Anastassiia Alexander is a Russian-born, Mexican flamenco dancer residing in Calgary, Canada. Trained in Madrid, Spain, her artistic practice is deeply rooted in tradition, yet also explores the boundaries and the intersection of flamenco with contemporary dance forms. Anastassiia’s creative process is based on free and structured improvisations, while building spatial and rhythmic patterns in response to the music or other visual or audio inputs. Her intensive flamenco training includes four intensive sessions at the famous Amor de Dios Centro Flamenco y Danza Española in Madrid over a period of two years, with flamenco legends La Tati and Merche Esmeralda and with top modern innovators Manuel & Antonio Reyes and Carmen La Talegona, to name a few.

In 2016, driven by the desire to create greater connection between music and dance, Anastassiia Alexander and violinist Jonathan Lewis formed a contemporary flamenco ensemble, 12 Musas. A versatile dancer, she has performed in productions varying from opera to traditional flamenco tablaos in Calgary, including performances in Mexico City at Flamenco Tablao with the contemporary flamenco company INTERflamenca under the direction of Ricardo Rubio. Anastassiia was also a guest dancer for the production of La Traviata by Calgary Concert Opera, as well as a lead dancer and choreographer for the production Carmen at the Badlands by Mercury Opera (Edmonton). Other highlights include performances with the Calgary International Flamenco Festival, Flamenco Nights with Salero Calo, guest artist with Notas de 4 and Fiona Malena Flamenco Ensemble. In 2015, Anastassiia was a featured artist in a video by world musician Jeff Kavanda for his single Bossa Kava.

More recent projects in the past year have included collaborating with soprano Linda Faye Miller for Tierra de Luz, a concert combining classical Spanish music fused with flamenco music and dance. She also participated in a spoken word concert Words that move me, where dancers interpreted poetry. Her recent co-production with dancer Fiona Malena, Tarantella, was presented first in Calgary and then at the Victoria Flamenco Festival in July 2019. Anastassiia’s newest creation De(Re)-construct: Dance (Re)-Born was presented at the Fluid Fest in October 2019 in Calgary. Anastassiia is also the winner of Flamenco Rosario’s 2019 Creative Residency.

Anastassiia is recognized as a passionate teacher, cultivating appreciation for the flamenco art form in her students. She started teaching in 2011 and frequently teaches as an instructor in Calgary. In July 2018, Anastassiia was also invited to teach as a guest instructor for the School of Alberta Ballet. Anastassiia continues opening up new directions for flamenco in Calgary and contributes to building a strong local community of flamenco aficionados.