“Flamenco is the means through which man reaches God
without the intervention of saints or angels.”
– Luis Antonio de Vega
History of
Flamenco for Food
Dr. Marna Zinatelli, the founder of Flamenco for Food, is a retired
Psychologist living in Ottawa. After several decades working in her field, she
experienced toxic mould exposure, which ended her psychology career. During four
years of chronic illness, she transferred the holistic healing arts centre she
helped create to the wonderfully skilled women at Santé Health Beechwood. She
then dedicated herself to recovering from her illness and reclaiming one of her
deepest passions: flamenco.
She had been singing and dancing for over 25 years and
hosting open “flamenco jam events” for over two decades. For a window into the flamenco archives of the National Capital Region, visit: https://flamenconewsletterottawa.wordpress.com/
(courtesy of Isabelle Lemire). These events bring together
dancers, singers, and musicians of all levels and ages. Together, they build
skills and present their work in a supportive and collaborative environment. Serious
mould-related health challenges and COVID measures brought an abrupt end to these
events. Happily, the Crichton Community Council (CCC) provided a welcoming space to rekindle Ottawa’s flamenco fire.
Several other large Canadian centres, such as Montreal, Toronto and Calgary, have
managed to build vital flamenco communities, but the Ottawa scene has
struggled. Gifted artists have left the city, and others have seriously considered
discarding expensive, handmade Spanish guitars. The magical New Edinburgh Park
Fieldhouse open-mic events hosted by Susan Sweeney (Spirit of Rasputin’s), Loïc Berthou, and the
CCC have helped rekindle our flamenco fire. Thanks to them and the beautiful
people who come out to these events, her group, Sueños Flamencos, has finally begun
to perform again: 2024 Beechwood Night Market, 2024 and 2025 FAB festival ,2024
and 2025, Lindenlea Family Day, 2024 Gladstone Theatre (hosted by the Ottawa Chinese Musicians Association).
She has also been hosting regular free flamenco jams again
and volunteering to teach flamenco at the Lindenlea Community Centre (LCC). These community performances, classes, and jams help
create the conditions necessary for the Flamenco for Food project to thrive. The
New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse is the home base for regular performances. They last
about an hour and are generally followed by free flamenco palmas, singing,
dance, and guitar lessons, with an opportunity to join in a juerga/flamenco
party where artists of all levels from the flamenco community participate.
Pop-up events take place at the LCC, the Beechwood Market and MacKay United Church Memorial Hall.
