Lakshmi Basile has a growing worldwide reputation. She began dancing at age
five with her parents' gypsy band and performing professionally at age sixteen.
The same year, Lakshmi began to study with Maestro Antonio Vargas. Shortly afterwards
she moved to Santa Barbara to be the principal dancer in the flamenco dance
troupe, Pacific Action Dance Theater, directed by Maestra Ana Galindo. Lakshmi
studied dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There she presented
her second staged choreography in the UC arts production "Webbed Feet, 2000."
In 2002, Lakshmi moved to Spain to study intensively with the legendary Farruco
Family. The same year, she began performing at the famous Carboneria in Seville.
The following year, Lakshmi began studying with Maestras Angelita Vargas and
Juana Amaya. The first took her on as an apprentice and Lakshmi began to participate
in many flamenco festivals (for example, La Feria de Abril) and flamenco Peņas,
where she became recognized by Spaniards and Gypsies alike as a true flamenca.
Lakshmi Basile was honored to perform as a soloist in the Bienal de Arte Flamenco
2005, one of Spain's most notable flamenco festivals. She was also privileged
to be the only foreigner performing daily as a soloist at the highly respected
tablao El Palacio Andaluz. After two years at the tablao in Sevilla, Lakshmi
decided to temporarily return to the United States and begin her own company,
Luna Flamenca. She has self-produced a total of four shows, all sold-out. Lakshmi
recently returned from a month long tour in Northern California with invited
artists from Spain. There she produced a series of instructional videos.
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