Antonio Hidalgo, a native flamenco bailaor of Córdoba, has performed in Philadelphia several times in the past few years with Flamenco del Encuentro. In May of 2005, he was the featured guest artist performing with Flamenco del Encuentro at the 2nd Annual Feria de Sevilla in Philadelphia. The same week, he also taught an excellent week-long workshop while he was in Philadelphia. He has also performed several times at the Amada restaurant. Mr. Hidalgo is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and creative choreographer. He also was the creative director of an excellent flamenco album "El Pintor- Perfiles de Mujer."

Biography (Brief)
Antonio Hidalgo began dancing professionally in Flamenco festivals in Córdoba, Spain. From 1984 until 1989 he was a member of the Spanish Ballet of Carmen Mota, touring Italy, France, Montecarlo, South America, Miami and several venues in Spain. He has also performed with the Ballet of Antonio Gades, the Ballet of Jose Greco, Maria Benitez Estampa Flamenca and in Tokyo with Tablao El Flamenco. With his own company he has performed in various venues in Japan and Spain. In 1990, as an independent solo dancer, he worked in Costa del Sol with various companies and flamenco "tablaos". He has directed and choreographed several shows including "Fiesta de Andalucia" in Spain and for the "Palais des Beux Arts" in Brussels. Since 1998 Antonio Hidalgo has been working with FLAMENCO VIVO CARLOTA SANTANA. His new works include Mano a Mano, Bailaor-Bailaora and Bailes de Ida y Vuelta premiering, to great acclaim, at The Joyce Theater in New York City. In 2004 he began co-directing "Aroma Flamenco Dance Company" with Inmaculada Ortega in Madrid.


Philadelphia area flamenco students were also recently privileged enough to participate in a Flamenco dance workshop with Antonio Hidalgo sponsored by Anna and Tito Rubio, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday- MAY 2,3 & 4th, 2005 at the Rittenhouse Dance Academy. The workshop with Antonio was a rare opportunity to study with someone who is not only an accomplished performer, but also a gifted teacher. In my studies, academic and otherwise, I have only encountered a handful of people who have such a natural ability to teach. As a non-dancer the prospect of being instructed by a highly acclaimed professional dancer was daunting to me. However, Antonio was kind, patient and never intimidating. His ability to clearly articulate and deconstruct directions on a level than anyone can understand ensures that Antonio Hidalgo will certainly be recalled as one of the great flamenco teachers of this century.

Antonio demonstrates advanced footwork

Antonio Hidalgo and Tito Rubio after class

A student's palmas sets the beat for a demo