Caló Gitano

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Marianela “Malita” Belloso is a Venezuelan flamenco dancer, instructor and choreographer. She began her studies at the age of six, and by the time she was nine she was performing on television and in theatrical flamenco productions with Siudy Quintero Dance Academy in Venezuela. 

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She loves sharing the art of flamenco with others teaching and training dancers from beginners through professionals at her Academy in Kirkwood. She formed the flamenco performance company Caló Gitano in 2000. Since then Caló has grown to become the largest flamenco academy in Georgia. To commemorate the company’s ten year anniversary in 2010, she opened Caló Dance Studio. She has further expanded the studio’s offerings by including a flamenco youth program, salsa lessons as well as adding tap and ballet youth classes to the curriculum.

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She values the importance of continuing education and has had the honor of studying with renowned professional flamenco dancers like Daniela Tugues and Joaquin ,Encinias, in the U.S. Additionally, she travels to Spain every year to study with flamenco masters like Miguel Vargas, Lydia Cabello, Beatriz Morales, and Carmen Ledesma, amongst others. Her skills as a dancer combined with her knowledge of flamenco and its cultural roots, along with her experience as a professional educator brings a mixture of fun, authenticity, passion, and dedication to her flamenco classes and extends to her performances.

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She has a strong, energetic style that is contemporary and fun yet firmly planted in the traditions of flamenco puro with traces of her Venezuelan roots. Her ability to mesmerize audiences comes, not only from her inherent duende, but also from her acquired knowledge of flamenco and her ability as an educator to convey that knowledge and the beauty of the dance to others. She has become well known for her energetic personality and her passionate, authentic, and skillful performances that transport audiences straight into the cultural heart of Spain.

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She is the producer and artistic director of Caló Theatre Company. The company is comprised of advanced flamenco dancers from Caló Dance Studio and partnerships formed with other artists and musicians from the Metro Atlanta area and beyond. This group is dedicated to creating unique theatrical productions filled with original flamenco content presented in theaters, private events, corporate events and festivals throughout Georgia.

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Through her tireless efforts to expose as many people as possible to the art of flamenco she curates a performance series called Entre Amigos. This intimate performance experience features a wide range of performers ranging from international guests, local flamenco artists, Caló Theatre Company and advanced students of Caló Gitano. 

Malita is also a certified school teacher with a Master’s Degree in Spanish Culture and History. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Salamanca, Spain, in 2005. While there she continued to pursue her studies of flamenco and absorbed it’s cultural roots and context. She is dedicated to bringing authenticity, innovation and respect to this vibrant cultural art form. She does this through the classes she teaches at Caló Gitano Studio, her performing ensemble Caló Theatre Company, her bi-annual student showcases and Entre Amigos performance series.

 

Awards and Distinctions

2017 featured in VoyageATL

2018 named Personaje Destacado del año, Culture and Arts by El Mundo Hispánico 2019 featured in Atlanta’s Q Magazine.

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