Aya Kitaoji

Flamenco Dance / Cajón / Vocals

Dedicated to a life of performance from age 5, Aya was trained in classical, contemporary and folkloric dance before travelling to the heart of flamenco, Seville, Spain at 14. Her comprehensive training includes studying with renowned maestros of Madrid, Jerez de la Frontera and Seville.

Since returning to Melbourne in 2011, she established “SENES Flamenco” to encourage the growth of flamenco in Australia.

Over 15 years she has performed across the country as soloist, choreographer, percussionist and vocalist and teacher.

Aya continues to travel to Spain regularly for professional development, performance and recording projects.

Alejandro Flórez

Flamenco Guitar

Alejandro was born in Melbourne of Latin American & Mediterranean heritage. His original Spanish guitar compositions are heavily influenced by his extensive experience in traditional Flamenco as well as in his love for Latin Jazz.

As a songwriter and flamenco guitarist, Alejandro collaborates with Australian and international artists across many genres such as Jazz, Classical and also Latin American folk music. 

After extensive travels playing and touring through Asia, Europe, Latin America and Australia, in 2010 he launched his project “Solquemia Spanish Guitar”.

He has also released two independent albums of his original compositions; "Solquemia" & "Limonera" has since sold thousands of copies to audiences in Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas. 

Jethro Negron

Cajon percussion & Bass Guitar

Jethro Negron grew up in Melbourne in a family of Chilean musicians, and took up the Drums at age 6. He is a drummer, percussionist and bass player in many of Melbourne’s popular Latin bands.

At the age of 9, he won the Australian Junior Drummer competition and hasn’t looked back since. He shares his extensive drumming knowledge, experience and rhythmic expression through performances, and teaching.

As a versatile multi-instrumentalist, Jethro’s cajon and bass playing is passionate yet tasteful, and brings an innovative fresh approach to flamenco music.

Special Guest: “El Keko”

Franshesco Virán

Special Guest Vocals / Guitar / Percussion

Inimitable front man, Franshesco “Keko” Viran was born in Arica, Chile and lived in Bolivia and Equador before migrating to Melbourne in 1986, where his voice has been a fixture of the Latin music scene for over 20 years.

As a vocalist and songwriter, Keko blends the influence of South American singers like Victor Jara with that of classic Cuban soneros like Ibrahim Ferrer into his own distinct style, sometimes passionate and political, sometimes carefree and festive.

Keko’s songwriting is the core of many of Melbourne’s best latin bands, including Kekoson Cuban Sounds and has featured as special guest vocalist for SENES Flamenco.

Sherif Tawfilis

Palmas/ Percussion

Musician and dancer Sherif Tawfilis was born in Egypt and has been present as part of Melbourne Flamenco music for over 15 years, leading a vocal choir and performing with many world music ensembles and artists in Australia.

Sherif brings to Senes Flamenco strong rhythmic palmas essential for the dance performance and darbuka rhythms as part Alejandro’s original compositions and traditional flamenco music. His knowledge of both flamenco and arabic music brings harmony to the diverse soundscape of flamenco music in a cultural fusion.

Special Guest: Angel Mellado

“El Brujo de Madrid”

Special Guest Vocals

Born in Madrid, Australia’s first flamenco singer and guitarist, Angel Mellado “El Brujo de Madrid” arrived in Australia in 1962 with only a small suitcase, a degree in engineering and a Spanish guitar.

From the age of 6, he sang flamenco in Ciempozuelos, Madrid to earn a living, orphaned by the Spanish Civil War.

His first debut in Australia was shortly after his arrival on Channel 7 as part of the The Daily Show, then “In Melbourne Tonight” for a numerous years.

He was also the first flamenco artist in Australia, playing in flamenco “tablao” restaurants including Colmao Flamenco and The Spanish Club for over 25 years.

He was also one of the pioneering flamenco singers and guitarists to play in Tokyo, Japan at the prestigious tablao “El Flamenco” now “El Garlochi”. Since then he as been contracted to play for countless flamenco ensembles, venues and theatre shows each year around Australia.

For over 15 years he has been a special guest with SENES Flamenco, and continues to nurture flamenco in Australia and touch audiences of all walks of life with his very distinct pure voice.