Kerensa DeMars Bio

Kerensa DeMars is a dancer, instructor and choreographer known for her unique synthesis of Flamenco and Middle Eastern dance. She has performed internationally at venues including London's Royal Festival Hall, the Teatro Calderón of Madrid, the Tivoli Theater in Barcelona and San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The founder and artistic director of the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company, Kerensa lived in Spain from 1997-2004 where she trained intensively in Flamenco dance with Spain’s foremost artists. Prior to founding the SFFDC Kerensa performed with major Flamenco companies in the US.

Kerensa danced with Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco from 2005-2010. During that time she performed with the Juan Siddi Flamenco Company and danced in the International Arts Festival in Doha, Qatar. She has performed in four seasons of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and has performed with other major Flamenco companies including Caminos Flamencos and Forever Flamenco. Kerensa served on the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards committee in 2013 and received choreography commissions from the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2016 and 2018.

Kerensa has worked extensively throughout her career with musicians from many backgrounds including Moroccan Gnawa, Gypsy Flamenco, Lebanese, Palestinian, Turkish Romani and Latin Jazz. She has directed a series of full length Flamenco programs often including musicians of other disciplines. Kerensa has presented her work in Madrid, San Francisco, Chicago, Barcelona, Los Angeles and Paris. Since 2010 she has staged these major works:

- Volver a contemporary Flamenco work with musical score by internationally renown musicians Amir John Haddad and Ali Paris and original soundscapes featuring the poetry of Leonard Cohen, Federico Garcia Lorca and Cecilia Woloch. Brava Theater (San Francisco); - 5xLorca (Lorca by Five), where five flamenco choreographers interpret selections by poet Federico Garcia Lorca. Fort Mason Center for the Arts (San Francisco); - Mares, an homage to the iconic women artists of 20th century Flamenco at the Brava Theater (San Francisco); - Flamenca, a contemporary dialogue between seven international women artists at La Peña Cultural Center (Berkeley); - a confluence of Flamenco/Indian/Middle Eastern dancers Interweave at the Teatro Casa de Vacas (Madrid) and Theatre L'Espace Jean Dame (Paris) - a Romani/Flamenco collaboration Zambra Flamenca at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (San Francisco); - an investigation into the Moorish influences in Flamenco Flamenco al Andalus at La Peña Cultural Center (Berkeley); - the Flamenco/Moroccan collaboration Zahara at the Cowell Theater (San Francisco) and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

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Most recently Kerensa was commissioned by Dance Mission Theater to create the work Refugio - examining the effects of climate change on the Syrian refugee crisis. The work premiered in March 2019 at the Dance in Revolt(ing) Times (D.I.R.T.) Festival at Dance Mission Theater.

An enthusiastic and patient instructor, Kerensa has been teaching dance for over twenty years. She holds a regular schedule of Flamenco classes for youth and adults and travels internationally to impart Flamenco dance and choreography workshops. Kerensa has created several works for children including ¿Dónde está Don Quixote? a Flamenco show for families that premiered at the 2018 San Francisco International Arts Festival. The second work in the series, Don Quixote Rides Again premieres in May 2019.

In 2016 Kerensa founded the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company (SFFDC). In that same year the SFFDC presented Mares at the Brava Theater and performed on opening weekend of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Kerensa directed two SFFDC premieres for the 2018 San Francisco International Arts Festival. In January 2019 she directed the SFFDC’s new work Volver, a sold out performance that received both critical and audience accolades for its unique, contemporary presentation of the art of Flamenco.

Recent Major Works 2019 Don Quixote Rides Again (In Production) Children’s Flamenco theater production for the San Francisco International Arts Festival 2019 Refugio Solo choreography commissioned for the Dance In Revolt(ing) Times Festival by Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco 2019 Volver A journey to the origins of Flamenco featuring internationally renown Middle Eastern musicians Amir John Haddad and Ali Paris 2018 5xLorca Five flamenco choreographers interpret works by Federico Garcia Lorca, San Francisco International Arts Festival 2018 ¿Dónde Está Don Quixote? Children’s Flamenco theater production for the San Francisco International Arts Festival 2017 From Morocco to Andalucia with Ali Paris, Palestinian composer and qanunist 2016 Mares featuring guitarist Flamenco guitarist Antonia Jiménez 2014 Flamenco del Oro with gypsy Flamenco singer from Spain Kina Mendez 2013 Flamenca an all female Flamenco production 2012 Zambra Flamenca, featuring eight international artists exploring parallels between Eastern European Romani traditions and Flamenco 2011 Zahara - Live in San Francisco A collaboration of Flamenco and Moroccan artists 2011 Flamenco al Andalus with guest dancer from Spain Emilio Ochando 2011 Enlaces 2 (Interweave 2) A blending of Flamenco, Middle Eastern and Indian music and dance 2010 Zahara A collaboration of Flamenco and Moroccan music and dance featuring the musicians of ‘El Hamideen’ and guest dancer from Spain Antonio Arrebola.

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Grants/Commissions/Residencies 2019 Choreography Commission from Dance Mission Theater for Refugio 2019 Panelist ‘Art in the New Economic Landscape’ SF International Arts Festival 2018 Choreography Commission from the San Francisco Arts Commission for Volver 2018 Choreography Commission from West Bay Opera for the production of Carmen 2017 Panelist ‘Cultural Appropriation in Flamenco’ Red Poppy Art House, SF 2016 Choreography Commission from the San Francisco Arts Commission for Mares 2013 Appointed to the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards Committee, San Francisco CA 2013 Guest lecturer St. Mary’s College, Moraga CA 2012 Guest Instructor at Festribal, Barcelona 2012 Guest Instructor at Tribal Union, University of WI-Milwaukee 2011 Enlaces commissioned by the Saada Center for Oriental Arts, Madrid 2011 Flamenco al Andalus Commissioned by the Bay Area Flamenco Festival 2010 Azahar Dance Foundation Grant for the production of Zahara 2009 Choreography Commission from Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco 2009/10 Residency at the Saada Center for Oriental Arts, Madrid 2004 Choreography Commission from the Joaquín Ruíz Flamenco Company, Madrid 2003 Residency at the Teatro Pradillo, Madrid 2003 El tren mágico (The Magic Train) commissioned by the Teatro Pradillo, Madrid

Education School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Performance, Fiber) 1989-1991 San Francisco Art Institute BFA (Performance, Sculpture) 1991-1993 Amor de Dios, Madrid (Flamenco Dance) 1996-2004

Recent Reviews “Kerensa DeMars’ command of the stage was instant and complete; the musicians’ eyes followed her sparkling white shoes and long red skirt as she moved with all the discipline and excitement one would expect of the choreographer and artistic director of the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company.” - Jeanne Powell, Stark Insider

“Zahara is one of the few true fusion projects where North African music and Flamenco interact in a celebration of their shared roots. Everyone was amazing: Gopal Slavonic's rendition of Sabicas' ‘Castillo Moro’, Kina Mendez's sublime cante, Bouchaib's deep Moroccan singing, Yassir's knowing Oud, Eliyahu Sill's soulful flute (ney). And Kerensa - like the Mediterranean Sea, bringing all the elements together.” - Nina Menéndez, Artistic Director of the Bay Area Flamenco Festival

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