User:Irenerimer

IRENE RIMER
IRENE RIMER is an International Flamenco Dancer and choreographer. Irene Rimer is the owner of Dance Essentials LLC in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Irene Rimer Dance Academy in Miami, Florida; Irene Rimer started dancing at the age of 6 after her father, an attorney, and also a "matador" (bull-fighter) with Cesar & Curro Giron, and Flamenco aficionado, took her to see the Ballet of Spain of Antonio Gades. From this moment on, Irene at such an early age was inspired, serious and determined to become a dancer.

Irene studied Ballet with Master Ballet dancer Nina Novak, world prima-ballerina. Simultaneously, she also studied Classic Spanish with Jose Serrano and became his first dancer. At the age of 13, Irene became the first soloist dancer of the Jose Serrano Classic Spanish ballet touring several countries with the company as first dancer. At the Center Theater in Buffalo, New York, a journalist wrote in the city's newspaper show review. "The most sensual dance is Gypsy Flamenco performed by Irene". She was also featured soloist dancer performing in Operas with soprano singers Victoria Vergara in "Carmen" and Catherine Malfitano in La Traviata at the Municipal Theater of Caracas.

Her passion for learning the rhythms of Flamenco took her to her grandfather's land, Spain, were she also studied with the best Flamenco professors such as her mentor La Tati, Maria Magdalena, Paco Fernandez, Ciro, Jose Granados, Xavier de la Vega, and others in Amor de Dios studios in Madrid. After living and experiencing Flamenco at the different cities in Spain, she started dancing professionally at theaters and "tablaos flamencos". She experience the "gypsy" living and had the opportunity of living in Seville and traveling to Morocco and Israel; Irene stayed with her family in Israel and did not miss the chance to be enchanted and mystified by the study of Mideastern dance styles.

Irene spent a lot of time in Spain and often traveled to neighbor countries such as France, Germany, Holland, and others dancing as soloist; she also spent time in Caracas, Venezuela as a soloist dancer at tablaos such as El Café de Chinitas with the guitars of Fernando Toledo and El Chino de Málaga performing with other great Flamenco artists such as La China, La Morita, Miguel Hernandez, Antonio & Emilia; Irene performed at Los Gallos in Seville and was featured in different Ferias in Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, and Cadiz. Renowned painter, Manuel Romero oil pictures of Irene have been displayed in Japan's museums and a portrait done by the Commander of Police of Caracas (also an artist) has been widely admired by artists.

In 1985, Irene moved to Miami permanently where she continued performing with artist such as Leo Heredia, Paco del Puerto, Cacharrito, Pepe de Málaga and Estrella Morena. In May of 1998, Irene opened the Irene Rimer Dance Academy, Inc. and also founded the Community Performing Arts Foundation Corp., "COPAF," a non-profit organization that supports and promotes the arts.

Twenty years later, in 2005, Irene moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she taught Flamenco & Belly Dance at The Children Dance Foundation and Devyani Dance Center before opening her own studio at Cobb Lane. She is in the advisory board of the Alabama Dance Council.

Irene has performed with many great Flamenco artists such as La Tati, Antonio, Jose Serrano,La China, El Chino de Malaga, La Morita, Estrella Morena, Pepe de Malaga, Jose Zorrilla, El Nano de Jerez, Pedrito Cortez, El Nino Miguel, Juan Amaya, Manolo Vargas and his wife Estefania, Paco del Puerto (my parter), El Nano de Jerez, Roman de Huelva and his wife Tamara, Cristobal Ruiz, Manolo de Cordova, Antonio Montoya, Paco Fonta and his wife Celia, La Coreana, Leo Heredia, Pepe Torremolina, Juan de Alba, Cacharrito de Malaga, Fernando Toledo, Juanito Villar, Antonio Serrano,and others.