A night of authentic flamenco guitar and dance with Solquemia.

Alejandro’s passionate guitar, together with Aya's fiery footwork and pulsating rhythms culminate in a synergistic conversation of melody and grace. Their performance incorporates some of the founding pillars of what flamenco was, guitar and dance. Through these mediums, they will take you back to a time where art and culture reigned. Be enthralled by the beauty and grace of the flamenco dance fused with the flamenco guitar.

Alejandro Florez (guitarist and composer) began his journey with the guitar at the age of 17 and was mentored by a close friend in the art of flamenco. He has since performed throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. Renowned for his sensitivity, lyrical melodies and exploration of new sounds, Alejandro has been sought after by different musicians for session work and contributed to several collaboration albums. He was a member of Santos for nearly 10 years. The band produced the popular album Moliendo Café, toured widely and performed at star-studded functions by Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon.

In 2009, Alejandro established Solquemia as a means of experimenting with different sounds and instrumentation, both solo and in collaboration with other musicians. Solquemia means “the alchemical energy from the sun” in Spanish and reflects Alejandro’s distinctive musical style and philosophy.

Alejandro’s debut album, Solquemia, released in 2010, consisted of original compositions with influences from the music of Spain and Latin America. His second album, @Limonera, recorded in 2012, was a multicultural collaboration with fellow Melbourne musicians. Alejandro composed both the music and lyrics of the songs, using an evocative Turkish poem as inspiration. Both albums capture the essence of Alejandro’s Spanish guitar.

From the age of 5, Aya Kitaoji (flamenco dance and cajon) trained in a variety of dance styles including classical ballet, contemporary and folkloric. She discovered flamenco at a young age with Georgia Gugliotta in Seville, Spain, and was later mentored by Laura Uhe in Melbourne.

Alejandro’s passionate guitar, together with Aya's fiery footwork and pulsating rhythms culminate in a synergetic conversation of melody and grace. Their performance incorporates some of the founding pillars of what flamenco was, guitar and dance. Through these mediums, they will take you back to a time where art and culture reigned. Be enthralled by the beauty and grace of the flamenco dance fused with the flamenco guitar. Aya danced intensively with Adrian Galia in Tokyo, Japan, and she regularly travels to Spain to train with internationally renowned dancers such as Mercedes Ruiz in Jerez de la Frontera and Isabel Bayon and Juan Paredes in Seville. She has also furthered her dance training with various flamenco maestros, including Inmaculada Ortega, Miguel Cañas, Cristian Almodovar and Cristobal Reyes of Centro de Baile Flamenco Amor de Dios, Madrid.

In 2012 Aya established her own flamenco dance school and company, SENES Flamenco, in Melbourne. In addition to her teaching commitments, she has performed throughout Australia, Asia and Europe for a variety of festivals, shows, functions and community events. In 2011 she featured as guest dancer in “5a Giornata della Chitarra Classica” in Milan, Italy. She tours each year as the principal dancer and percussionist for diverse flamenco ensembles in Australia. Recent highlights include flamenco shows for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Regent Theatre and Old Parliament House (ACT).

Aya is distinguished by her fluid, lyrical style and striking, classical lines. Her dynamic repertoire includes the use of castanets, hand- clapping and colorful Spanish fans and shawls, which she coordinates with brilliant costumes to create both traditional and modern dances filled with explosive energy and passion.