Local woman brings Spanish fire to Okanagan dance floors

Having studied a multitude of different dance forms Tasheleia Marangoni is certainly someone who moves to her own beat.

“I have spent my life as a professional dancer, I began dancing at the age of three and I am now getting very close to 50, so I’ve been dancing for a long, long time,” Marangoni told Kelowna10. “I am trained in many styles of dance: classical and also cultural.”

She's spent years dedicated to studying forms from around the world, ranging from Hula to Egyptian Sword dancing.

One that she feels very passionate about is Flamenco, a style created by Spanish Romani.

“Flamenco in particular caught my attention because it is a very fiery, passionate dance form,” she explained. “I would say that aligns with who I am.”

Flamenco encapsulates both music and dance with the combination of four elements, Cante (voice), Baile (dance), Toque (guitar), and Jaleo which roughly translated means ‘hell raising’ and involves the handclapping and foot stomping commonly found in the technique.

“Dance has always been my greatest passion in life, although I have many passions,” she mused. “There’s something about the artistic movement of the body that just enthralls me.”

Marangoni will be teaching the fiery passionate dance every Tuesday from Jan. 17 - Feb. 21 at The Rotary Centre for the Arts from 7-8:30PM.