Currently

Blessed with expecting since October of 2008 Karina has remained involved in the arts while living this most exciting and hopeful moment in time along with her spouse. In 2009 she worked on creating a fusion piece with composer Luis Eric Gonzales and Alfredo Caceres for El padre de la patria Cuban Festival. After both being honored and humbled by receiving a grant from the Durfee Foundation for the continued growth and development of the arts in 2008 Karina produced and performed in the critically acclaimed Luz Alma Pasión FLAMENCO at the Los Angeles Theater Center and from September 26, 2008 through October 26, 2008 Karina performed in the sold out run of the Zarzuela Las Leandras both as the lead flamenco dancer as well as playing the commical role of Fermina; honored to be sharing the stage with the remarkable Consul of Spain Sr. Don Inocencio Arias and with an impressive cast of sopranos, tenors and actors.

Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco

After many performances in recordings, theatre, television and film, she was offered a part in Federico Garcia Lorca’s, Bodas de Sangre/Blood Wedding. This production was rated one of the top ten best theatrical productions in Los Angeles by the LA Times in 100 years. Along with flamenco great Maria “Cha Cha” Bermúdez and world-renowned Soprano Susana Guzmán during this production what Karina refers to as “the one thing that had been missing in my adult life became obvious” flamenco dance and expression became a priority, a coming home. Flamenco being such a powerful story telling art-form encompassed everything she needed for expression. A memory of her great grandmother putting babies to sleep with castenets resonated strongly during this time. She returned to Spain to study at the renowned Amor de Dios Dance Studios with Eli La Truco, Domingo Ortega and Inmaculada Ortega, studying in the US with many wonderful teachers and in Mexico too.

She launched her own company in 2004, Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco under which name she has successfully created, produced, directed and collaborated with numerous artists in a variety of creative projects from dance, recording, writing, stage and film. “Cuatro Caminos” or “Four Roads” is the name Karina chose for her company as it represents the four paths in which she finds her natural most honest expressions: dance, song, acting and writing. Sharing the stage with Jesús Montoya, Cristobal Osorio, Adam del Monte, Antonio Triana, Nyofu Tyson, Fernando Diez, Johnny Sandoval, Bobby Solakov, Alfredo Cáceres, Joey Heredia, Jason Martinez, Briseyda Zarate and Marta Santamaria…to name a few of the many musicians, dancers and artists of numerous genres. Among many performances, she was lead Spanish dancer in the Arias of Carmen with renowned Tenor Oscar Zahn. Has danced with internationally loved artist Benise and with Latin Grammy artist Noelia at the renowned Kodak Theatre. Collaborated with world renowned drumming great Joey Heredia. She successfully headed two consecutive shows Noche Iberica and Luna de Plata in Culver City and Historic Plazita Olvera respectively. In 2005 she wrote the lyrics for and sang the title track for ESL the movie and was asked to perform at the premiere of ESL at the Latino International Film Festival. Among other writing credits she recently collaborated on the book commissioned by La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, “Tamales, A Children’s Guide/Una guia para niños, published in 2006. She is currently working on completion of her first children’s book about the beauty of dance around the world. She is the author of numerous poems and among other writings she created Viaje Mediterráneo por Flamenco in 2006, which premiered at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, home of the Civic Light Opera in early 2007. Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco was honored to be asked by the office of Mayor Villarraigosa to perform for the opening ceremonies commemorating Latino Heritage Month in 2007. Also in October of 2007 Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco opened Gala Folklorica at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center produced by Hispanidad Los Angeles as the first company to represent the music and dance of Spain in this production.

Karina Del Carmen Velasco "Los cuatro caminos" "The Four Paths"

Is currently based in Los Angeles. Born in Madrid, Spain of both Cuban and Spanish heritage she spent her formative years in magical and beautiful Puerto Rico. With an innate connection to the arts from early childhood, she found artistic expression a natural means of communication and a way of life. Singing, dancing, creating characters, writing and performing enabled her not only to express herself from a very young age, but it was the strongest part of her character unchanged or shaken by anything in her environment. This strong connection to her creative abilities assisted her in finding a means with which to over come a difficult childhood with years of hidden abuse, including child sexual abuse. Always striving to move ahead, her creative work strengthened her and connected her with the beauty of her culture as well as with cultures outside of her own, to a world beyond her surroundings. "The arts are a powerful light that can assist the soul in finding endless positive possibilities, aiding in the creation of solutions through the most difficult of obstacles. I've always felt blessed that I was born with the arts deeply etched in my soul." Karina.

Dance

Although mostly self taught she began formal ballet training at age 5 and at 10 had graduated to the ballet point class as the youngest girl in the department. She continued her dance experience with Spanish dance, European dances, Puerto Rican Folklore, Cuban Folklore and Latin dance until focusing on Flamenco.

Singing

As young as 5 she was singing complete compositions performing with various music groups at school. At age 13 she was chosen among many entries as one of only three young soloists to perform at Disney World Orlando, Florida. Once her family had relocated to the US she was encouraged to audition for Musical Theater where dance, singing and acting would have equal focus.

Writing

At age 8 she had began to express her self through creative writing composing short stories and writing poetry.

Acting

A natural storyteller acting was a normal way to give her dance performances another dimension, a strong persona, as well as providing her songs, not only with lyrical words, but true emotion taking herself and the audience on a journey into each individual and detailed portrait.