bio

Eliza has always been enamored of dance, initiating her studies in ballet at the age of three in her hometown of New Orleans. Her flamenco training began in New Mexico under María Benítez, Martin Santangelo and Soledad Barrio, and later in Mexico with Raul Salcedo and Marisol Moreno. In 2002 she moved to Spain to pursue more advanced studies at the prestigious Centro Flamenco de Estudios Escénicos Mario Maya in Granada where she trained under the legendary Mario Maya, Belén Maya and Alejandro Granados. The following year she journeyed to Seville to further her studies with Israel Galván, Pastora Galván and Yolanda Heredia. She has trained at the renowned flamenco academy Amor de Dios in Madrid with artists such as Alfonso Losa and Miguel Cañas and most recently has completed workshops with La Lupi, Antonio Canales, and Guadalupe Torres. Eliza has spent extensive time in Mexico City studying with Marien Luévano and Mercedes “La Winy” Amaya- niece of the legendary Carmen Amaya. While on these visits she has honed her craft at the local tablaos alongside artists such as Mercedes “La Winy” Amaya, Santiago Aguilar, Marien Luévano, Cachito Díaz and Mario Díaz, among others.

During the past decade Eliza has had the honor of working with some of the most prestigious flamenco companies in the US. In 2006 she was invited to join Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, directed by Carola Zertuche, performing locally and in the 2007 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Since 2008, Eliza has toured nationally and completed five summer seasons as a member of Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe Company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2012 she was a featured soloist for their 7-week summer season. She is entering her fifth season as a company member of New York City’s Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, which she joined in 2015, and has embarked on several national tours while performing annually at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) for their home season shows. In 2016, Eliza was invited to perform with Santa Fe’s EntreFlamenco Dance Co., directed by Antonio Granjero, for their summer and fall season shows. As a member of Flamenco Vivo, Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, EntreFlamenco, and Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe, Eliza has had the honor of sharing the stage with artists such as Gaspar Rodríguez, Mayte Maya, Kina Méndez, Jesule de Utrera, Coral de los Reyes, Angel Muñoz, Jose Maldonado, Guadalupe Torres and José Anillo to name a few. She has taught dance in Mexico, Spain and the US, including at Escuela Coros y Danza de Ronda (Spain), Santa Fe’s Institute for Spanish Arts and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Eliza splits her time off from touring between New Orleans and Spain, teaching workshops, performing at the local peñas and furthering her training in the art form.