The Ron Hitchins Flamenco Dance Prize 2023

The Peña Flamenca de Londres awards a bi-annual prize to a flamenco dancer judged to have shown the most promise.   The prize is a bursary to be used to support further dance tuition in this country or in Spain.   The prize is named after Ron Hitchins who supported the Peña for many years. The prize this year will be awarded to the best-up-and-coming flamenco dancer performing at the February 2023 Juerga, our open stage event for dancers and other flamenco artists. Entrants should be sponsored by their flamenco dance teachers who submit details to the Peña Committee via Caroline Wolff (carolinacarafina@yahoo.com). One entrant per teacher please. The prize is judged by the Peña Committee, advised by a professional flamenco dancer.

The winner in 2019 was Ana María López Muñoz, a student of Lola Rueda, for her inventive alegría with Venessa and Genevieve as Highly Commended.  The prize in 2016 went to Faye Llowth, a student at the Escuela de Baile, with Alba and Ariana as Highly Commended.

Ron Hitchins RIP : 1926-2019

Ron Hitchins was the life and spirit of the London flamenco scene for many years.  Ron died in November 2019 aged 93. Right up to just a few days before he passed away Ron was helping us with his support, tips, videos of the great shows he had filmed over the years and, of course with his great sense of humour.  Ron was a friend of flamencos all over the world, many of whom visited his home in Hackney whenever they came to this country. Ron will forever be in our hearts. We will miss him very much. The Peña Flamenca de Londres awards a flamenco dance prize every two years in Ron’s honour. You can read more about Ron, the flamenco dancer, artist, boxer, market trader and actor at www.ronhitchins.com.