Meet Solero Flamenco
Irma La Paloma, Cante
Jeremy García, Guitar
Solangel Lali Calix, Baile
Andrea González, Baile
Andrés Felix, Cajón
Solero Flamenco, Houston's premier flamenco performing company, presents vibrant performances with skillful artistry and trademark passion. Soulful song, enchanting guitar and exhilarating dance converge to bring the rich tradition of Flamenco to life on stage. Solero Flamenco tours nationally delivering a colorful repertoire of traditional, contemporary, and original works transporting audiences to Andalucía in southern Spain.
In May 2023, Solero Flamenco performed for Queen Sofía of Spain and guests at the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute Gala. Solero Flamenco was recently reviewed by the Austin Chronicle:
“Solero Flamenco’s wildly entertaining and immersive journey to Spain emanates an infectious energy throughout the entire 60-minute performance.”
Anne Prafcke, The Austin Chronicle
JEREMY GARCÍA is an accomplished classical and flamenco guitarist, and award-winning composer, García concertizes as solo guitarist, flamenco cante and dance accompanist, and in orchestral collaborations. Notable performances include the Houston Grand Opera, "Suite Española" (2021), the Moores Opera Center, "Ainadamar" (2023), the Helena Symphony in Montana (2017) where he premiered his original concierto "Suite Andaluz" and performed Joaquín Rodrigo's "El Concierto de Aranjuez."
García's latest album, Nuevo Día, Frameworks Records (2023), exemplifies his virtuosity and creativity in original compositions and arrangements of works by classical Spanish Masters Tárrega and Albéniz, infused with flamenco aire and technique. He is the winner of the Séptimo Concurso de Composición para Guitarra Fidelio (2023) in Madrid, Spain.
He is co-founder of Solero Flamenco, Houston's premier professional flamenco performing company. García is Affiliate Professor of Guitar at the University of Houston, and Associate Artistic Director of the Houston Classical Guitar Festival and Competition.
[Jeremias] García showed consummate guitar skill in several solo turns... an equal supply of digital dexterity and musical imagination.". - Kevin McLaughlinCleveland Classical.com
IRMA LA PALOMA is a flamenco artist, singer, and choreographer whose story begins in Havana, Cuba where she studied flamenco and Spanish classical dance at an early age. She was further embraced by her heritage while residing in Madrid, Spain. She delivers cante with vocal control, dexterity and genuine joy. Her love of music and poetry is ever present in her song and narrative, making her a true ambassador of flamenco arts.
"La Paloma sang with drama and passion, trilling her voice in a way that signaled flamenco’s Arab influences but also making the love and loss of which she sang resonate deep in the soul.” Anne Pfracke - The Austin Chronicle.
Irma served as Choreographer for Houston Grand Opera’s digital production, "Suite Española - Explorando Iberia” (2021). She performed and recorded her original work, ”El Corazón Manda” in Kathak-Flamenco - A Celebration of Cultures (2019). In 2017, she performed selections from Manuel de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo” with the Helena Symphony in Montana, Allan R. Scott, Conductor. She also composed and recorded vocals in Cafe Khytaro’s “Distancia" (2008). Irma enjoys writing songs and poetry and and has contributed many original works to collaborations that celebrate art, education, and culture.
SOLANGEL LALI CALIX is a flamenco and Spanish classical dancer recognized for her excellent castanet technique. Her love of dance began in her native Honduras and culminated in extensive training in Madrid, Spain where she studied Flamenco, Ballet Clásico and Español at the famous, Amor de Dios School.
She later established Alianza Flamenca New Orleans as Co-Director with guitarist John Lawrence. From 1994-2005 she was the flamenco instructor at the New Orleans School of Ballet. She performed at El Matador, in the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and made several guest appearances in the states. Lali has been a professional flamenco dancer for over 40 years. Based in Houston, she enjoys teaching technique, choreography, and castanets. She performed and toured with Solero Flamenco since 2009. Solangel recently performed as invited artist in Agrigento, Sicily with renowned dancer Marc Aurelio.
“Calix moved with lightness, her hands and arms moving with easy sensuality, yet she also proved her fierceness and rigor...” - Annie Prafcke - Austin Chronicle
ANDREA GONZÁLEZ is a flamenco dancer, choreographer, and instructor and has performed as a solo artist since 2010. As a native of San Antonio, TX she commenced her studies of flamenco and ballet folklórico de Mexico before later including classical ballet and pointe, jazz, and tap.
Andrea began her professional career as a member of Flamenco Fuego de San Antonio under the direction of Michelle Rodriguez. She later attended the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque where she continued flamenco studies and performed in two professional dance companies; Gbotsui Afrikan Dance Troupe and the Blythe Eden Dance Company - touring New Mexico, New York, and CA.
Andrea has toured nationally as a member of Solero Flamenco since 2021 and enjoys the opportunity to create and present works with fellow company members. “Dance …is spiritual, healing, and very personal. Flamenco is my connection to my ancestors,…it creates a vibration within my heart and soul.”
“González was sharp yet graceful….with both the confident flourishes of a matador and the alluring flirtation of a temptress.” - Annie Prafcke - Austin Chronicle
ANDRÉS FELIX has performed professionally since 2011 - providing percussive accompaniment for cante, guitar, and baile (song, guitar, and dance). His approach to flamenco was heavily influenced by his early immersion into the genre - growing up listening to the cante and beginning to study flamenco guitar at 10 years old. He developed musicality and rhythm for guitar and percussion, the flamenco disciplines of his choice.
Andrés has performed at numerous flamenco festivals in Houston and has toured nationally with Solero Flamenco as part of the Fever Candlelight Series.
In 2023, Andrés Felix appeared on Jeremy García’s latest album, “Nuevo Día,” released on Frameworks records.
“Each drumbeat revealed a full articulation of his hand, from fingertips to palms, the energy moving up into his shoulders and his feet, embodying the rhythms.”
- Annie Prafcke - Austin Chronicle