ROSA FLAMENCA is a group formed by dancers and musicians, including myself, Patricia Vasconcellos, as a choreographer, producer, dancer, and pianist. Claire Jones-Fright, who is a professional dancer, violinist, singer, and actress; Fema Jacob, who is a dancer and trauma-informed therapist; and Susana Portillo, who is a dancer.
The Flamenco arts remind us of the history and background of this Art Form. Flamenco art emerged centuries ago, with unknown origins, and the oppressed artistic style has resisted and survived, conquering a space in humanity’s cultural heritage. Flamenco movements describe and reveal human emotions. The Flamenco celebrates fertility that, to the creators of Flamenco art, represented survival. The wrist movement, circumferential routines of arms and feet, and skirts (doing helicoidal movements) imitate cycles that represent the circle of life. Flamenco art values the cultural heritage that is passed down from generation to generation and the mixture and syncretism between peoples.
In this way, the GROUP ROSA FLAMENCA values the multiculturalism of the city of London, designated by UNESCO as “the City of Music”, and brings projects that aim to offer FLAMENCO ART to the London community.
MEET THE ARTISTS
At 17 years old, started to study Spanish Dance, and at 24 years old, graduated in Music and piano instrument, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patricia concluded extension and specialization in Spanish Dance in Brazil and the US, and a master’s and Ph.D. in Health Sciences. For 20 years, studied the Flamenco Art, tap flamenco technique, castanets (playing and dancing), and Bata de Cola. For more than 6 years, Patricia has acted as a choreographer and teacher, managing lots of performances and Flamenco projects.
Moved to London, Ontario, Canada, she created Flamenco del Sur Studio. The group started to bring the Flamenco culture and flamenco style to London and Patricia has been working as Flamenco instructor, choreographer, and producer. She performed at the London Dance Festival, Events, and Festivals at the Community, Western University, and Heart Links. In 2020, participated in an International Flamenco Concert with the Sunfest and has been promoting workshops in London and its surroundings to show the Flamenco Rhythms for musicians, dancers, and Flamenco lovers. Created LOS AIRES FLAMENCO which performed remotely in 2021 and in person in 2022 at the London Dance Festival and participated in the Simple Reflections for Artists at the London Museum in 2022 and 2023.
Joined the Centre of Movements Arts as a Board Member Director to represent the Flamenco Art in London. Recently she had a vision of performing with four talented and professional musicians, who are currently part of the group FUEGO Y HIELO. The band FUEGO Y HIELO built authentic, passionate, and unprecedented traditional compositions for audiences and performed series of 8 performances and workshops from May 2025 to March 2026 with the support of CAIP 2025 of the London Arts Council. In January 2026, she founded the “ROSA FLAMENCA”, a group formed by 4 artists specialized in Flamenco who aim to bring the FLAMENCO ART repertoire in series performances to London and surroundings.
Claire Jones-Fright is a dancer, violinist, singer, and actress. She grew up in London, Ontario, in a musical family that gifted her with a profound love for music and performance. At the age of two, she started studying the violin in her mother’s studio. She has been studying dance since the age of three, including Theatre Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Ballet, and Modern.
Claire completed the Music Theatre Performance Program at St. Clair College in 2024. In theatre school, she had intensive dance training and many performance opportunities, culminating in her final show, Cats. Claire was invited to perform a solo violin and voice recital in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in November 2019—a life-changing experience she will always cherish. She was embraced by the people there and has since been immersed in the Brazilian/Latin American community in London through meeting Patricia.
In 2023, Claire was thrilled to join the emerging Flamenco band “Los Aires,” founded by Patricia Medeiros, as a violinist and vocalist. This experience introduced her to many Flamenco rhythms and wonderful musicians. She later began studying Flamenco dance with Patricia in her studio, Flamenco del Sur. She loves how it encompasses so many different styles of movement.
Through tapping, castanets, and fan work, Claire enjoys how the body becomes the instrument and how community is at its core: dancers and musicians supporting one another through rhythm, sound, movement, and storytelling—something that has resonated since the beginning of time. She is so excited to be part of bringing such a historic and timeless art form to the London community!
Fema was drawn to dance for the way it awakens femininity—confident, embodied, and deeply felt—something she came to appreciate even more as a mature woman reconnecting with that part of herself. Through years of social salsa and bachata, she discovered dance as a space for connection, expression, and presence—an experience that naturally led her to flamenco.
Flamenco brought new depth, structure, and soul, inviting her out of the mind and into a more grounded, instinctive way of being. She has trained in sevillanas, tangos, bulería, and farruca, and is especially drawn to dancing with fans—the way they extend expression and amplify presence. For Fema, dance is not only an art form but a lived experience: a way of inhabiting the body fully and expressing emotion with honesty and intensity.
In her professional life, Fema is an experienced trauma-informed therapist who values deep, meaningful connection. This foundation naturally informs her presence as a performer—her ability to attune, feel, and express is evident in the way she immerses herself in music and movement, conveying emotion with authenticity.
She is known for her warmth, grounded presence, and dedication to growth. Committed to her flamenco training, Fema continues to refine her technique while approaching each baile as a form of storytelling—where gesture, rhythm, and emotion come together to create a powerful and expressive performance.
Born in El Salvador, Susana has been captivated by the rhythms of life since childhood. Growing up in a vibrant culture where Salsa, Cumbia, and Merengue are more than just music—they’re a way of life—, thanks to her mother’s love for dance and her father’s musical talents on the guitar and drums, she found her passion for dance and music early on. Her journey began with school performances, where she thrived in the spotlight, showcasing her love for the performing arts. During high school, she joined a salsa group that allowed her to express herself through dance, performing at various events and deepening her connection with the art form.
Continuing her artistic education, Susana took Contemporary Jazz classes at the University of Western Ontario broadening her dance repertoire and enhancing her understanding of different styles. However, it was a pivotal moment during a visit to Seville in 2023 that profoundly transformed her artistic perspective. Immersed in the world of flamenco, she attended various performances at local Flamenco shows and watched talented flamenco dancers and musicians in the enchanting Plaza de España. The passion, the raw emotion, the intensity and intricate footwork of flamenco captivated her, igniting a new love for this expressive dance form and inspiring her to incorporate this passionate dance into her own work.
Today, Susana blends her diverse dance experiences, bringing a unique fusion of Latin rhythms and flamenco to her performances. Her performances aim to evoke emotion and invite audiences to feel the heartbeat of her culture. She continues to explore and evolve as an artist, dedicated to sharing her passion for dance and music with the world. Committed, focused, and dedicated, Susana has been improving her knowledge and technique in Flamenco through talent, musicality, and emotional intelligence, to share the art of storytelling through fine and graceful movements, as well as full of intensity and passion.
Larissa Vasconcellos de Medeiros is an artist, photographer, videographer, producer, and dancer. At seven years old, Larissa began taking art lessons at I.A.A.M Institute of Art Amilcar Mendes in Brazil. She then immigrated with her family to London, Ontario. In Canada, she continued making art as a hobby and in grade 10 she began taking private art lessons with Paul Purificati, focusing on academic oil painting and drawing. Larissa is currently pursuing a BA in Fine Arts at OCAD University.
Besides visual arts, Larissa has a way with photo and video production. In high school, she took communication and technology classes, including yearbook class, where she learned how to photograph, film, and edit. Since then, she has worked alongside Patricia Vasconcellos, producing advertisements for Flamenco del Sur Dance Studio. At the same time, she has participated in many Flamenco performances with Patricia on stage and backstage as a dancer, photographer, and videographer at London Dance Festival, Simple Reflections for Artists, and other events in the London area.
A multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and videography, she brings a refined balance of technical expertise, creative vision, and emotional sensitivity to her practice. Her work explores how emerging technologies can enhance storytelling, movement, and visual expression—transforming raw footage into immersive and meaningful experiences. With a strong foundation in digital media and a deep understanding of visual composition, Larissa is specialized in crafting cinematic narratives that capture nuance, rhythm, and atmosphere. Her approach is both innovative and intuitive, blending AI-driven tools with a human-centered perspective to ensure authenticity and artistic integrity.
Recognized for her professionalism and collaborative spirit, she has contributed to a range of creative projects, supporting artists and organizations in realizing compelling visual identities. Her work is guided by a commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of contemporary visual storytelling.