Flamenco Dancer Ania "La Candela"
Ania Bartelmus, "La Candela," is a flamenco dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and founder of La Candela Flamenco. She is dedicated to sharing her passion for flamenco with audiences of all ages. Candela has produced numerous flamenco shows and performed at cultural events across Georgia, nationally, and internationally.
Her community outreach includes organizing benefit concerts, such as one for Ukrainian refugees in 2022 and another for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in 2019. In 2020, she was commissioned to create choreography for the City of Atlanta’s “Pandemic Atlanta” project. In 2022, she received a grant from A&E Atlanta to present her public art project “Inspiración.” In 2024, Candela was awarded the Radical Unity Grant from the Mediators Foundation for a collaboration with the Latin American Association.
As the director of La Candela Flamenco, Candela works closely with local musicians to create unique flamenco and fusion performances.
La Candela Flamenco touring productions
La Candela Flamenco currently tours three performances. Flamenco Journey, Entre Mundos - Between Worlds, and Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
Contact
To book Ania, or contact her for interviews and collaborations, please use the contact form or contact her directly at ania@lacande.la
Director
Candela has directed her company of musicians creating traditional and innovative performances since 2014.
Flamenco Dancer
Trained with top flamenco artists. Experienced in performing in tablao and theater productions
Teaching Artist
Candela offers Arts Education shows for K-12, libraries, and other communities. She also offers classes and worshops on any levels in English, Spanish or Polish.
Choreographer
Flamenco choreographer for any flamenco themed or Spanish themed production.
Why “La Candela”?
When studying at the Centro de Arte y Flamenco de Sevilla, Ania took classes with singer Curro Fernandez, who sometimes substituted for his daughter Esperanza Fernandez. During the class Curro fondly called Ania “Rubia de la Candela,” a nickname that represents Ania’s dancing; passionate and mesmerizing.
Awards and Honors
2024 - Radical Unity Grant Recipient
2022 - A&E Atlanta Grant Recipient
2020 - Pandemic Atlanta Choreography Acquisition by the City of Atlanta
2020 - Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Concorcio participant/ scholarship recipient
2019 - Finalist of the Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Certamen
2012 - Centro de Arte y Flamenco de Sevilla scholarship recipient
Full Bio
Ania Bartelmus is the lead dancer as well as founder and director of La Candela Company. Ania’s love affair with flamenco started years ago when she first saw a live flamenco show in her hometown Wrocław. Before discovering flamenco she trained in many other dance forms, theater and gymnastics but it wasn’t until she saw flamenco that she became passionate enough to pursue it as a career. Her passion for flamenco made her leave everything and move to Seville, Spain to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional flamenco dancer and start her own company. Upon her return to Atlanta, Ania started collaborating with other national flamenco artists and kept going back and forth to Seville for more training and more performing experience. Eventually, in 2014, Ania started her first company called Ania Flamenco which last year became known as La Candela Company. La Candela means the flame and is also Ania’s nickname. It was in Seville that Ania received her nickname from the renowned flamenco signer Curro Fernandez who saw flamenco flame in Ania.
Ania is in charge of musical and dance arrangements, booking national and international artists for her shows as well as managing company’s day to day operations. She lives her dream of making a living with flamenco, creating new shows and dancing every day. Ania listens to flamenco music, her exercise is dance, and her favorite travel destination is Spain. Even her partner Greg is very involved in flamenco and is behind most of the photos and videos that you see of La Candela Company, as well as, all the stage and equipment needs.