Karen Stelling

Flamenco Instructor

Karen Stelling began her Spanish Dance training in 1975 and since then has performed in many venues around Chicago, the Midwest and beyond. She was the First Dancer of the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Company from its inception in 1976 through 1986, performing various Spanish Dance styles including Flamenco, neo-classical and many of the regional dances of Spain.

Highlighted performances included the chance to dance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, at the Theater of the Riverside Church in New York City, for migrant workers in the fields of Southern Illinois and in many lecture-demonstration and concerts for students in Chicago and suburban area schools. After departing the company, she continued to perform at a variety of concert halls, festivals and special events as a soloist/guest artist, and as a founding member of the Flamenco trio, Los Tres. Karen was a guest artist and choreographer in 1999 and again in 2002 with the Ole Ole Puppet and Dance Theater directed by Wendy Clinard.

Karen has taught private and group Flamenco classes for over 25 years throughout the Midwest including work for Hedwig Dance, the Evanston Park District, Danza Viva in Oak Park, Harper College Dance Program, the Flamenco Arts Center, and most recently here at SPACE. Karen received her dance training from many masters of Spanish Dance and Flamenco including, Nana Lorca, Maria Alba, La Tati, Omayra Amaya, Edo Sie, Victorio Korjhan, Ciro, Belen Maya, Oscar Valero and Edwin Aparicio. In 2007, Most recently, Karen was guest choreographer for the Halcyon Theatre Company of Chicago’s production of Garcia Lorca’s play, Yerma.