My company was formally formed in 2002, in dedication to the memory of my late husband, Hilbert O.
Celaya, who died of throat cancer in July 2000. He was the first and foremost fan and supporter of my love for
dancing, having attended my first folklorico performance in May 1980 at Pasadena City College (under the direction and instruction
of the late Miguel Delgado).
Thus my dance career began, and I performed throughout the Los Angeles area with the folkorico group, Las
Rosas & Company until 1994.
My Spanish classical and flamenco dance career began in 1982 in Los Angeles, where I began studying with Oscar Nieto,
which lead to further studies and performances with Angelita in her Concierto Flamenco, Carla Luna's Dance Ensemble,
Juan Talavera, and Clarita's Arte Flamenco Dance Theater.
I also studied with Linda Vega, Roberto Amaral, Leila Del Monte, and Yolanda Arroyo. In Spain, I studied with Merche
Esmeralda, Maria Magdalena and Ciro. I've also had the opporutnity to study here in the United States with Manuela Carasco,
La Tati, Maria Bermudez, Belen Maya, Cristobal Reyes, Farruquito, Juana Amaya, Marc Arurelio and Domingo Ortega.
In 1993, I produced, directed and performed in An Evening of Flamenco at the Barnsdall Art Park Theater in Los
Angeles.
From 1993 to 1997 I toured Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Arizona with Clarita's
Arte Flamenco Dance Theater.
"Vera Flores Celaya made the most of her opportunities with highly focused and feisty attacks."
--Lewis Segal, of the Los Angeles Times, on Arte Flamenco in June 1993.
My debut at the Fountain Theatre was in the Sangre Nueva concerts of 1996 and 1997. I
choreographed a tangos and the final bulerias for these shows. Jennifer Fisher of the Los Angeles
Times said, "Choreographers (also) had a good night," and the tangos was,
"a nicely balanced quartet by Celaya." (December 1997)
Segal of the Times took note of my "specialized heel work [which was] steadily ratcheting,"
in a review entitled, 'Nueva' Spotlights Emerging Talent. (December 1996)
Since 1997, I have performed with Rosanna Gamson/World Wide in performance art pieces, which involve acting,
singing, and other dance forms, including flamenco.
Scarlet Cheng of the Los Angeles Times described Gamson's approach to choreography in a feature article in CalendarLive
in November of 1999:
"At one point, standing among the dancers, she says, 'You should all move forward with aplomb.' The dancers
stare at her. One jokes, 'A Plum?' Then Vera Flores Celaya strides forward from the pack, her back straight, her
head high. This flamenco dancer is the one performer who has been with Gamson for all three of her L.A. productions;
she knows what aplomb is."
Jennifer Fisher reviewed Lovesickness for the Los Angeles Times, noting "a phalanx of flamencos
tapping out sad messages in rhythmic code," and the presence of "skilled specialists [including] flamenco
dancer Vera Flores Celaya. (December 1999)
The integrity of Gamson's vision and the impeccable focus of a dream cast give Lovesickness a visceral
intelligence that soaks into one's skin. The outstanding dancers include...Vera Flores Celaya.
--Janice Steinberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, February 2002.
"Gamson is blessed with dancers who look like real people, [including] intense flamenco dancer Vera Flores
Celaya."
--Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), March 2003.
