Instructor Bios

LEXI ALLEN

Co-Founder of Flamenco Tulsa, Reflejos Flamencos, Choreographer & Instructor

Lexi has grown up with flamenco music and began her formal dance training at age four. At the age of seven, she began performing flamenco with her father, guitarist Johnny Beard.

Lexi was chosen by internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer, Maria Benitez to be a soloist at many of her annual flamenco presentations. In addition to flamenco, her dance studies include ballet, Spanish classical, and modern. Starting at the age of four she began studying ballet at the Tulsa School of Ballet with Moscelyne Larkin and Anne Kozlowski. She began formal flamenco dance training at age five. Lexi has studied and performed flamenco with some of Spain’s leading flamenco artists. Her flamenco instructors include Inmaculada Ortega, Rafaela Carrasco, Carmela Greco, Mario Maya, Antonio Granjero, Estefania Ramirez, Lydia Torea, and Angel Muñoz among others.

After returning from Sevilla, Lexi was invited to teach flamenco dance with the Maria Benitez Institute for Spanish Arts in Santa Fe, NM for the 2005 Flamenco Workshop. Lexi has served as guest choreographer and professor of dance at Oral Roberts University and currently performs flamenco with Reflejos Flamencos and teaches flamenco dance with FlamencoTULSA, the organization she co-founded with her husband, Dylan Allen. She loves sharing flamenco dance and music with her Tulsa community and beyond!

LIZ WHITE

Flamenco Tulsa Instructor

Liz fell in love with dancing at the age of three and her passion for the art form has grown and evolved ever since. She studied ballet as a child with Marjorie Kovich with the Norman Ballet company, modern with Maggie Mitchell at Modern Dance Arts, and as a high school student, studied with the University of Oklahoma Modern Dance department under Ko Yukihiro and was in the University of Oklahoma Modern Dance Company. Liz auditioned and was accepted to the Oklahoma Arts Institute for modern dance from the ages of 15-18 and now serves on the Oklahoma Arts Institute's Foundation Board.

Even though Liz followed a career in elementary education, her pursuit of dance continued. While teaching in San Antonio, Liz was introduced to traditional forms of Mexican and Spanish dancing. She fell in love with the rhythms, music, and movements of Flamenco while studying under the artistic direction of Rosemary Tatum at the San Antonio Dance Academy.

Upon her return to Oklahoma, she thought she would have to give up her studies of Flamenco. Then Liz discovered Lexi Allen and her Flamenco Tulsa dance community. Under Lexi's direction, Liz gained a deeper intellectual understanding and appreciation of the unspoken dynamics between singer, musician and dancer. Her love of Flamenco has continued to grow under Lexi's instruction and she is excited to share her knowledge of Flamenco Fundamentals in hopes of igniting other's interest in this beautiful art form.

AMANDA JANUARY

Flamenco Tulsa Instructor

From the age of four, Amanda’s life has been a dynamic tapestry of dance. Her early foray into creative movement blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of diverse dance forms. Her repertoire is a vibrant mosaic, encompassing modern dance, flamenco, classical ballet, classical East-Indian dance, and an array of folk dances from India, along with jazz and tap and many more.

She holds a BFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, a testament to her dedication and skill.

Her professional journey is marked by a decade-long commitment to City In Motion Dance Theater (2007-2017), where she not only performed as a soloist and featured dancer but also contributed as a leader and creator. Her influence extended to leading company classes and enriching the company’s legacy through her original choreographies.

Amanda’s passion for flamenco has been nurtured since 2007 under the tutelage of esteemed artists such as Miel Castaña, Tamara Carson, and Ursula Lopez. Her dedication to mastering the art is further exemplified by her participation in master classes with renowned flamenco maestros.

MARYAM GAUDET

Flamenco Tulsa Instructor

Maryam began her dance journey over twenty years ago under Juanita Franco at her Academia de Baile Español in San Diego. She immersed herself in the art form, honing her skills and cultivating a deep appreciation for dance and culture. Now, as a parent of three, she is eager to pass on the joy of dance to the next generation. She invites children to join us as we embark on a journey of movement, expression, and boundless creativity.

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