Alicia Morena di - Palma

From an early age, Alicia Morena studied in Hawaiian dance and classical ballet academies, and with international folkdance professionals in the Honolulu public schools. In the art of Flamenco and Spanish dance, she has studied at Estudio Calderón and Amor de Dios academies in Madrid, and trained with notable teachers Tossa Niki, Teo Morca, Lupe del Rio, Rosa Montoya, Rafael de Córdoba, La Tati, Maria Magdalena, and Paco Romero. She is the protégé of Rosa Durán of Jerez and Madrid, a leading artist in the Jondo-Gypsy Flamenco lineage, who received awards for her dancing from heads of state in Spain, France, Italy, and the United States.

Alicia’s signature programs feature traditional Flamenco choreographies and music that interface with the singing and reciting of García-Lorca poetry (Deep Song¡ Ay Córdoba!, Concierto Homenaje-a Lorca). Her choreographies are staged with ethnic and contemporary sculpture, original paintings, creative costuming, and photographic projections. She has performed, choreographed, and taught in California, Mexico, Hawaii, and Spain with her artistic partner, Roberto Andrés.  In 2001, Alicia performed and taught master classes at the Annual Nrityagram Dance Festival near Bangalore, South India.

Alicia is the author and illustrator of Concierto Homenaje-a Lorca (interarts dance production), Tú y Yo (multicultural dance drama), and Tom-Boy, Aloha Girl, (a dance story for children), and Pilar’s Magic Castanets (a dance drama set in Sevilla). 

Alicia has been the recipient of grants from the Cultural Council of Monterey County (CCMC), the David and Lucile Packard Arts Initiative for the Community Foundation of Monterey County, the Monterey Cultural Arts Commission, and the Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services (M.P.V.S.) on behalf of the Aditi Cultural and Charitable Foundation that she founded in 1999.  She authored the Spanish Flamenco Dance Reference Guide, 1st Edition in 1999, updating and expanding the material for a 2nd Edition in 2002.