Born in the city of São Paulo in Brazil, Raquel has been performing on stage since age 6 and has over 20 years of dance training. Raquel has performed among hundreds of choreographies, classical ballet and modern pieces like: Gisele, Corsario, Paquitas, Rapsodia in Blue, Bolero de Ravel, Ariedacnirb and Impact, being the two last mentioned pieces choreographed by Armando Aurich, a São Paulo Municipal Theater Dancer.

After many years of ballet, jazz and modern training in Brazil and the U.S.A. (Regional Center for the Arts in Connecticut), she was introduced to flamenco by one of the top Brazilian flamenco artists at the time, Maestro Paulo Santos with whom she performed several choreographies as part of the Paulo Santos Flamenco Dance Company. Still in Brazil, she had the honor to share the stage with flamenco master Fabio Rodrigues in an Alegrias duo choreographed by Rafaela Carrasco from Spain and rehearsed and thought by Paulo Santos.

The passion for flamenco had stayed with Raquel, and in the U.S.A. she was able to study the art form at Fazils and Ballet Hispanico in New York City. In Los Angeles, she received additional training from Briseyda Zarate, Katerina Tomas, Celina Zambon, Richard Chavez, and Alexandra Rozo. She was chosen to be part of the CZ Flamenco Dance Company, directed by the flamenco master Celina Zambon. Raquel’s work with the company included the opera Flamenco Loves Tango performed at Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, Andalucia and Los Angeles Del Flamenco, both performed at Morgan Wixon Theatre in Santa Monica, in June 0f 2010. Raquel is currently training with Maestra Briseyda Zarate in Los Angeles and teaching contemporary flamenco to adult beginners and children in Los Angeles and Agoura Hills.

The proud mother of her daughter Lara, with whom she also performs flamenco occasionally, is grateful for the opportunity to embrace dance, friendship and passion through Pasion Flamenca de Los Angeles and other given life opportunities.