Eva Lucena (Executive and Artistic Director, Principal Dancer, Choreographer) Ms. Lucena began performing at the age of three.  She spent her youth between Wales (United Kingdom) and in Granada (Spain), where she lived among the caves of Sacromonte and the gypsy quarters of Albaicin.  Her training in New York, Great Britain and Spain came from Mariano Parra, Victorio, and Manolo Rivera, among others. However, she gained most of her knowledge and choreographic creativeness from her mentor, María Alba, some of whose shawl and fan work she brings to the stage today.  Another great influence was Sebastian Castro, who taught Antonio Gades and Cristina Hoyos, whose own blend of the Classical and Flamenco can be seen in Carlos Saura's renowned film Carmen. Prior to co-founding Alborada with María Alba, Ms. Lucena toured in Spain as a principal dancer in the Sebastian Castro Dance Company, toured with María Alba in the United States and also performed many solo concerts in many cities throughout the US and in Spain.  She was showcased with Sammy Davis Jr. and Engelbert Humperdink in London.  Ms. Lucena starred in the Talk of the Town in London, and was also featured on BBC TV, Granada TV, and in films such as Tommy the Toreador starring Tommy Steele.  For three years she starred in a Flamenco show at Villa Romana, Rome and performed in several films there. Ms. Lucena has made several appearances on NJN TV's Images / Imagenes, most recently in Flamenco: The Essence of Dance and Drama in 2005.  She has also served as a judge and guest artist at NJPAC Hispanic Youth Showcase.  She continues to work on new choreographies and ballets, and trains and choreographs for Alborada's featured and company dancers.  Ms. Lucena shares her vast expertise and love for Spanish Dance by teaching student classes in New York City, and in several locations in New Jersey, including Edison, Middletown and Silver Lake; several of her students now form a “junior” dance group that enjoys performing opportunities for charitable organizations and in outreach programs.   She conducts master classes and lecture-demonstrations throughout the Tri-State area.
	'Chavela' Elizabeth Flournoy (Assistant Director, Principal Dancer, Choreographer, Singer) Chavela has been with Alborada since 1995 as a dancer, singer and choreographer, and is also the official dressmaker for Alborada.  Chavela studied extensively in New York with María Alba (whose choreography she was designated to continue teaching), under Ana María López for 2 years in Spain (famed teacher to many of Jerez's best gypsy dancers), and continues to study with Carmen de Torres and Helena Pachon in Sevilla.  Prior to joining Alborada, she performed with many New York dance companies, including Los Danzantes, partnering with Ramón de Vigil, Dondines Dancers on a national tour, Manolo y Sus Gitanas, Los Flamencos, Andrea del Conte Danza España through the Young Audiences program, and in the New York Renaissance Festival, as well as in countless clubs in New York City.  Chavela has staged and performed several concerts at New York's famed LaMaMa Experimental Theater, and has been invited as a judge and guest artist at NJPAC's Hispanic Youth Showcase.  Chosen by Franco Zeffirelli, she performed as a gypsy dancer in Carmen at the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1996 - 2001.  Besides being an accomplished dancer, Chavela is well-known in the New York dance community as a costume designer and dressmaker.  She teaches at Fazil's in New York and for Danza España through Young Audiences.  In her role as Assistant Director, Chavela teaches company choreography classes for Alborada's featured and company dancers.
Lisa Botalico (Principal Dancer and Singer) Lisa is a well-known Flamenco and Spanish Classical dancer and singer who toured the U.S. with her own company, La Compañía Folklorica Latina, for 15 years prior to joining Alborada.  She was Executive Director and Principal Dancer with Ballet de Puerto Rico.  With the Theatre Opera Music Institute, she produced many critically acclaimed performances including Flamenco Moro and Zorongo Flamenco.  In addition, she has shared the stage with María Alba, José Molina, Manolo Rivera, Orlando Romero, and Victorio.   Lisa teaches at the Arts Council of Princeton and the Princeton Dance and Theatre Studio.
	Carmen Salao (Resident Guest Artist) Joining Alborada recently, Carmen is a dynamic gypsy singer and dancer from Sevilla who specializes in the art of castanet-playing besides having incredibly fast footwork.  She and her brother toured with José Greco for over 10 years under the name Los Salaos, and she acted with him in the film Ship of Fools.  She is well-known for her distinctive alegrias and her mastery with the bata de cola (long-trained skirt)
Carlos Revollar (Music Director and Principal Guitarist) Carlos has been with Alborada for over eight years.  Born and raised in New York City, Carlos studied classical and Flamenco guitar with Dennis Koster, Arturo Martinez, Luis Heredia, 'Canito' Suarez, and Manuel Perez.  Carlos performs regularly with the major Spanish Dance companies and Flamenco singers in the New York-New Jersey area, as well as with his own Fiesta Flamenca.  In addition, he has worked in several theatrical productions such as Federico García Lorca's Blood Wedding by the Two River Theatre Company in Manasquan, NJ, Shigeko Suga's Satoba Komachi at the LaMaMa Theater in New York, and the Off-Broadway Theatre East.  His TV and radio appearances include the Emeril Live cooking show on Food Network, Univision's Channel 41 Noticiero Al Despertar, and Radio WADO's Sin Sensura with Miguel Perez.  Carlos and Gisele can be seen in weekly engagements at several Spanish restaurants in the Tri-State region, including Flor de Sol in NY and Tapas de España in North Bergen, NJ.  Carlos is a recipinet of an award for musical Compositions granted by the American Music Center.
	Peter Suarez (Principal Dancer) A seasoned Flamenco and classical dancer, Peter is one of the principal dancers at the New York Metropolitan Opera in Carmen and La Traviata.  He has worked with the Gypsy Kings in their Radio City Music Hall concert as a solo dancer.  Peter has choreographed and performed for such companies as Cincinnati Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Connecticut Opera, Ballet Arkansas, Ballet Español, and Ballet de Puerto Rico.  He tours regularly to upstate New York and Miami.
Gisele Assi Revollar (Principal Dancer, Choreographer and Singer) Gisele was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and began studying dance in 1976.  With a background in modern dance and ballet, she trained in Flamenco in 1987, first in Brazil, then in Spain with Ciro, María Magdalena, Carmen Greco, Paco Romero, Christian Galia, and Maruja Palacios.  Before joining Alborada in 1999, Gisele performed with Los Tarantos Company de Baile y Arte Flamenco and the Laurito de Castro Spanish Dance Company for several years, and taught in Sao Paulo.  She was the lead dancer in Two River Theatre Company's production of Federico García Lorca's Blood Wedding in 1999, and continues to work with several local Spanish dance companies.  Gisele is married to Alborada Music Director Carlos Revollar; they perform and teach together in various venues.  They both appeared on Channel 5 and 41 last year.  Gisele teaches at Fazil's Dance Studio and at Ballet Hispanico in New York City.