Lindsey Bourassa
Flamenco Dancer | Teacher | Choreographer
Location: Portland, Maine

BIOGRAPHY

Lindsey Bourassa is a flamenco dancer, performer, choreographer, creative writer, teacher, and founding director of Bourassa Dance Studio.  In her artistic work, Lindsey creates original dance pieces and performances that illustrate multifaceted storytelling and artistic expression through the blend of flamenco and contemporary dance, often woven together with her own creative prose.  

Based in Portland, Maine, Lindsey Bourassa is a flamenco dancer, choreographer, and the founding-director of Bourassa Dance Studio of Portland, Maine, where she teaches Flamenco Arts. Lindsey is NEST eligible through the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA).

Lindsey received her BA in Cultural Dance Studies and Creative Writing from Goddard College in 2009, with a specialization in flamenco and salsa. Prior to this, she received her certification as a Kripalu Yoga Teacher from the Kripalu Institute in 2006.  She completed her Certificate of Professionalization in Flamenco Arts in Sevilla, Spain in 2012 at El Centro de Arte y Flamenco de Sevilla. She has dedicated herself to the study of flamenco since 2004, studying in Spain, France, Canada, and the United States with flamencos such as Miguel Vargas, Esperanza and Curro Fernandez, Carmen Ledesma, Francis Núñez Cabello, La Choni, Jorge Perez, and Ursula Lopez among many others. She has performed and taught in both Spain and the United States.

In her artistic work, Lindsey performs both traditional flamenco with national and international flamenco artists and creates original dance performances that illustrate multifaceted storytelling through the blend of flamenco and contemporary dance, often woven together with her own creative prose. Lindsey co-founded and danced with Olas Music and Dance from 2009-2016. Olas released three albums, a film, three videos, and performed throughout New England. In July 2016, Lindsey performed in PORT Opera's Carmen at Portland's Merrill Auditorium. Also in 2016, Lindsey was invited by the Maine Arts Commission to perform at MICA (Maine International Conference on the Arts). 

In 2017, Lindsey completed work on a multimedia, contemporary-flamenco performance entitled El Lobo y La Paloma released on June 3rd, 2017 at South Portland Auditorium, Maine. Created by Lindsey Bourassa, El Lobo y La Paloma is a performance that explores the theme of loss and connection. Through all original flamenco dance, Arabic music and song, poetry, and projected imagery, El Lobo y La Paloma tells a story about the loss of a loved one and the mystical connections between physical and spiritual worlds. This work is inspired by the loss of Bourassa's own father in 2015. This project was made in artistic collaboration with Canadian-Iranian painter Khosro Berahmandi, Kuwaiti singer Talal Alzefiri, oud player Thomas Kovacevic, and flamenco dancer Megan Keogh, and with the participation of videographer Ali Mann, costume designer Molly Angie, and poet/translator Kifah Abdulla.

In 2018, Lindsey collaborated with flamenco singer Bárbara Martínez and flamenco guitarist Cristian Puig in performances at Mayo Street Arts (Portland, ME) and the Bates College Music Series (Waterville, ME). Also in 2018, Lindsey performed as a guest artist in the production Soleá Con | Partida, an all original work created and performed by internationally recognized flamenco dancer Miguel Vargas and flamenco singer Ale Cano, with guitar accompaniment by José Manuel Alconchel.  

      Lindsey is the recipient of the 2018 New England Dance Fund, New England Foundation for the Arts; 2017 Continuing Education Grant, New Ventures Maine; 2016 Project Grant, Maine Arts Commission; 2013 Visibility Grant, Maine Arts Commission; 2011 Good Idea Grant, Maine Arts Commission.

Founded in 2013, Bourassa Dance Studio is a creative and educational space in Portland, ME offering ongoing flamenco classes, workshops, and performances. 

All photos by Arthur Fink

CLASS SCHEDULE

Please visit her website for more information: 

http://www.bourassadance.com/studio-schedule-.html 

More information at: http://www.bourassadance.com