[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Soul Dancer, created, written and performed by Kristelle Monterrosa, comes to Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2023 on Thursday, March 16.

Soul Dancer is a different kind of love story that explores a dancer’s passionate affair with flamenco over the course of 30 years.

When French-Salvadoran pre-teen navy brat Kristelle meets her flamenco mentor Alicia, it’s love at first sight.

Years later, Kristelle suffers a devastating knee injury that leads to a new adventure with Alicia, which then rocks their relationship to the core… for just as in dance, only one can lead.

Through the lens of Kristelle’s flamenco journey, (including live flamenco guitar) we’re reminded that what makes our soul dance is unique to each of us… and ours to create

About Kristelle Monterrosa

Kristelle is a multicultural actress, dancer, award-winning producer and choreographer. Loving the stage since age 6, Kristelle has performed hundreds of shows worldwide at venues such as The Nokia Theater at LA LIVE with Mario Reyes from The Gipsy Kings, The Broad Stage in Ferdinand The Bull in Santa Monica, CA, and The Morgan Stock Stage in Monterey, CA. As an actress, she’s starred in the award-winning plays, Femmes A Tragedy and Sideways The Play and performed 40 shows at The Hollywood Bowl for the LA PHIL, Summer Sounds program.

On television and digital media, she’s been the face of multiple national brands and has starred in several award-winning short films. Producing the award-winning tango and modern dance show, Medea Tango, in Buenos Aires Argentina, ignited her love for production. Kristelle also hosts monthly manifestation circles cycled with the moon, it makes her come alive to watch her community aim for their greatest wishes and make them come true, one step at a time. Kristelle is also an immigrant child advocate when her schedule allows, supporting children that are currently navigating the US immigration system.

Director – Erika Navarro

Erika Navarro is a writer and director who has dedicated her life to the art of storytelling. Currently, she is in production on her first feature documentary, Run Away Amy, and in post production on her latest short film, Divine Mother. Erika has directed multiple short films, a web series, and a pilot for a half-hour variety show. In addition to having sold a children’s comedy pilot to Amazon Studios, she has written and developed long-form projects for companies like Universal Cable Productions, Denver & Delilah, and Team Todd. From 2010-2015, Erika founded and ran femme-driven digital studio, Comediva, building an audience to the tune of 3M+ monthly views at its peak and producing more than 300 original comedy videos featured in outlets like Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Today Show, CNN, and countless more, as well as original content for companies such as Univision and Nickelodeon. Erika holds an MFA in Screenwriting from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and joined the Writer’s Guild of America in 2016.

Giutarist – Andres Vadin

Born in Cuba, Andres Vadin’s talent spans many different genres while highlighting the flamenco guitar as a universal instrument with no boundaries — a breathtaking fusion of traditional and contemporary interpretations, often infused with Cuban, Arabic, and jazz influences.

Vadin graduated from the Guillermo Tomas and Almadeo Roldan Conservatory of Music in Habana. He began studying music at the age of 10 and won first prize in the Almadeo Roldan music competition at the age of 12.

Vadin has played for some of the most talented flamenco artists known today, including Antonio Carmona, José Antonio Rodríguez, and Maria Juncal. He has also collaborated on Latin Grammy-nominated albums twice — in 2005 with Aceituna sin Hueso on the album Cuba Le Canta A Serrat and in 2017 with Oskar Cartaya on the album Bajo Mundo. He has toured throughout the world performing with Concha Buika, Faramarz Aslani, Wadih Al Safi, Billy Cobhan, and in festivals such as WOMAD, Glastonbury, Montreal International Jazz Music Festival, and at rock legend Steve Vai’s Big Mama Jama Jam-a-thon.

His work as a session musician includes the movie soundtracks for Whale of a Tale and Bel Canto. One of his great passions is teaching music and he partners on a regular basis with Barrio Music, an L.A. based organization that provides music education to children in neighborhoods in L.A.
Vadin is endorsed by Godin and Bartolex Guitars.

Producer – Jessica Lynn Johnson

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the founder and CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the direction and development of one-person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! As a published playwright and performer, Jessica has “edu-tained” international audiences touring her own 25 character one person shows ZE and OBLIVIOUS TO EVERYONE for over 13 years.