About Us
Viva Flamenco NJ was established by Antonia Messina, a visionary dancer dedicated to the fusion of Flamenco's rich traditions with the unique personal expression of each performer.
At the core of our ethos lies a profound reverence for Flamenco, a dance of the outcasts, with its origins in folk traditions and roots in resistance and liberation. This art form celebrates individuality and the classic Palos, principles we deeply honor.
Our approach pays tribute to these traditions while fostering the unique expression of each artist within our troupe.
By incorporating eclectic elements such as saxophone and flute, Viva Flamenco NJ pays homage to Flamenco's traditional roots while exploring the personal and collective uniqueness that defines our performances.
Antonia Messina
As soon I heard flamenco, when I was in my 20s, it grabbed me. The dissonance, the rhythms, the expressiveness of something deep and profound. When I met flamenco dancer Ester Moreno in Rome, Italy, I decided to study with her. Before too long, I was performing by her side, travelling and studying in Spain. After returning to the U.S., I continued flamenco as a dancer with the Ramon De los Reyes Dance Company in Boston while I went to law school. From there, the flamenco journey never ended. I eventually started my own company, began teaching classes and renewing my connection to the dance each time I get a chance to go back to Spain for continued lessons and inspiration. The journey’s been a remarkable one.
Ivan Max
I’ve been performing and teaching flamenco in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania tristate area for over 30 years. A regular with VivaFlamencoNJ, I also performs solo for weddings, parties and private events. I love the sound of flamenco and play everything from Gipsy Kings to classical, pop, Bach and Brazilian. I live and teach classes in West Orange, NJ and absolutely love teaching children.
Marc Ferranti
I’ve been playing sax, flute and percussion with VivaFlamencoNJ since the company formed in the 2010’s. I started playing rock, jazz and blues as a kid but jumped on the flamenco bandwagon after marrying my wife, Antonia (Toni) Messina. I love the rhythmic punctuations of a horn, and percussive heartbeats of every song. I also have my own band Bossa5, playing traditional bossa, samba and straight-ahead jazz. Toni helps me along with this as singer and keyboard player.
Guest Artists
VivaFlamenco works with a number of guest artists including: Aurora Reyes, Gisele Assi, Arturo Martinez, Teresa Rodriguez, Yuka Koyama, Ricardo Santiago and others.
