Where the Passion Begins

Flamenco Extraordinaire

A documentary by Singapore’s national TV, Channel News Asia

Click here to watch on Channel News Asia’s website.

From hobby to passion to a flourishing career, join Rozz Lee as she dives into the journey of a Singaporean dancer and arts producer who’s carved a unique path in Seville’s vibrant flamenco scene. Tania Goh’s love affair with flamenco ignited the moment she saw it live in Seville in 2003. Mesmerised, she didn’t waste a moment—finding a maestro and immersing herself in intense training. But Tania’s vision grew beyond just mastering the art. She felt a calling to share flamenco’s magic with Asia and beyond. Driven by this mission, she tapped into her global network, setting up electrifying workshops, events, and tours that bridge Seville and the Asia-Pacific, spreading the rhythm and soul of flamenco far and wide.

Click here to watch on YouTube with these time stamps

00:00 Introduction

1:22 Flamenco in Spain

4:10 Experiencing flamenco in a tablao

6:55 Inside a flamenco workshop

9:26 Why I moved to Spain for flamenco

11:52 A flamenco culture tour

16:58 A special flamenco dressmaker

20:03 Inside a peña

The creative momentum of Life. Inspiring forces come together. Dreams take shape!

Life is unexpected. Little did I know, as a Spanish language student in an Australian university that doors to another world, Spain, would open. The beginnings of my flamenco were in Adelaide, with the next steps in Singapore with Rose Borromeo. She provided nurturing grounds for Spanish Dance (flamenco, Classical Spanish, castanets & regional dances) way before 1997, and for her enduring work upholding Spanish Dance, received a medallion from the King of Spain. 

Spontaneous decisions in Life can turn out to be life-changing, and that was when I took a break to Spain in 2003, supposedly en route to Latin America. In the characterful city of Seville, I stepped into the Academy of Manuel Betanzos, newly established and with a lineage inherited from his maestro, the great Manolo Marin. In that instant, it was flamenco confronting me with its stirring dance, song and guitar melodies, the charismatic figure of the teacher training, uplifting and compelling everyone into a common live intensity. Well, I never made it to Machu Picchu, because my heart got anchored in flamenco and Seville.

Those were difficult years but love overcomes trials and builds up perseverance. Entering this world as an insider and practitioner also grew empathy for artists and the learning process of an art. This has been invaluable even as I developed my profession as a Dance Producer in my firm, SaltShaker Productions. 

Fast forward across the years. Here I am, forging my work in my school and dance company, Spanish Dance Singapore:

• With Maestro Manuel Betanzos (Seville) – the ‘Olympics Coach of Flamenco’ – bringing top-level training from Spain to the many shores of Asia-Pacific. 
• With Maestra Paloma Gómez (Madrid) – exquisite dancer, choreographer, teacher – building appreciation for the fuller scope of Spanish Dance (including Classical Spanish Dance, Castanets skills) through workshops and performances.
• With SaltShaker Productions (International) – where as Producer, I undertake projects with artists, both in Singapore and overseas.
• With Project Flamenco Southeast Asia, featuring talents from Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore.

The journey continues …. come along with us, we open the doors to this world, welcoming you.

Warm regards,

Tania Goh

Director

Spanish Dance Singapore

SaltShaker Productions