| SIMONE POPE | the artist |

Simone's discovery of Flamenco music and dance began in 1990. Training with some of the best flamenco dancers in Australia, Simone decided to devote herself entirely to flamenco and in 1998 she took her first trip to Spain to dedicate herself to the art of flamenco. Since that time Simone has become an established and accomplished flamenco dance artist both in Brisbane and throughout Australia. Guided by some of Spain's finest dancers, including Belén Fernandez, Pili Ogalla, Mercedes Ruiz, Andres Peña, La Truco, Maria Juncal, Isabel Bayon, La China, La Tati, Ciro, and Manuel Reyes, Simone returns to Spain every year to immerse herself in the latest technical and artistic directions of Flamenco.
		Photo courtesy of Steven B McAlpine Photo courtesy of Tarnya Cox Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson Photo courtesy of Marina Hurley Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson

Simone's contemporary choreographies transfix the audience with their energy and passion. In Brisbane she is director of The Flamenco Studio where she teaches and hosts workshops by visiting national and international flamenco professionals. Simone's extensive performance experience has taken her throughout the country appearing at many World Music and Folk Festivals as well as concert halls and theatres in Australia. In 1996 Simone joined Jaleos Flamenco, Brisbane's best known flamenco performance group and leads the group with guitarist Andrew Veivers. Performance highlights include 'Furia Flamenco' with Antonio Vargas, and 'Flamenco Fire' which has enjoyed sell-out seasons at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, The Judith Wright Centre of Performing Arts, and the QLD Performing Arts Centre - performing with Melbourne's Arte Kanela in 2002 and 2003, and with a hand-picked group of some of Australia and Spain's best flamenco artists - including Fernando Mira, Julie Pittle, Keiren Ray, Areti Boyaci (of Flamenco Dance Areti - www.flamencoareti.com),Werner Neumann, Tomas Arroquero, Damian Wright, Sebastian Sanchez and Olayo Jimenez (Spain). Since then Simone has performed with Flamenco Fire on tours throughout both Queensland and Australia. Simone is also a member of acclaimed Brisbane based group The Saruzu Quartet (formerly SARS), formed in 2000 and comprising guitarist Andrew Veivers, and double bass player Andrew Shaw. Performance Highlights Simone's performance highlights include: Artour QLD tour 2011 15 venues, 4 weeks with Flamenco Fire "Primavera Mia" QPAC, Playhouse Theatre 2010 Flamenco Fire “Al-Andaluz” Noumea, New Caledonia July 2009 Flamenco Fire QPAC, Playhouse Theatre 2009 Flamenco Fire “Primavera Mia” Australian Tour 2008 37 venues, 4 months throughout Australia Flamenco Fire “Sol de Otono” April – June QPAC, Playhouse Theatre 2008 Flamenco Fire “Sol de Otono” 2007 The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbourne Festival, Tour of Osaka, Tokyo and Kobe (Japan) with Saruzu Quartet 2007 QLD Arts Council Ontour Onstage one month tour of Flamenco Fire to 18 venues throughout Qld 2006 NARPACA tour of Flamenco Fire to 9 venues throughout Qld and NT including Cairns Entertainment Centre (sellout show) and Darwin Entertainment Cente 2005 and 2006 Judith Wright Centre for the Performing Arts Flamenco Fire Woodford Folk Festival 2005, 2006, 2010 Flamenco Fire and Saruzu Noosa Long Weekend - Opening Performance Flamenco Fire June 2006 Sellout shows at Flamenco Fire Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre 2001-2004, Nambour Civic Centre 2002, Noosa Bicentennial Hall 2004 and 2005, Byron Bay Theatre 2005 and Judith Wright Centre for the Performing Arts 2005 and 2006. Furia Flamenco at the Tivoli Theatre with Antonio Vargas 1999, 'Global Voyage' Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre Sept 2000, 'Heart of Danceness' Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre : An Ausdance and Bemac collaboration as part of Danceweek 2001 Simone has appeared on numerous occasions at the Spanish Centre of Brisbane, and at the Parliament House Annexe, as part of 'Europe Day', for the Europe Council of Australia and the Spanish Consulate. Other performance highlights include performances at QPAC Concert Hall, for the Fellowship of Music and Song, and at Customs House as part of River Festival, Brisbane 2002 presented by University of Qld Music Dept. Simone has also appeared and performed on National Television programmes 'Hot Source' and 'The Shak'. Teaching Simone has been teaching flamenco dance since 1997 and in 2000 established The Flamenco Studio dedicating herself full time to studying, teaching and performing flamenco dance. Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson Photo courtesy of Tarnya Cox Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson Photo courtesy of Naomi Mawson