Roberto Amaral

Roberto Amaral began his professional career at the age of 17, and has since achieved worldwide acclaim as a dancer, choreographer, master teacher, singer, composer and artist. From 1967 to 1971 his principal dancer and guest artist appearances with the renowned Spanish dance companies of José Greco, José Antonio, Ciro, Alberto Lorca and Rafael de Cordóba have taken him throughout Europe and the Americas. Roberto has appeared in concert at many of the world's leading venues. They include the Hollywood Bowl, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, The Greek Theatre, The Forum, and John Anson Ford Theatre in Southern California; New York's Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and Shea Stadium; Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace and Hilton International. His European performance tours have brought him to London's Victoria Theatre, Paris' Olympia Theatre and Milan's La Scala Opera House. He has been featured in numerous live shows and television specials starring iconic musical artists including Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Harry Belafonte, Julie Andrews and Spanish star, Sarita Montiel. He also appeared twice on THE TONIGHT SHOW when it was hosted by television legend Johnny Carson. One of Roberto's earliest professional achievements came in 1968, when famed choreographer-director Gower Champion chose Roberto from over a thousand hopeful dancers to be featured on that year's Academy Awards presentation. In 1996, choreographer Jamie King chose Roberto to make his second appearance on that year's Academy Awards as a featured dancer and collaborator on the choreography of the Flamenco production number. In 1981 he collaborated with choreographer Walter Painter on the television special LYNDA CARTER'S CELEBRATION, for which Roberto was acknowledged by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his contributions as lead dancer and Flamenco consultant. From 1971 - 1975 Roberto embarked on an adventurous departure from his crescendoing career as exclusively a dance star and choreographer. It was also during this period, that his "other passion" for music led him to establish himself as a co-founding member of the ground-breaking rock band CARMEN. This was the first group to fuse orchestral rock with Flamenco, both musically and visually. With CARMEN, Roberto enjoyed worldwide success and critical acclaim as a vocalist, songwriter, arranger, choreographer and featured dancer. These special "CARMEN" years were highlighted by unforgettable European and American concert tours with such luminary rock acts as Jethro Tull, Electric Light Orchestra, Blue Oyster Cult and Golden Earring. It was superstar David Bowie who really put CARMEN into orbit when, in 1973, he first offcially introduced the band to the world in his landmark television special THE DAVID BOWIE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. Roberto founded the first of his numerous dance companies in 1977. Each of these have greatly influenced the pulse of Flamenco and Classical/Contemporary Spanish Dance in Southern California for the past 42 years. The critically acclaimed companies DANZAS DE ESPAÑA, BALLET ESPAÑOL DE LOS ANGELES, ESPAÑA CLASICA and FUEGO FLAMENCO are all companies Roberto has starred in, conceived and artistically directed. These dance companies have not only honed his talents as a performer, but enabled Roberto to develop his trademark style in producing, staging, designing costumes/sets and choreographing over 500 dance solos, ensemble numbers, ballets and conceptual suites. In 1978, Roberto first opened the doors of his landmark dance studio in Van Nuys, California. Over the past 40 years, this is where he has taught, tutored, coached, choreographed for or collaborated with many other leading choreographers, dance directors, dance stars and actors. They include Jerry Jackson (Follies Bergere), Charles Randolph Wright (1491 The Musical), Gwen Verdon (The Bob Fosse Scholarship), Liz Imperio (Q'Viva and The Ellen Show), Doriana Sanchez (The Cher "Believe" Tour), Toni Basil, Neve Campbell, Lynda Carter, Annette Cardona and France Nuyen. More importantly, The Amaral Studio has been a haven for those who simply love Flamenco and Spanish Dance. Throughout his varied career, Roberto has always found the time and dedication to teach and mentor others. Many of his former students and proteges have gone on to become Flamenco dance stars. His commitment to dance and visionary artistry garnered Roberto the first ever LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Santa Barbara Flamenco Arts Festival in 2004. In 2020 Roberto will be expanding his teaching legacy to include Palm Springs and its neighboring communities. He looks forward to many more years of new projects, stretching the boundaries of his creativity and to the continued training and nurturing of his current and future students.