Compañía Pepa Molina

Amari Leiva-Urzua is an 18-year-old emerging Flamenco artist from Western Sydney. She began her professional dance training at age nine under the mentorship of acclaimed choreographer Pepa Molina, while also studying Classical Ballet and Contemporary dance at Sonja Dene. Since 2017, Amari has performed at numerous festivals and events, including the Sabores Spanish Festival (2018–2019), The Spanish Film Festival (2017), The Spot Festival (2018–2019), Festival of Cultures (2019), and theatre productions such as Toma k Toma (2018) and A Compás (2019).

She made her professional debut in 2019 at La Guarida del Ángel in Jerez, Spain, and became the first Australian to win First Prize and a scholarship in the Junior section of the Concurso Internacional de Baile Flamenco Puro Festival de Jerez (2020). Her Flamenco studies in Spain included training with masters such as La Lupi, Chiqui de Jerez, Alfonso Losa, La Truco, Javier Latorre, and Paloma Gomez, enriching her technical and stylistic foundation.

Amari has consistently participated in FORM projects’ Sharp Short Dance, receiving multiple awards: Most Outstanding Female Dancer (2019, 2021) and Most Innovative Choreography (2020) for her dance film Al Mal Tiempo, as well as recognition for Tempus (2021) and Trasano (2022). She was also a finalist and award winner in the III Concurso Internacional de Jóvenes Talentos EFA (2022), connecting her with the international Flamenco community.

As a member of Compañía Pepa Molina’s Flamenco Ensemble Las Flamenkas, she has performed in Out of Iso Again (2021–2022), with the ensemble at venues including Monkey Baa Theatre, Marrickville Hellenic Arts Theatre, and Goulburn Performing Arts Theatre. More recently, she participated in FlamencoBITS (2024) and A Taste of Spain and All In for Sydney Festival 2025.

Eliza graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (2015), received a Certificate IV in Dance at Sydney Dance Company (PPY2016) and studied with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in the MASA Program (2017).

In 2019, she performed in Opera Australia’s production of Graeme Murphy’s Turandot at the Sydney Opera House and later, at the Melbourne Arts Centre, where she was promoted to the Dance Captain role. Her first full-length work, Old Life/ Dead Life, was performed at the Old 505 Theatre in the Freshworks program and revived at the Io Myers Theatre in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Astrobiology.

In 2020, she collaborated with Australian fashion designer Lee Mathews on the Lee Mathews Resort 2021 campaign, directing movement for promotional films featuring the dancers from her collective, Sydney Experimental Arts Ensemble. Eliza performed in Catapult Dance Company’s Mixed Bill in Kristina Chan's Shimmering Towards Silence at The Civic Theatre (Newcastle) and ARA Darling Quarter Theatre.

In 2022, premieres “Bat Lake” as part of Dance Bites at Riverside Lennox Theatre, supported by Form Dance Projects, Create NSW & March Dance bursary. Bat Lake residencies: March Dance, Dirty Feet's Out of the Studio program and Ausdance NSW's DAIR residency program.

Choreographer selected for Sydney dance company’s “New Breed” at Carriageworks 2023.

Most recently, she has formed part of “FlamencoBITS” 2024 & “A Taste of Spain” & “All in” as part of Sydney Festival 2025.

Anna Rocias Balboa, born in Tarragona, Spain in July 1990, is a distinguished Catalan dancer specialising in Spanish and Flamenco dance. She began her training at the Centre Escenic de Tarragona School at age 8 and furthered her studies at the Juan Polvillo Studio in Seville at 16. At 18, she moved to Madrid to study at the Madrid School of Marta de la Vega, completing her formal training in 2014.

Anna began her professional career while still studying, working as a listener for Antonio Marquez and, in 2012, joining the prestigious Carlos Vilan Company, touring internationally with the Carmen Opera, including performances in Masada, Israel. Inspired to create her own artistic path, she founded Cuatro Raices in 2013, serving as dancer, choreographer, and artistic director. Under her leadership, the company toured Spain and earned her several dance awards. During this time, she received a scholarship from the Miguel Angel Berna Company, expanding her skills at the School of Music and Dance of Zaragoza.

From 2014 to 2016, Anna danced with the Madrid Flamenco Ballet Company, performing Carmen across 15 cities in China, as well as Egypt, France, Madrid, and Barcelona. She later joined the New Scala Production Company in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (2016–2018) and the Gran Canaria Estudio Flamenco Company, performing in productions such as Carmen under the Villamarta Theatre direction.

Anna relocated to Australia in 2019, collaborating with multi-award-nominated choreographer Marina Tamayo. In 2021, she became the lead female dancer at Flamenco House Brisbane, before returning to Sydney in 2022 to train under internationally acclaimed Pepa Molina, joining her ensemble Las Flamenkas. Most recently, she performed with FlamencoBITS 2024, continuing to build her reputation as a rising Flamenco artist in Australia.

Lily started dancing Flamenco in 2010 at the age of three with Jesica Varela, “Sangre Gitana”, until 2014. From 2015 until 2019, Lily studied with Tamara De Bruno & performed with Erika Quintana, a professional dancer from Spain, during her short stay in Australia. Lily has performed fusion of Aboriginal and Flamenco dance with Henrieta Baird, who is of Aboriginal descent & at Multicultural Festivals such as: Darling Harbour “Fiesta” Festival, Uruguayan Independence Day Festival & The Royal Easter Show. In 2020, Lily joined Pepa Molina Flamenco Dance Academy, where she is mentored. In 2021, Lily went on to form part of Flamenco Ensemble “La Flamenkas”, performing at Festivals & corporate events & in CPM’s 2021 production ‘Las Flamenkas with Live music’ at GPAC, ARA DQ Theatre, and Hellenic Arts Theatre. Most recently, she has formed part of “FlamencoBITS” 2024 & “A Taste of Spain” as part of Sydney Festival 2025.

Emilia started her Flamenco journey in 2014 at the age of 7 at Los Carmonas until 2019. She danced at Tapas restaurant, community festivals, performed at the Royal Easter show and danced at the Portuguese festival. In 2019, she participated in workshops with Pepa Molina, and in 2019, she had the opportunity to watch Pepa Molina in concert and rediscovered her passion for Flamenco dance, joining Pepa’s academy in 2020. In 2022, Emilia joined Las Flamenkas after two years of upskilling & mentoring & has performed at numerous Festivals & events with the ensemble. Most recently, she has formed part of “FlamencoBITS” 2024 & “A Taste of Spain” & “All in” as part of Sydney Festival 2025.

Sophia began dancing flamenco at 3 years of age and immediately fell in love with it. She studied at Los Carmonas for 9 years, and in 2022, she began mentorship at Pepa Molina’s Dance Academy. She forms part of Flamenco Ensemble Las Flamenkas and has debuted in the company’s 2024 production “FlamencoBits” as well as performing at numerous Festivals & events. Most recently performing in “A Taste of Spain” as part of Sydney Festival 2025.

Antonieta Foldvary, Venezuelan-born dancer, has performed internationally across ballet, flamenco, and cross-cultural works. Trained in Venezuela, Cuba, and Spain with masters such as Carmen Ledesma and Carlos Vilan, as well as Pepa Molina. She has performed in Don Quixote with Opera Australia at Sydney Opera House. Since 2017, Antonieta has performed with Compañía Pepa Molina’s Flamenco Ensemble Las FlamenKas, in productions such as “Las Flamenkas with Live Music” & “A Taste of Spain” in Sydney Festival as well as CPM programs.

Having trained in ballet from a young age, Farah began studying flamenco at 17. Since 2021, she has performed with Compañía Pepa Molina’s Las Flamenkas across a range of festivals & events, as well as in CPM’s 2021 production “Las Flamenkas with Live Music” at the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre.