Flamenco is a profound, powerful, and striking art form. We warmly invite you to discover and deepen your knowledge of it through our flamenco dance classes, which cater to all ages.
–
Since 2008, La Otra Orilla has been offering flamenco dance classes in Montreal at its studio, La Lola.
Under the direction of Myriam Allard, experienced and passionate teachers will guide you in your learning with rigour and attention, catering to all levels, from beginners to professional dancers.
Myriam Allard also teaches GYROKINESIS and GYROTONIC at La Lola studio.
To find out more about this holistic movement method, click here.
Over the years, Myriam Allard has become a national reference in her field. As a choreographer, dancer, teacher, artistic director, mentor, collaborator, and mother of two, she serves as the co-director of La Otra Orilla and oversees activities at Studio La Lola, her company’s home base. With nearly 30 years of active engagement in the dance world, Myriam’s expertise and reputation are unparalleled.
Born in Quebec City to a Franco-Manitoban father and a Greek-British mother, Myriam Allard grew up in a household where music, dance, and openness to others were integral to everyday life. Her introduction to flamenco was transformative: in 1996, she left her native land for Spain, immersing herself in training under the tutelage of renowned masters for eight years. She commenced her professional journey on the traditional tablaos stages of Spain before embarking on diverse collaborations in Spain, France, the United States, and Japan, including joining Israel Galvan’s esteemed company.
Drawing upon her rich experiences abroad, she returned to Montreal in 2006, where she, alongside Hedi Graja, co-founded La Otra Orilla – “the other shore” – a platform for free expression, open to the world. Together, they craft poetic, interdisciplinary works transcending conventional boundaries, seamlessly blending dance, song, music, and theatre. Their creations captivate audiences across Quebec and Canada, as well as in the United States, Scotland, and Colombia, resonating deeply wherever they journey.
For Myriam Allard, the body holds infinite wisdom; it is plural, and it dances. Each gesture embodies a quest for transcendence, every interplay of tension seeks connection with the other. Leveraging her profound mastery of flamenco’s codes, her dance liberates itself from canonical aesthetic constraints, evolving a language where instinct melds with sensitivity and refinement, revealing latent strength and restrained tension in the depths of expression.
Timmy began training in flamenco and classical Spanish dance in 2011 at community centers in México City, then in 2013 with Rosa Elena Flores and Jorge Antonio Noriega, founders of the Tauro Flamenco school. In 2015, he joined the company of the same name for the show Carmen, where he interprets the role of the bullfighter Escamillo, and teaches on an occasional basis at this México school.
In 2017, Timmy moved to Jalisco where he joined the national dance school and company Las Cabales. He then continued training with Hilda Prats, Triana Maciel Prats and Nino de los Reyes. Timmy then took on the role of substitute at this school.
Between 2013 and 2022, alongside his work as a performer and teacher, Timmy continued his apprenticeships with national teachers such as Sharon Olvera and Yunnue Rojas, and Spanish teachers such as La Lupi, Andrés Peña, Pilar Ogalla, La Truco, Antonio “El Choro” Molina, Pedro Córdoba, José Maldonado, La Popi, Elena Ollero and Vanessa Montero, and trains in flamenco accessories such as castanets, the manton and the bata de cola.
Based in Montreal since 2022, Timmy continues his training with Myriam Allard and Rocío Vadillo, as well as with his Las Cabales masters, from a distance. Timmy Gonzales Rodriguez is an excellent teacher with a passion for flamenco, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the teaching team at Studio La Lola!
Born in Spain (La Coruña, Galicia) to a Spanish father and French mother, Sandra grew up between Spain, the Ivory Coast and France. Despite her many stays abroad, she has kept a close link with Spanish culture and language, first through contact with her family, and then through her studies of classical Spanish literature. In 2007, she decided to take up dance again and was delighted to discover flamenco in Paris. She began her apprenticeship with Eva Luna, then trained with Manolo Punto and José Maya for 5 years. She also took part in numerous workshops organized in Paris (Fran Espinosa, Manuel Reyes, Carmen Ledesma).
Arriving in Montreal in 2012, she continued her training at the Delphine Mantha Flamenco Academy, then with Rosanne Dion (bata de cola) and Myriam Allard in 2020. Sandra also trains in flamenco workshops and courses with renowned dancers such as Concha Jareño, Chloé Brûlé, Marién Luévano and Juan Carlos Lérida.
In 2019, she is a guest dancer with the tablao featuring Julie Dumoulin, Kristin Molnar, Rocío Vadillo and Mathieu Langlois. In 2022, she occasionally replaces Aurélie Brunelle in her classes. The following year, she took part in her show Tu Mirá and began teaching at studio La Lola, directed by Myriam Allard.
Sandra is very active in the Montreal flamenco scene, notably as a volunteer and board member of the Montreal Flamenco Festival between 2016 and 2018.
