CSA is a philanthropic organization mainly focused on quality flamenco instruction; additionally offering flamenco workshops improving people's lifes through self-development for children, youth and adults.

CSA | FCA was founded in 2000 by Claudia de la Cruz to provide art instruction in the Santa Ana Artists Village Community. After dramatic growth, the CSA settled into a permanent home at Santa Ana Arts District.

Cultural Stage of Art | Foro Cultural de las Artes Objectives Plan charts a course for future growth which emphasizes flamenco and art as a shared experience, guided by the following beliefs:

Art learning is lifelong; from early childhood through the senior years; Family participation enhances each individual family member's art learning; and Ensemble participation develop friendships and art skills.

Through out all of the above programs and objectives will involve the parents in assisting their children with practice and assignments.

FLAMENCO PROGRAM

The flamenco program consists of seven separated classes: Baile Flamenco: Recreational Flamenco, Introduction to Flamenco, Flamenco Beginners, Flamenco Intermediate, Flamenco Advance, Acompañamiento Flamenco: Palmas, Compás and Castanets, Ritmos Flamencos: Music, Singing and Jaleos.

Students in "Baile Flamenco" programs further develop awareness of the techniques learned at the beginning level. Exploring and experiencing in this dance "Baile", rhythms, style, movements, sophisticated patterns and Palos (rhythms). This classes are an in depth study of technique that includes posture, turns, footwork, and braceo (arms movements), structure, and choreography. Students in "Acompañamiento Flamenco" program: Started from scratch for beautiful hand and arm movements, rhythmical clapping, developing a deep comprehension of the importance of understand the music and dance with this elements. Students in "Ritmos Flamencos" program: learn the story of flamenco, their rhythms and meanings, singing "cante", guitar and "cajon" playing, a wooden box played like a drum.

The students not only receive instruction but also perform in cultural events and they have the opportunity to participate under Claudia de la Cruz and her Tierra Flamenca Dance Company and Tierrita Flamenca Dance Company professionally and/or as volunteers for the Santa Ana community special events. The art and theater programs are offered as workshops every summer and winter season.

Also supporting an alternative space for art lectures, film screenings, performing arts, workshops and more creative activities.

All programs are presently serving low income, at children from 3 years old and risk adolescents from deprived families who have limited or no opportunities to receive dance, music and art education instruction, due to the limited family budgets, geographic location, lack of facilities, and/or language barriers.

ABOUT CSA | FCA FOUNDER

Claudia de la Cruz is an inspiration for all our community since she is always devoted on helping others through her passionate flamenco dance, through her work as missionary and also as role model since she’s an excellent human being. Philanthropist by nature, Claudia opened her own school in 2000 in a abandoned basement at downtown Santa Ana and regardless people always trying to disencourage her, she put all her love and effort to continue envisioning "Cultural Stage of Art" as the great art school that is today.

Claudia along other volunteers transformed the whole place and 4 years later the school welcomes over 140 students from local low-income families than sadly without “Cultural Stage of Art” wouldn’t have access to art and culture.

FLAMENCO DANCE COMPANY

Claudia de la Cruz and Tierra Flamenca is a strong company of artists, gypsy and elegant who performs Claudia’s choreography with passion and focus. Humanistic in the most profound sense, they explore their own intellectual, physical and artistic depths and reveal new possibilities in women's partnering. Claudia de la Cruz has established herself as a gypsy poet of eclectic dance today...Her work measures the movement of the heart, soul and passion.

TIERRITA FLAMENCA Children Dance Company

Tierrita Flamenca is another Claudia de la Cruz' project on an effort to preserve the passion of flamenco dance through youngsters and teenagers. Tierrita Flamenca is the petite version of her formal Adult Tierra Flamenca Dance Company founded a year ago with 5 of her most talented students. Regardless their age (7 years old), the girls put all the heart needed to flamenco performance, as an after-class activity that has become part of their lifestyle. Every week, Claudia de la Cruz teach this little girls flamenco basis and dance structure helping them to serve as a roll model to the rest of the Cultural Stage of Art School enhancing their sensibility, self-esteem, confidence and discipline.

CSA | FCA NEEDS STATEMENT

The principal goal of these programs is to continue to serve the need of low income families who their children and youths have limited access to dance, music, art and theater programs, helping to prevent the delinquency and vagrancy, preventing them to be involve in gangs and drugs in the afternoon after hours school and providing them a positive, nurturing environment with and interest in the arts and the desire to discover and develop their talents that stimulate intellectual, psychological and physical responses.