← Back

Meet the winner of the 2026 Creative Residency: Maria Avila

Every year, Flamenco Rosario invites an international artist to share their unique style and interpretation of Flamenco. Join a workshop led by 2026 Artist in Residence, Irene Morales!

Under the mentorship of this year's Artist in Residence, Irene Morales, Maria will explore a creative idea over the course of one week.

Maria Avila has been involved in the art of flamenco for over two decades. She is a choreographer, dancer, singer and teacher. Her achievements include being the recipient of the 2021 Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award, completing an MFA in dance at York University, and receiving professional development grants to study flamenco in Madrid and Sevilla in Spain.

The Mentor had this to say about the project:

"Maria, I was compelled by your proposal. The idea of investigating the emotional connection in the creation of a work is very interesting. I look forward to sharing some insights that may help you!" 

Congratulations to the runner-up, Veronica Stewart

Veronica Stewart is a Vancouver-based flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator whose work explores the intersection of performance, community, and arts education. She began dancing at a young age, training across multiple forms including Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Clásico Español and Hip Hop, before discovering flamenco. Her studies with Rosario Ancer—who remains an important mentor and teacher—sparked a lasting connection to flamenco as both a cultural practice and a deeply expressive art form.