-
Chari Saldana has a passion for flamenco.
It’s a passion which in the last ten years has taken her from working nine to five and dancing evenings in bars, to establishing her own full-time production company and dance studio.
-
Chari first fell under the spell of flamenco as a young child when her mother took her to see a performance by a Spanish dance company at the Princess Theatre.
However it was the singing rather than the dancing which initially captivated her, and she decided then and there that she wanted to learn.
So at the tender age of five she started at flamenco school, although the future in singing which she had envisaged didn’t quite pan out.
"There was a gypsy in the class who would sing as she danced. So for the first couple of lessons I sat in the corner and tried to imitate her singing – it was hopeless! Meantime my friends were all learning dance so I started too."
-
And so a dancer was born. It wasn’t long before Chari began performing in community groups, and when she was eleven she started her first paid gigs at a South Yarra restaurant, accompanied by her older brother who played guitar. Three nights a week her parents would dutifully ferry them to and fro, supportive and proud of their talented children. This support has evidently been important to Chari.
- Born in Australia to Spanish immigrants, flamenco has provided a direct link to her heritage. Her mother in particular was very interested in the arts, and loved that fact that Chari’s involvement with flamenco has traversed so many levels while at the same time celebrated Spanish culture.
- From humble beginnings Flamenco Productions has gone from strength to strength. Chari has been joined by two business partners, Johnny Tedesco who is also a flamenco dancer, and his brother Richard, a flamenco guitarist. The combination is one which she says works really well.
- Classes are now held six days a week and over 600 students have been through the school. A number of them have been learning flamenco dance from Chari for over ten years.
The studio also doubles as a rehearsal space for anyone interested in singing, dancing and playing instruments, and there are currently around 70 people using the studio on a regular basis.
- Chari Saldana is obviously thrilled and grateful that she is able to make a living out of something which she feels so passionate about.
Not content to merely teach, she also performs regularly at festivals, corporate gigs and does shows with students. "I’m interested in trying to take flamenco out of Tapas bars, where it was very common a few years back, and onto the stage."
Since 1995 Flamenco Productions has put on two big shows per year. They have developed a loyal following over this time, most recently performing last November in Melbourne and Adelaide, in shows choreographed by Chari.
- Talking to Chari you get the distinct feeling that nothing would keep her away from flamenco for very long. For the sake of flamenco lovers everywhere, let’s hope not.
<
