Mireille Lenferna commenced her ballet studies with Colleen Theys at the age of 6, and then went on to attend the National School of the Arts. She furthered her ballet training with Helen Dean and Ethne Ferraris.
At age 9, she began learning Spanish dancing with Sylvana Gironi and later, with Theo Dantes. From early 1990, she continued dancing with Hazel Acosta.
In 2000, Mireille studied with Manolete during the Festival de Jerez in Spain and in 2011 she went to study with Blanca del Rey.
She has studied with visiting teachers to South Africa such as Manolo Marin, La Tati, Vida Peral, Domingo Ortega, Inmaculada Ortega, Ángel Muñoz and Leonor Leal. She also attended master classes with Linda Vargas, Juana Vargas, Carolina Rosa and Rosana Maya in Johannesburg.
Mireille has completed all her Spanish Dance Society exams and Alianza Flamenca assessments. In 2002, she achieved her Alianza Flamenca teacher’s diploma and has been an Alianza Flamenca committee member since.
In addition to performing with Hazel Acosta, Sylvana Gironi’s ‘Ritmo Spanish Dance Company’ for several seasons, Mireille has danced for Carlos, Lina Dolores Vega and Teresa Morena.
Together with Joanne Bobrow, Mireille continued the running of El Rincon Flamenco Dance Company in 2005, and in 2007 with Bobrow they produced, directed and choreographed ‘Caminando‘ – a flamenco journey which received much acclaim. The company was invited to perform in India for 2 weeks during March 2009.
Other Stage productions to date:
- March 2010, a very successful production of ‘Fusion Flamenca’ at The Joburg Fringe Theatre
- May 2012 staged their 3rd production, ‘Lunares’ at The Joburg Fringe Theatre.
- May/June 2019 produced ‘Esencia Flamenca’ – a tribute to Lorca at the Joburg Lesedi Theatre
Mireille currently teaches the Alianza Flamenca syllabus in Bryanston and Norwood, and is well-recognised by her colleagues and pupils for her choreography which is taught in her open classes. She also currently manages and performs in El Rincon Flamenco’s cabaret and promotional work. http://mireille-lenferna.strikingly.com/
