Carla Soledad Rivera grew up in Ecuador and has been dancing since childhood, when she would borrow her teacher’s radio to choreograph with her friends, or stage performances with her sister and cousins. Upon returning to native Chicago, she fell in love with Flamenco; it's passion and sensibility to express those core feelings and true sentiments of life. She began her studies at age 13.
In 1995 she received an apprenticeship with the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre’s youth company and became a full company member in 1997. She trained in Classical Spanish, Regional and Flamenco dance and performed in the choreographies of Dame Libby Komaiko, Juan Linares, Edo Sei, Timo Lozano, Vida Peral, Juan Mata & Ana Gonzalez of the National Ballet of Spain amongst others. Independently, she has studied with local and international dancers like Susan Clinnard and Omayra Amaya.
Her love for understanding movement extended to costumes, making her first practice skirt at age 15 and her first Flamenco dress two years later after her first sewing class in high school. A young interdisciplinary student was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award in recognition of her musicality.
Having attended Northeastern Illinois University on a full dance scholarship, Carla explored many other dance styles and creative areas of study including Contemporary, African, Ballet and Jazz. She began experimenting, designing and producing costumes for her and friend’s performances during her 4 years at NEIU's dance program.
She holds a B.F.A. in Fashion Design with Honors from the Illinois Institute of Art- Chicago. In 2005 she launched Soledad Designs (so-le-DHAHD) Spanish word for solitude… to stand alone. Creating timeless innovative bespoke wearable art. Transcending trends.
She is the founder, instructor and choreographer of Olé Siam Flamenco: a platform aiming to create a community in Thailand to share and spread a better innerstanding of this one and only form of art that communicates through dance and music to reveal the 'duende'... the true being that lives in all of us, one's spirit.
Also under her direction are eclectic and innovative live performances, music and dance ensemble creating arrangements and fussing rhythms rooted in Flamenco. Currently based in Bangkok, Ole Siam is a soulful journey which inspires and evokes passion in productions.
She is based in Thailand where she houses all her projects under one roof, The HOME: House Of Magical Epiphanies... holding space to inspire your essence through art and design, food and sound, movement and stillness. In-house and on-the-road workshops and events to reach the community and experience creative ways to reach our untapped facets and potential.
Follow Carla’s creativity…. The Home BKK https://www.facebook.com/thehomebkk Soledad Designs https://www.facebook.com/soledad.designs Ole Siam Flamenco https://www.facebook.com/olesiamflamenco Carla’s Cocina https://www.facebook.com/carlascocina
