Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Flores.
Hi Oscar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Oscar Flores Dancer- Choreographer- Dance Teacher
Member of CID Unesco
Director of OF School, a school that offers International certification through CID Unesco
Artistic Director of ODM International Dance Festival
Director and Founder of the National Championship of Oriental Dance Spain
Oscar Flores was born in Comodoro Rivadavia, in the province of Chubut, in Patagonia, Argentina
In 1995, he began his journey in the performing arts as part of a youth theater company at his school. After winning a theater competition, he had the opportunity to be taught by great
teachers such as Mr. Alfredo Sahadi, who sent him to be part of a professional theater company.
In 1996 he directed the theater company “Iniciativa” of the Colegio Salesiano dean Funes, joined with the Colegio María Auxiliadora to represent his first musical. He recreated one of Pepe Cibrian’s great works, “Dracula the musical”
In 1997, he composed and directed the musical “El Pequeño Mundo de las Cosas del Querer”
In 1998, with at least 100 actors and dancers on stage, he wrote and directed, “Historia
de un Amor Eterno”
In 1999, the return of “El Pequeño Mundo de las Cosas del Querer”
At the same time, at this time he was venturing into musical theater, began to dance and train, to take flamenco classes and join the Arab Community of Comodoro Rivadavia since 1996.
He also joined the youth group of the Federation of Foreign Communities, which brings together more than 20 foreign communities. This group recreates the art of dances and traditions of different countries. Thanks to this he had the opportunity to experience and learn different dances such as: Russian, Celtic, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek dances, among others.
Since 1999, Oscar began to direct the ACARA Dance Company (Argentine-Arab Cultural Association of his city).
In 2001, he founded his first dance school and created his first ballet ̈Al Nadym ̈ with whom he worked for three years, before moving to Buenos Aires to continue his artistic career. In 2003, after moving to Buenos Aires, he continued his studies at the school of Amir Thaleb and other teachers of other disciplines, while continuing his studies in Theater and Musical Comedy, with Pepe Cibrian.
Oscar worked in the Amir Thaleb Dance Company until 2005, where he began to work and form his new school in Buenos Aires.
In 2005, he opened his first studio in Buenos Aires, and in 2007 he opened a great school called Alkimiah, Fusion of Talents.
In 2010 he founded OF Studio and the dance company Alkimiah, with whom he worked until 2016, when Oscar moved to China to continue his international career and work at BDC (Bellydance China).
From 2006 to 2015 Oscar has worked in the most important festivals in the world, as a Dancer, Master Teacher and Judge of Dance competitions, performing and making special programs for television in:
Argentina,
Chile,
Brazil,
Paraguay,
Uruguay, Colombia,
Venezuela,
Mexico,USA,
Italy,
Austria,
Romania,
Russia,
Egypt,
France,
Germany,
Israel,
Turkia,
Greece, Spain,
China,
Korea.
Outside of the Arts, Oscar Flores has studied different tertiary and university courses. He is a Mechanical Technician, a Technician in Foreign Trade, and has studied a Diploma in Banking Management and Economics. He has also studied Coaching, Business Management, Marketing and Design.
He has worked for more than 10 years in the most important bank in Argentina, being one of the
best executives in private banking.
Career:
1995. Winner of the Youth Theater Competition.
1996. Director of the Iniciativa Theater Group. ̈Dracula The Musical ̈ 6 functions.
1997. Director of the Iniciativa Theater Group. He writes and directs ̈The Little World of Things of
Wanting ̈
1998. Director of the Iniciativa Theater Group. He writes and directs ̈Historia de un amor eterna ̈ Theater Show with dance
1999. Director of the Iniciativa Theater Group. Revival of ̈The Little World of Things of
Wanting ̈ Theater Show with dance
2001. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Writes and directs ̈ The Eternal Flame ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2002. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Writes and directs ̈The Garden of 1001 Nights ̈ Theatrical show with
dance
2002. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Fires of the East ̈
2003. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Fragrances of the East ̈
2003. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Prince of Cairo ̈
2004. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Al Nadym Show ̈
2004. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Passion of the East ̈
2004. Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Midnights of the East ̈
2005 Director of the Al Nadym Ballet. Directs ̈Mosaico Oriental ̈ Theatrical Show with dance
2006. Directs and writes ̈Hechizada ̈(Buenos Aires) Theatrical Show with dance
2007. Directs ̈Mosaico Oriental ̈ and performs a 3-month season on Calle Corrientes Bs.As.
2008. Directs ̈BellyDuets ̈ together with important dancers
2008. Writes and directs ̈Tempestad ̈ Theatrical Show with dance
2008. Directs ̈ Floresencial ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2008. Directs ̈Alkimiah Gala ̈
2009 Directs ̈Mosaico Oriental 2 ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2009 International Tour ̈Mosaico Oriental 2 ̈
2010 Writes and Directs ̈Floreciente Amor ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2010 Tour ̈ ̈ Fleus Du Orient ̈ ̈ (Italy. Character of Emperor Aureliano in the musical Zenobia)
2011 Tour ̈Zenobia ̈ (Italy, Musical Comedy)
2011 Writes and Directs ̈Idilio, un Fantasma un Amor ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2011 Gala OF Studio
2012 Writes and Directs ̈La Cancion Del Mar ̈ Theatrical show with dance
2012 Writes and Directs ̈Besos de Sangre ̈ Theatrical Show with dance
2012 ̈Mata Hari ̈ (Italy, Badim Character. Musical Comedy)
2013 Directs ̈ Mata Hari ̈ Version of the Italian musical in Argentina. Theatrical Show with Dance
2013 Writes and Directs ̈El Destino ̈ Theatrical Show with Dance
2014 ̈ El jardin de Federico II ̈ Musical Comedy in Italy
2014 Directs ̈ Gala 20 years of Oscar Flores’ career ̈
2015 ̈ Gilgamesh ̈ (Musical Comedy in Italy)
2015 Directs ̈Oscar Flores’ farewell gala from Argentina ̈
Since 2015 Oscar Flores has settled in China, where he works with Bellydance China, founds his dance company and for almost three years makes an incredible training tour through 28 cities in China, reaching more than 2000 students in that country. He works as a model for advertising brands and participates in reality shows of the national dance competition in that country.
In 2016, together with The One Festival in Japan, she founded ODT a new troupe of dancers in Japan with whom she has shared shows in important theaters in Japan, including in Spain.
In 2017, she began working with ODM (Oriental Dance Meeting in Spain), a renowned international festival, of which Oscar Flores is the Artistic Director.
In 2018, she settled in Barcelona, Spain, where she began directing a new troupe of professional dancers and directed the musical Aladdyn.
With Spain as her current base, she continues with her travel agenda for international dance festivals.
In 2020, she founded a new online school format, OF Online School, giving students from all over the world the opportunity to acquire knowledge, training and wonderful classes, with the collection of knowledge, anecdotes and techniques gathered after more than 20 years of experience in dance. This School also has the endorsement of CID Unesco, providing an international quality certification. Since 2020, in the wake of the global pandemic, Oscar has been concerned with creating online material for students around the world, creating tutorials, online shows, and free classes that are found on his YouTube channel and different social media platforms. He created an online show for 12 weeks called Bellydance Home Show, where he brought together 124 renowned dancers from around the world who danced from home to generate community, integration, and inspiration for the world.
2021 arrives with a world situation similar to that of 2020, which is why he has created a wonderful project to inspire and disseminate information, and give people the opportunity to see the diversity of styles and forms of oriental dance. This project is called Danzarte España, where together with 32 Spanish teachers and dancers, a full month of daily workshops and online shows are offered, to show, educate, and share dance with the world.
2022 She founded and directed the National Oriental Dance Championship in Spain, where she held selections in 7 provinces, giving dancers from all over the country the opportunity to join a large education and training network, with a national final in Madrid. This is the first time this has been achieved in Spanish Oriental dance with more than 170 participants. She continued her training on the virtual campus and touring festivals around the world.
2023 She continued directing the National Dance Championship, which has grown to more than 8 provinces. She directed the International ODM festival that will be held in Lloret de Mar, Spain. Together with her dance company Alkimiah, she is rehearsing the musical Simbad el Marino, directing the project and writing the music and lyrics with the musician Gaston Chaade. She maintains her international events agenda active throughout Europe, America and Asia. He is the choreographer of Sitges Gala Drag 2023 and choreographer of the Galas del Carnestoles and Queen Carnaval Sitges 2023. He is launching a new dance company, Alkimiah Portugal.
2024 resumes its world tour through 14 countries, organizes the 2024 edition of the Spanish National Oriental Dance Championship and prepares to begin the tour of its 30 years of dance from November 2024
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When you want to work with art it is never a smooth road, you must first face your own fears, find your own style, and once you find it defend it, because being an artist means being different, breaking molds and making people look at you. In the style of dance that I perform it is always a challenge, because people are not used to seeing men dancing oriental dance, it is always a challenge and sometimes it is not easy, but I am about to celebrate 30 years of my career around the world and I am very happy for each step and each challenge.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Yes, I am a dancer and oriental dance teacher. I am celebrating 30 years of artistic career. I have traveled the world showing my work and participating in great shows. I was born in the south of Argentina and after consolidating my career I had the opportunity to live in China for several years, working with my dance company. I have directed oriental dance companies in Argentina, Portugal, Spain, China and Japan. My style not only represents Middle Eastern dances, but I also perform fusions with modern music, tango, flamenco and other styles in which I trained at the beginning of my career and which I am still studying. I have created an online campus, where dancers from all over the world study oriental dance, with many class options, if you want to study this style you can contact me
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I had the opportunity to visit Orlando recently, and I fell in love with it. There are so many recreational opportunities and places that seem like fairy tales! I really liked these park areas and options for all tastes. I haven’t found anything I don’t like! I hope to visit them again soon and continue discovering more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oscarfloresonline.com
- Instagram: @oscarfloresofficial
- Facebook: @oscarfloresofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-flores-6372367a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OscarFloresofficial/videos
Image Credits
Fotografia Lucas del Hierro / loction Alhambra, Granada, Spain
