SENTIDO FLAMENCO HK Advisor
Oscar Nieto - Award-winning dancer, singer, teacher and choreographer
Oscar Nieto has become one of North America’s most acclaimed flamenco dancers since launching his professional dance career at the Chicago Lyric Opera House in 1969, following which he was invited to work with Lola Montes and her Spanish Ballet, and with the José Greco Company. A tour of Europe with José Antonio’s Ballet Silouetas took Oscar to Spain, and there he embarked upon an intensive study of Spanish flamenco, regional and clasico dance forms. Upon his return to North America he worked with flamenco masters Ciro and Antonio Gades. In 1998 he received a Canada Council grant to study the evolution of flamenco and Spanish dance in Spain. Oscar is in constant demand as a guest artist and teacher. He has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and in several of Vancouver Opera productions of Carmen, La Traviata and Jenufa, both as performer and choreographer. He is noted for choreography that is truly original yet firmly rooted in the traditions of his art. His impeccable technique, striking choreography, and overwhelming stage presence have earned Oscar lavish praise from press and public while bringing countless devotees to the art of Spanish dance. He has been dubbed “a flamenco Fred Astaire” by the LA Times in recognition of his technical accomplishment and charisma as a performer. In 2005 Oscar was awarded the Jacqueline Lemieux prize – the first time the award was given to a flamenco artist. In 2014 he was awarded a grant from the Canada Council for a six-month sabbatical, which he undertook to refresh and regenerate his artistic path and to continue his research into the evoluionary process of flamenco song dance and music.He is currently writing a ‘how to’ account on flamenco, an informative book on the evolution of flamenco and its state of development, a first-of-its-kind reference source written in English suitable for mass market. (www.oscarnieto.com)