Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre & School

$390 raised by 3 donors

3% complete

$15,000 Goal

About

Mission

For over 40 years, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre has brought the art and duende of flamenco to Minnesota. Founded by Susana di Palma, what began as one passionate artist's vision has continued to grow. Today, we're creating more work, presenting more performances, welcoming more outstanding guest artists, and finding more ways to bring people together through flamenco than ever before.

When you support Zorongo, you are supporting more than a dance organization. You are supporting:

A creative force.

We create bold art with a big heart. Our original productions are rooted in flamenco's beautiful traditions while remaining alive to the world around us, from intimate tablao performances to theatrical works exploring social and political themes.

In June 2027, we'll present Voces at the Luminary Arts Center, a program of traditional and contemporary works by female choreographers, including Omayra Amaya and Fanny Ara, and Mariana, a new flamenco theater work inspired by the real-life Mariana Pineda, a Spanish heroine of liberty immortalized in Federico García Lorca's play, co-created by Zorongo founder Susana di Palma and Resident Artistic Director Deborah Elias.

Zorongo company members Amanda Dlouhy, Laura Horn, and Molly Stoltz at The Luminary Arts Center, April 2026 (PC Bill Cameron)

A flamenco hub.

Flamenco artists from across the country and around the world know Zorongo as an important center for flamenco in the Midwest. We connect Minnesota to the larger flamenco community, in no small part by bringing outstanding guest dancers, guitarists, singers, and choreographers here to share their artistry.

We'll be doing just that in our expanded Flamenco Íntimo series, launched in summer 2026, that presents traditional tablao flamenco in intimate venues throughout the Twin Cities. We're especially excited about our growing relationship with Tasca Madrid, which brings a taste of Spain to our community. Our guest artists often tell us they think of Zorongo as a "home away from home."What a thrill: Grammy-winning dancer Nino de los Reyes joined us in Amanecer, April 2026 (PC Loco FX Photography)A home.

Our studio is more than a place to take classes. It's where we rehearse, create, teach, collaborate, and perform. We flamencos make a lot of noise! Our specialized wood floor supports our percussive footwork, which is such an important part of our art form.

Without our studio, we simply couldn’t do what we do. And like any home, we need to take care of it. We recently replaced about half of our studio’s floor panels, and we still have 15 more to go!

Our specialized floor, with its new panels, perfect for footwork

A community.

Our vibrant studio hosts not only classes but also concerts, student shows, educational events, and fiestas that bring together people of all ages and walks of life, united by a shared love of flamenco.

Now, we're launching the Zorongo Peña Flamenca, giving students, emerging artists, and longtime flamenco enthusiasts opportunities to take the stage, share their artistry, gain performance experience, and grow as performers. The Peña will bring our community together to support one another and nurture the next generation of flamenco artists.

Student Showcase & Holiday Party 2025 at our studio

We have big plans!

Big plans need big resources to bring them to life. This means money. We're scrappy—small but mighty. We find ways to make the most of our resources while maintaining our commitment to paying our artists fairly.

We need your help to make it happen.

Right now, like many arts organizations, we’re facing an increasingly competitive and unpredictable funding environment. This means individual donors are more important than ever. Your support helps us keep flamenco alive and growing in Minnesota—on our stages, in our studio, and in the community we've built together.

Please make a gift today.

Here are some ways your generosity can make an impact:

$100 covers up to five classes for a student on scholarship.
$250 pays for the replacement of one floor panel in our studio. We need 15 more!
$500 buys an airplane ticket for one guest artist.
$1,000 pays for two costumes for a production.
$2,500 covers our studio rent for one month.

Resident Artistic Director Deborah Elias in Amanecer at The Luminary Arts Center in April 2026 (PC Bill Cameron)

Zorongo is YOU!

You're the audience members who fill our seats and yell ¡Olé!, the students who come to class, the volunteers who lend a hand, and the friends who have supported us along the way. We've built Zorongo together over more than 40 years. Let's keep building and growing together!

Thank you for your donation!

Founder and Advising Artistic Director Susana di Palma, Resident Artistic Director Deborah Elias, School Director Molly Stoltz, the Board of Directors, and our artists and teachers thank you for supporting our mission and for being an essential part of the Zorongo Flamenco family.