Paulina Chalita
With an extensive dance background in different disciplines including a solid base in ballet, Paulina's passion has always been Flamenco, from the age of 5.
Her lifetime of experience started in Las Cabales, Guadalajara, Mexico and then in Amor de Dios, Madrid, Spain, where she has learned from the best.
She founded Semilla Flamenca in 2015.
Besides her dance experience, she has a Bachelor's in Industrial Design, a profession with which she has worked in very different places like Japan, Finland, Italy, France, Mexico and the U.S. ...She is fluent in 4 languages, and understands many different cultural backgrounds.
She also taught Spanish in the Bellevue School District. During her Flamenco classes, she takes the opportunity to build with the students, little by little, a shared vocabulary in Spanish.
Rachel Sidles
As a native of Seattle, Rachel began her journey with dance at age 3.
Searching for a dance combining the precise and expressive movements of jazz as well as the foot percussion of tap, Rachel fell in love at first sight with flamenco when she was a teen. The connections of the dancer with the musicians, combined with the connection to onself that flamenco requires has been an unending source of her inspiration. Flamenco has given her an amazing community and a powerful medium to share her spirit.
Rachel has had the great honour of studying with all the great teachers of Seattle, she performs with Cuadro Azahares and continues to learn and teach with Semilla Flamenca and Northwest Flamenco.
Cristina Nogueira
Born in the Canary Islands, Spain, she spent most of her childhood in Andalusia where she began studying flamenco and ballet.
Later on she continued her dance studies in Madrid.
Flamenco to her, is the way to express herself, conveying feelings and all the emotions.
She shares this passion with her 9 year old daughter.
Cristina loves children and has a gift for teaching little ones. Locally, she has been a fantastic Spanish teacher in several elementary schools within the district.
She joins Semilla Flamenca being the lead teacher for the preK and Kinder groups as well as the beginner adults.
Cecilia Garcia
Originally from Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico, where she began her journey in Mexican Folk dance as a child.
In the state of Washington, she started teaching -Folklorico- in 2009. For 14 years, she was the director at the prestigious group Herencias Mexicanas in Everett.
She also danced for 2 years with Bailadores de Bronce in Burien, WA.
Most importantly, Cecilia is a phenomenal teacher who will be leading -Folklorico- at Semilla Flamenca and we are thrilled to have her join our studio.
