of Alberta Ballet. He has performed in numerous flamenco dance theatre productions in Alberta, and performs regularly with the Calgary-based Salero Caló flamenco group.

Calgarian composer-pianist Mark Limacher is an active member of the local music community in many styles and genres, with diverse influences from Middle Eastern and Sephardic music to Morton Feldman and John Cage. He has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Calgary, and the Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble. He served as apprentice to composer Bunita Marcus in Brooklyn, NY, and is a graduate of New School University in New York City. He co-hosts the weekly radio program Unprocessed on CJSW, 90.9 FM with violinist Laura Reid.

This concert is presented in collaboration with the Calgary International Flamenco Festival