Meet Karina Yao (姚天慧), a trailblazing Chinese dancer whose journey from Taiyuan to Spain has been nothing short of inspirational. Inspired by Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca’s vivid description of flamenco as "tightly closed flowers blossom into a thousand petals," Karina discovered a passion that would change her life forever! 💃
Back in 2012, while studying Spanish in Taiyuan, Shanxi province in northern China, she first encountered Lorca's poetic words and the magic of flamenco. That same year, Karina flew to Spain and experienced her very first flamenco class in Seville, where the raw energy and passion of the dance left her in awe. She recalls, "Wow, it's so real and so passionate," a moment that ignited her lifelong journey.
Coming from a traditional background, Karina found that flamenco offered a liberating way to express her inner emotions; it became her language of joy, sorrow, and lived experience. With years of piano training behind her that enhanced her sense of rhythm, she compared learning flamenco to learning a new language—"you have to learn the steps, the technique, like it's grammar," she explains.
In 2014, at the age of 21, Karina made the bold move to settle in Spain full time, diving headfirst into the world of flamenco. Touring the world with her group, Flamenco Sin Fronteras, alongside a Chinese guitarist and artists from France and the U.S., her story highlights how cultural exchange can ignite creativity and self-expression.
Today, Karina is not only performing but also sharing her passion by teaching flamenco to other Chinese women, empowering them to break free from convention and express their true selves. Her journey is a beautiful reminder that art bridges cultures and inspires us all to follow our passions and dance through life with authenticity. 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
