With a studio based in Garsfontein East, as well as teaching at the Pro Arte Alphen Park High School in Pretoria, the Montoya Spanish Dance Theatre is continuously striving and working hard to keep the beautiful art of Spanish Dance alive and in the public eye!
With regular show work (at smaller venues in and around Pretoria as well as theatre productions) the Montoya’s aim to promote and share their absolute passion and love for this dance form
Providing their students with the opportunity to also participate in annual examination sessions (with the International Spanish Dance Society) = the students have the opportunity to grow, explore and expand on their knowledge and technique in Spanish Dance
The Montoya Dance group have been featured at numerous events and shows, and regularly perform at corporate events / private functions / theatre performances. Classes are offered in the Spanish Dance Society exam syllabus (Ingreso to Advanced, IdB and PdB), as well as open work (delving into the art and technique of flamenco).
Maria Lorca Montoya was introduced to the dancing world at a very young age under the tutorship of her parents, the renowned and well-known, José and Helena Montoya. All born in South Africa, they have strived continuously to keep the art of Spanish Dance alive – through teaching, shows and workshops they work towards promoting the beauty of this artform.
Maria Lorca Montoya (Mandy-Lee Wiegmans) still teaches alongside her mother Helena Montoya (Hillaine Sachs), and even though Josè Montoya (William Lawrence Harrison) is retired, his watchful eye and love for this artform inspires him to keep involved with it in every way possible.
The Montoya Dance group have been featured at numerous events and shows, and regularly perform at corporate events / private functions / theatre performances. Classes are offered in the Spanish Dance Society exam syllabus (Ingresso to Advanced, IdB and PdB), as well as open work (delving into the art and technique of flamenco).
HELENA MONTOYA (Hillaine Sachs) started ballet training at the age of five. She became interested in Spanish Dancing at the age of twelve and was enrolled as one of Josè Montoya’s pupils. So impressed was Josè with her flair for Spanish dancing that when he formed his own company, he promoted her to solo dancer, a position she has held ever since. Helena furthered and completed her studies with the Spanish Dance Society under the tutorship of Enrique Segovia and Luisa Cortes. Mother of two daughters, she fulfills the role of mother, Safta, teacher, choreographer, dancer and examiner for the Spanish Dance Society – which has led her to examine in different regions of South Africa as well as in Europe (Greece & London), Bangkok and Australia.
Helena has appeared in various television programs for SABC TV of which Hazel Acosta’s ‘Blood Wedding’ was a highpoint. She appeared as principal dancer with guest artist Antonio del Castillo, who appeared with the Josè Montoya Spanish Dance Theatre (1985) and again in ‘86 and ‘98. She
also performed with the Mercedes Molina Company in Stellenbosch and in 1993 Helena Montoya performed with the world famous Gypsy Kings, at the Sun City Superbowl.
Performing in Spain in 1997, she took the opportunity to attend the 7th International Spanish Dance Society Summer School in London, England, where she studied under Vicki Ramos (Jerez) and Curra Jiminez (Madrid). She also attended professional classes with La Tati, Vicki Ramos, Ciro, Carmela, Martin Vargas and Hazel Acosta, Inmaculada Ortega & Angel Muñoz. Helena also had the great opportunity of teaching at the Spanish Dance Society’s 2005 Summer School in London.
Helena started her own Dance school in 1982 and currently has dancers entering every level of exams including IdB (Instructor de Baile) and PdB (Professore de Baile).
Excelling as a choreographer, Helena has been the resident choreographer for the Montoya Dance Theatre for many years and always manages to amaze dancers and audiences with her boundless energy and imagination. Helena choreographed the spanish item in Swan Lake, which was staged by
The South African Ballet Theatre at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, Jhb Civic Theatre. She has also choreographed for and participated in 3 productions of ‘Valentines Enchantment’, staged at the State Theatre, Pretoria – working with The Black Tie Ensemble; and has also choreographed the Spanish for the Pro Arte Alphen Park High School’s dance departments annual production, for Southdowns Academy and for the Tshwane Youth Ballet.
In 2017 Helena was granted the Order of Isabel the Catholic with the rank of Commander through His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI for her distinguished career as a performer and teacher of Spanish dance as well as the strengthening of the cultural relations between Spain and South Africa.
Helena Montoya’s ultimate joy and honour is to be ‘Safta’ (grandmother) of five – Ethan Ty, Jessica & David Zachary (her eldest daughter, Adene’s children) and Hailene Rose & Keah (Maria’s daughters).
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord,
‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.’ – Jeremiah 29:11
Jose Montoya (William Lawrence Harrison) started his training in Spanish dancing with the late Mercedes Molina. In May 1960, after only a few months of joining her studio, he made his first appearance as a corps de ballet dancer in a small mining town west of Johannesburg: Blyvooruitzicht… the town’s name mean’s ‘happy future’: – what an appropriate name!
Born in Johannesburg in 1939, William Lawrence Harrison (as he was known then), went to school in Oudtshoorn and Grahamstown in the Cape. After a spell as an excise officer for the South African Railways, he moved to Johannesburg.
During Luisillo’s visit to South Africa in 1957, Lawrence was inspired to take up dancing, first tap, and then when Mercedes opened her studio, he joined her to learn Spanish.
It was only a few months after joining the studio that he made his first appearance with the company in Blyvooruitzicht. His talent was phenomenal, his enthusiasm unbounded and in a matter of only 2 years, he had become a principal dancer in the company. Josè accompanied Mercedes Molina to Spain and furthered his studies there. He also appeared with Mercedes on Greek television. In 1967 after his return to South Africa, he started his Spanish dancing school and formed his own dance company.
Apart from performances in and around Pretoria, the Josè Montoya Spanish Dance Theatre entertained our troops on the Namibian border, toured the country districts and metropolitan centres of South Africa, and appeared on television.
Josè is best known for his continuous labour in creating awareness in the general public, through pioneering work ranging from being the first Spanish Dance Company to ever perform in the State Theatre and his numerous appearances in theatres countrywide in conjunction with television performances.
Josè not only ran his own studio for so many years, but he also taught at Pro Arte Alphen Park High School as well as the Technikon in Pretoria for a number of years where they do Spanish Dance as a subject.
His highest recognition was when he was granted the Order of Civil Merit with the rank of Commander by His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI, in 2015.
Josè is the proud father of two daughters Adene and Mandy-Lee (Ariña and Maria Lorca) as well as FIVE grandchildren: Ethan, Jessica, David, Hailene and Keah
Josè says:
“You have to follow your passion with strength and courage. It took me ten to 15 years of hard work and very little income to achieve my dreams. Never look back and remember we are all on a journey on this planet. I owe every achievement to our Heavenly Father, for without Him, and the talent he blessed me with, I would not be where I am today”
Josè has now retired from the stage and from teaching, but continues to add his knowledge and expertise to those still actively involved in the Spanish Dancing World
MARIA LORCA MONTOYA (Mandy-Lee Wiegmans) was introduced to the dancing world at a very young age under the tutorship of her parents, Josè & Helena Montoya. Besides doing Spanish dancing with her parents, she also studied ballet and modern dancing with Diane Cassidy, but Spanish dancing soon proved to be her only passion.
Since the age of six years, she has been part of the Josè Montoya Spanish Dance Theatre’s annual productions of España at the State Theatre, Pretoria. She performed with her parents at the Sun City Superbowl in 1993. In 1997, on a trip overseas, Maria was invited to perform as guest artist at the famous Viva España Restaurant, in the beautiful countryside of Valencia, Spain.
On returning to South Africa after a year of travelling abroad, she has performed with the internationally renowned choreographer and performer Antonio del Castillo, in both a theatre production (España ‘99) and a music video, which he directed, “La Luna, Luna”.
She participated in Sylvana Gironi’s production of ‘Carmen’ at the Jhb Civic Theatre, as well as in ‘Del Alma’ whereafter she was nominated for a FNB Vita Award in the category ‘Most Outstanding Female Dancer’. Maria Lorca has been asked to perform as a guest artist for a number of studios in Johannesburg, as well as for the Rosa Jiminez Spanish Dance Company in Sasolburg (where she also presented a Technical Course for Rosa’s students in 2011).
She has also performed with The South African Ballet Theatre, adding a flavour of true Spanish dancing, in their productions of Carmen (2002) and Swan lake (2004). She has also taken part, with the Helena Montoya Spanish Dance Company, in three productions of ‘Valentines Enchantment’ at the State Theatre, Pretoria, working with The Black Tie Ensemble.
Maria Lorca has attended various courses with teachers brought out from Spain by The Spanish Dance Society and Alianza Flamenco, such as world renowned Vicki Ramos, La Tati, Inmaculada & Domingo Ortega and Angel Muñoz.
Besides attending the 2000, 2002 and 2003 Spanish Dance Society’s Summer School in London, she was invited to teach at this summer school in 2005.
Besides doing regular show work (cabarets in and around Gauteng ), Maria teaches from her newly built studio at home in Garsfontein, Pretoria as well as at Pro Arte Alphen Park High School where they do Spanish dance as a subject.
Maria has qualified for her full Juniors and Seniors teachers (Idb and Pdb) with The Spanish Dance Society and she has just been made an Examiner with the Spanish Dance Society. She has also gained her junior teachers with Alianza Flamenca.
Maria & her dancers were privileged enough to dance for Adidas and their guests at the final of the FIFA World Cup in 2010, at Soccer City in Jhb.
By invitation of Dirk Badenhorst, Maria performed at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, in the ‘Young Ballet Stars of the World’ Gala event alongside her dancing partner, Rosa Jiminez. This led to an exciting event In June 2014, where Maria and Rosa were invited to perform at the world famous Busan International Dance Festival (BIDF) based in the marine capital of South Korea. This festival brought together 34 performances from 11 countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the United States and Africa. Rosa and Maria performed two flamenco choreographies which were well received by the International Audience.
The greatest honour and achievement, however, is when Maria and her husband Frans became parents in May 2009, to their beautiful daughter – Hailene Rose and in 2012 to another blue eyed beauty – Keah Madalene.
