Utah  flamenco  
Gipsy  Fire

Our director

James Fernando Rockefeller

 

Born in Mendoza, Argentina

Passionate about dance since childhood, Fernando James Rockefeller began his journey at the age of 7 in Argentine folk dance. His artistic curiosity led him to explore Latin American folklore at 17, and at 19, he started his flamenco training at the Centro Andaluz de Mendoza, where he had the privilege of learning from renowned artists such as Maxi Rebman, Mandy Acevedo, and Carolina Zapata.

Throughout his career, he has achieved significant milestones, including his participation in the production El Gitano del Alba at the Teatro Independencia in Mendoza and his victory alongside Mandy Acevedo as champions of northern Argentina in Sevillanas.

In 2001, after moving to the United States, he continued his journey in Hispanic-American dances, becoming the principal dancer and choreographer for the Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance for three consecutive years. Later, at the age of 38, he returned to Argentina to deepen his training, completing three years of studies as a dance professor for government educational institutions, also Fernando has trainning at Estudio Flamenco of Seville.

In addition to his extensive dance career, he earned an Associate Degree in Art Therapy from the University of Utah, graduating in 2021. This academic achievement further enriched his ability to use movement and expression as powerful tools for education and emotional connection.

His passion and dedication to dance called him back to the U.S., where in 2023 he founded Utah Flamenco Gipsy Fire and the nonprofit Building Bridges for Brilliant Minds, two initiatives that today serve as pillars of the cultural community in Utah. Additionally, he is the founder of Utah's Seville Fair, an event that celebrates the richness of flamenco and Hispanic culture