ABOUT US
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jackie MacLin
Executive Director
Jackie MacLin has a background in Flamenco dance instruction and the performing arts. Jackie has extensive dance training in Flamenco, Classical Spanish, Mexican Folk, Ballet, and Jazz, and has also been involved in musical theatre as a featured dancer and choreographer. She is director and founder of Dances of Spain, operating as an independent flamenco instructor at Kirkland Dance Center, International Ballet Academy, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Jackie also produces her own creative works in addition to specializing in visiting flamenco artists, workshop production and volunteer coordination. Connecting Seattle’s flamenco community is Jackie’s strength and she has gained the trust and confidence of her colleagues, as well as the visiting artists she hosts.
Eve Salonen
Co-Director
Eve is a flamenco dancer from Finland. Before moving to Seattle in 2015, Eve studied flamenco actively in Finland among taking workshops from many professional Spanish flamenco artists. Along with her studies, Eve has performed and worked as a dancer for several Finnish flamenco artists and companies. While living in Finland, Helsinki, she served as a board member in Helsinki Flamenco Association for two years. Eve is an energetic and talented dancer and an active member of the Seattle flamenco community. Eve performs regularly with different groups in the Seattle area, such as Dances of Spain, Oleaje Flamenco, La Peña Flamenca de Seattle, and Caras de Flamenco. Eve teaches flamenco classes weekly specializing in bata de cola, in her dance school Flamenco Boreal, that she founded in 2019.
Daniela Serrano
Co-Director
A long time interest in Spanish art and culture combined with a background in competitive figure skating and dance was the foundation for Daniela’s initial enthusiasm for flamenco. This has led to a dedicated study with some of the finest dancers in the U.S. and Spain, and an appreciation for all aspects of this rich art form. In addition to her work with Espacio de Arte, she performs with her group Cuadro Azahar Flamenco, and was a featured soloist and choreographer for the Peña Flamenca de Seattle under the direction of Rubina Carmona. Daniela teaches and hosts training drills for flamenco dancers in her home studio, and works as an occupational therapist and wellness trainer for older adults.
Ben Phipps
Technical Manager
Ben Phipps has been playing flamenco guitar since the turn of the millenium. He has performed regularly as both a soloist and accompanist for groups and shows such as Dances of Spain, La Pena Flamenco de Seattle, and Caras de Flamenco. He has studied and performed in Madrid, Seville, Philadelphia, New York, Albuquerque, and Seattle. Ben has a degree in classical guitar from Cornish College of the Arts, and he stills whips out the Bach from time to time. In order to support his musical passions, he also runs a thriving house painting business. Currently he is working on posting videos and audio to his youtube channel.
Deborah Katz
Board Member, Secretary
Deborah Katz has studied belly dance, Japanese martial arts and Flamenco for her entire adult life. The community that surrounds these art forms, as well as broadened cultural understanding, keep her coming back for more. When asked why she studies flamenco, the seed was probably planted in her earliest years seeing flamenco artists on the Ed Sullivan show. She is a Seattle native but lived for many years on the east coast, as well as in the Philippines. The problem solving skills she developed as a health care provider and mother of four come in handy as a member of the Espacio board.
Amelia Moore
Community Development Manager
Amelia got her professional start at the age of 17 as a Belly Dance soloist, vocalist and Palmera with World Music and Dance group Children of the Revolution. After earning a degree in Spanish and Dance from the University of Washington and earning a 500 hr Yoga Teaching Certification, she decided to dedicate herself fully to Flamenco. She co-founded Oleaje Flamenco in 2009, and since then has shared the stage with invited guest artists such as Luis de la Tota (Jerez de la Frontera/percussion), Israel Heredia (Granada/guitar), Jose del Faro (Barcelona/cante), Joaquin Gallegos (Santa Fe/guitar), and Ana Rosa Meneses (Cuba/baile). Amelia was also a featured Flamenco dance soloist in Arizona Theater Company’s critically acclaimed musical Man of La Mancha in their 2017-2018 season. Amelia has studied intensively in a mentorship capacity with many master flamenco teachers, and travels regularly to further her flamenco studies both in Spain and in United States. She currently performs and teaches flamenco and yoga full-time and recently opened Flamenco Haven, a community Flamenco school, in the Seattle area.
Jed Miley
Director of Development
Jed Miley is a guitarist, composer, and producer based in Seattle, WA. He first began his Flamenco journey studying with maestro Marcos Carmona in 1995. His work with Marcos sparked a lifelong interest in Flamenco music, and thus traveled to Spain several times to learn from incredible guitarists. Jed has lived and worked in New York with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana and performed, toured, and acted as a teaching artist with the company for three years. Since returning to Seattle at the end of 2012, he has been playing with Oleaje Flamenco and performing around town. Jed received his master’s degree in educational administration with a focus on nonprofit leadership from Seattle university in 2019.
Nancy Fetch
Board Member, Treasurer
A twist of fate put Nancy Fetch in a flamenco class almost 20 years ago. Since then she has studied with local flamenco professionals as well as in Spain. Nancy brings over 40 years of business and human development experience to the Espacio Team and sat on the board of other non-profit organization.
Paulina Chalita
Community Outreach Director
Paulina’s passion has always been Flamenco, from the age of 5. Her lifetime of experience started in Las Cabales (Guadalajara, Mexico) where she danced under the direction of Hilda Prats. Later on, she continued her studies mainly at Madrid’s Flamenco Center: Amor de Dios (Spain) where she has learned from the best. Since 2015, Paulina owns and runs her own Flamenco Studio in Redmond called Semilla Flamenca. She is the author of the Children’s book: Elena Dances Flamenco / Elena baila flamenco.