Artist Fellows - Maria Osende

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Maria started dancing with Luis Fuente at age seven and later wtih Julia Estevez. At fifteen she becomes one of the youngest members of the National Ballet of Spain. Two years later a Fulbright scholarship takes her to the School of American Ballet in New York City. At nineteen she moves to Berlin, Germany, to dance with the Deutsche Oper Berlin Ballet where she remains for eight years as a soloist dancing a wide ranged repertoire of classical and contemporary dance.

Maria then decides to leave the Deusche Oper Berlin to focus exclusively on Flamenco, which at the same time, brings her back to her Spanish origins. A power force of technique and artistry, Maria has been conquering audiences not only in Atlantic Canada, but previously in Europe.

In September 2003 Maria moves to Nova Scotia (Canada) creating her flamenco company in 2004, opening her dance school in 2005 and starting the Fall for Flamenco, Halifax's International Flamenco Festival in 2006, which has become one of the most popular hapenings in Halifax and the first flamenco festival of its kind in Canada.

Maria has received the support of the Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage as well as the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. See http://www.mariaosende.com/index.htmlfor more information.

Ross Creek Artist Fellows are generally those who have a strong connection to Ross Creek through teaching,exhibiting or performing, and who also have a national and international context for their work. Click here to find out more.