By Matt Fraser

We sat down with Jhoely Triana, a Vancouver-based flamenco dancer, for an interview just before her dance group Las Mujeronas's Nov. 1 performance. We talked about her history and its impacts on her art, what she wants to achieve through her choreography, and how people can understand the Palos that branch from flamenco.

This interview has been lightly edited for style and clarity.

Matt Fraser (interviewer): Being born in Colombia before moving to Canada and then moving to the Spanish city of Triana (your namesake), how did these experiences add to or change your art form?

Jhoely Triana: I was little, I was 5 years old when I came from Colombia, but that has always stayed with me. It's really the core of my being. That means that family is everything. And so the inspiration of "Mujeronas" - which means women, strong, fierce, powerful women - is because that is my family; my mother, my grandmother, my aunt, all the women in my family who mean something to me. Then moving to Canada has always been a change - we've lived in a few different cities, always moving, moving, moving, until finally we settled here in Vancouver. Finding a new community [took time] ... [finding] people who have similar interests [to me], and flamenco [was] one of [those interests]. Music, dancing, food, laughter, just that sense of community - that's been really important to find that connection. It doesn't have to be from Colombia, it can be from anywhere, just those shared values.

Later, I got the opportunity to live in Triana ... My last name is Triana, from Spain, but many generations back. Getting to be there for even a short little stint, I really enjoyed seeing the similarities between Spain and Latin America and seeing the differences not only with Colombia but also with Canada … The piece that I always get drawn to is the energy of family and the social atmosphere. The food, the enjoyment and festivities and having a community to really support and to be supported by.

Matt: You've done a bachelor's in Fine Arts, you've studied Ballet at Goh, and trained under Kassandra “La China” Lea and Oscar Nieto. When you teach or choreograph, what do you want to pass on to others?

Jhoely: I guess through all the different styles I've learned, the piece that is really dear to me and is connected to my core values is “How do we make dance fun?” How do we make it

enjoyable, make it easy, make it into the body directly? How can I start having folks move and feel their bodies and feel what it can be to have a glimpse inside their bodies from the first hour of movement. To feel inspired and feel Flamenco in their bodies and go "wow, this is neat, this is a different experience, this is a new way of moving. There is something I can relate to, and there are places in my body and soul that I can reach, and find enjoyment in this music."

Matt: Flamenco contains many Palos. What should a viewer understand about them? Do you have a favourite, and if so, why?

Jhoely: Palos are different branches of the flamenco tree, different song forms. Song forms (Palos) are emotions. That's a good way to think about it - there can be a Palo that's deep, and dark, and sorrowful, like Seguiriyas. A Palo that is more striking, sharp, hard, and energetic like Soleá (Soleares) por Bulerías. There are Palos like Tangos for Fiesta, and when you hear Fiesta, you know it means party, so a Palo that's playful and energetic. A Palo called Guajiras is soft, elegant, and graceful. It really is about what each person feels that they

connect to, and a dancer can connect to all the Palos in different ways. It's just what is your feeling that day or that week or that year - what is it that you want to explore from that

emotion and dive deeper into it to explore.

My favourite [Palos?] That's a really hard one to say! Tonight, I will be dancing Guajiras, and it's a Palo inspired by Cuban influences into flamenco, and I think about the warm sun, a beautiful walk in Havana and that soft elegance of being calm and relaxed.

Matt: Las Mujeronas brings together performers from across Latin America and is presented in both English and Spanish. Being so intercultural, what connections should the audience draw [from this performance?]

Jhoely: Some of the stories we are telling are in Spanish, with words and song lyrics in Spanish, but we also have some storytelling in English. It's the connection of coming from a different place and what emotions that bring. That can be sorrow, it could be excitement, it could be determination, it could be pride in all the accomplishments. So the viewers will be able to experience that [and] connect to those emotions, connect to stories that may be similar to their own, and experience strong, powerful, fierce women!

Learn more about Las Mujeronas here: https://www.jhoelytrianaflamenco.com/las-mujeronas