| 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 Belen Fernandez, La China, La Tati, Ciro, La Truco and Manuel Reyes.


Simone's contemporary choreographies transfix the audience with their energy and passion. Simone returns to Spain every year to immerse herself in the latest technical and artistic directions of Flamenco. 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 including 'Furia Flamenco' with Antonio Vargas, and 'Flamenco Fire' which has enjoyed 4 consecutive sell-out seasons at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre - performing with Melbourne's Arte Kanela in 2002 and 2003, and with a hand-picked group of some of Adelaide and Melbourne's best flamenco artists in June 2004 - including Fernando Mira, Julie Pittle, Keiren Ray, Areti Boyaci (of Flamenco Dance Areti - www.flamencoareti.com) and Werner Neumann. In 2005 and 2006 Flamenco Fire continued to enjoy its huge popularity at the Judith Wright Centre for the Performing Arts, as well as a hugely successful 2 week tour of Qld and NT in 2006. In early 2007, Simone performed with Flamenco Fire throughout QLD with the QLD Arts Council Ontour Onstage programme; performing in 18 venues over 4 weeks. Simone is also a member of acclaimed Brisbane based group The Saruzu Quartet (formerly SARS), formed in 2000 and comprising guitarist Andrew Veivers, violinist Luke Moller and double bass player Andrew Shaw. Performance Highlights Simone's performance highlights with Jaleos Flamenco include '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, 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. 2006 NARPACA tour of 'Flamenco Fire' to 9 venues throughout Qld and NT including Cairns Entertainment Centre (sellout show) and Darwin Entertainment Cente. 2007 QLD Arts Council Ontour Onstage of 'Flamenco Fire' to 18 venues throughout Qld. 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.