Flamenco is the manifestation of an art form that has evolved over centuries through the collective experiences of the people of Andalucía, southern Spain.

Passed down from generation to generation, the legacy of those first "flamencos" lives on in those who immerse themselves in the art & passion that is flamenco.

Esencia Flamenca represents the three purist aspects of the flamenco form: the song, the guitar and the dance.

The company (Gemma, Manuel & Tito) are be complemented by four other well known artists from Spain to give a performance that is guaranteed to enthral and delight.

Gemma
Born in Madrid, Gemma started her dancing career at the age of ten when she attended classes at the Madrid Conservatoire, and it wasn't long before Gemma discovered she would make Flamenco her life.

Pursuing her career, Gemma won a scholarship to the famous school of Amor de Dios, dancing alongside some of Spain's most respected Flamenco artist including Belén Fernández, Belén Maya, Antonio Canales and Carmen Cortés, to name but a few.

She has appeared at Teatro Barcelú, Teatro Español, Teatro de la Plaza de la Villa and the famous Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid.

She danced in Mariano Torres's company in the production of "Una Noche de Feria", and performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in "Carmen" directed by Nuria Espert and Choreographed by Cristina Hoyos.

Gemma combines a busy dancing career with her various teaching commitments. She has also worked on numerous video and television productions and is a regular visitor to England, Italy, Germany and Belgium.

Tito
Tito Heredia is an Andalucían gypsy born in Algeciras, near Gibraltar and was educated in Madrid and London. With a family background of Flamenco music, his uncle a singer and his cousins guitarists, he started his career when he was only eleven years old. Unable to read music he learned the correct fingering for the guitar from a diagram drawn on the back of a cigarette packet by a veteran flamenco player. At the age of eighteen he won a scholarship to Madrid University, where he graduated as an architect. However, he then decided he was more interested in the intricacies of virtuoso guitar playing than elevations, plans, and blueprints!. Although he plays the Classical Guitar, Tito is chiefly interested in Flamenco Music - "It has the tragic intensity of life" - he says. He has played throughout Spain, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, The United States, and Australia, where he is going again right after this show. He has accompanied Trader Fanlkner in "Lorca" at the Lyric, and Donmar Theatres in London.

He has also appeared on television with Frankie Howard, Dave Allen , Benny Hill and Clio Laine.

Manuel
Manuel was born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) into a gypsy family where he learned how to sing by listening to his grandmother "La Malena", a well known singer from Lebrija. Manuel descends from "Tio Luís el de la Juliana", one of the creators of Flamenco singing.

Throughout his career Manuel has been one of the most successful competition singers in Spain & France, performing and winning first prizes at numerous festivals such as El Festival de la Unión, Cante Grande de Almería, Nacional de Córdoba, Congreso de Cante Flamenco in France, and many more.

He has sung alongside some of Spain's most important singers including: Camarón de la Isla, Tío Borrico, Antonio Mairena y Soredera. Manuel has also worked with Manuela Carrasco, Concha vargas, Faico, Matilde Coral, Tía Juana la del Pipa.