Press / Editorial

Adelaide Hills resident Liana Vargas is offering art classes for children at her home studio in Aldgate.

The ex-flamenco dancer and teacher is in her third year of a visual arts degree at the Adelaide Central School of Art and has been teaching for the last two years at Weaverworks Art Emporium in Mount Barker.
"I've been a flamenco dancer and teacher for 30 years, travelling and performing all over the world, and now that's over I wanted to experience a new art form, so I enrolled at the Adelaide Central School of Art," Liana said.
"When I first started a lady suggested I try teaching but I figured I should get my degree first, but she said I could just apply what I was learning - so that's what I do, I'm simply teaching the kids what I'm learning and adjusting it a little for their age group."
Liana offers the weekly classes to children between eight and sixteen years of age every Saturday and Thursday after school, in the beautiful surrounds of her Adelaide Hills home. "I originally built a huge barn to be a dance studio but now it's acting as an art studio - it's a great little spot, just down the road from The Hut Community Centre, and it's in a beautiful setting, amongst the trees and lush foliage," she said.
"They're very intimate classes, I don't like to take more than six kids per class even though it's a large space, I like to spend a lot of time with each student and teach them as individuals rather than a collective." "I was offering the classes to kids between eight and sixteen years of age but they're gnerally stopping around 13 - we currently have two classes a week and I'm going to introduce a third one in the second week of January which will be on a Tuesday - and the current students have all enrolled again for next year, it's terrific!"
Liana said she introduced the classes to get kids involved in the art-making process, in an effort to expand their passion and creativity.
"I like to think of it as that classic French/Italian image where you have a master painter and a few apprentices - though it's not quite that romantic," she said. "It's all very hands-on, so we do a lot of drawing and painting, from traditional through to contemporary methods, and we explore all different styles and media." "I've even been teaching them som avant garde styles like cubism, expressionism, and impressionism, and teaching them a little about the artists who invented them - so they get a little bit of hisotry too!"
Liana said the kids have surprised and impressed her with their strength of concentration and producitivity.
"They're really enjoying themselves, I've been told it's the highlight of their week, and the work they're coming up with is just great," she said.
"They're so willing to produce something and do their best work, you can really see the improvements week by week - and they're so receptive, they don't have any bars up, they're completely open, some are more tentative than others of course, but once they give it a try they love it."
Liana said exposing kids to art and other creative fields is vital for the stimulation of their imagination. "Creativity is probably the most important thing we can teach our kids - it's a must, whether it's music, art, anything! she said. "Composing ideas and thinking outside the square is so vital to a child's growth, and something that will continue to help them all through their life." For more information phone Liana on 837093908 or visit www.lianavargas.com

Liana Vargas - Exuberance personified, by Moya Stevens

They say enthusiasm is contagious and when one spends time with Liana Vargas, the adage rings true.

Liana's lust for life is clearly evident from the moment she starts telling her story. Her descriptions are elaborate, her language vivid and her actions expansive.

It stands to reason therefore that when, as a young teenager, rejected by the SA School of art, Liana got fired up and searched for another avenue for her creativity.

"I applied at Underdale and, being the end of the 70s when art was very conceptual, I got shooshed off very quickly when I produced my portfolio of old masters that I had copied," Liana said.

"So I started a drama degree at Adelaide Uni where Frank Ford was head of the department," sha said, "mind you, I didn't finish the degree as it started to get into the theory and I just loved the history and practical."

Liana admits that she bores easily and can be prone to distraction so being turned off by the theory of drama, she left Adelaide for Sydney in search of work in amateur theatre.

"When I arrived in Sydney friends said that I must join them at the Spanish Club to see the Flamenco dancers, to which I replied 'what's flemengo?'

"I was introduced to Antonio Vargas who was an amazing dancer and he turned my life around," Liana said.

"Flamenco is so physical, colourful and passionate and being taught by this very exciting professional, I became fully immersed in that world."

Liana and Antonio went on to build a dance studio in sydney where they taught but as time went on, the age difference of 20 years too its toll and Liana was offered a job to dance in Madrid at a Tablao, similar to a theatre restaurant. She was soon offered a similar job in Mexico City.

"It was a great life but we worked hard - three shows a night, six nights a week, but we did get paid about US$500 a week with full board which was good money 15 years ago."

"The Tablao in Mexico City had this very strong rustic theme with hanging hams above the stage and unbeknown to me, I danced half a show with this big piece of ham hanging off my headpiece."

Liana's dancing expertise took her to London where she danced at the Royal Albert Hall with Cliff Richard on the same bill and at a Royal Spring Gala at Covent Garden in front of Princess Diana.

"I loved London - I shared a flat in Soho with another Aussie girl and it was above a strip joint and it even had the flashing neon light outside our window.

"I had an Italian opera singer get a bit too keen on me and he became a bit obsessive so in 1994 I ran off to Los Angeles where I danced in the famous El Cid Restaurant on sunset Boulevard."

Living out of a suitcase soon became tiring for Liana so she cam home to Adelaide where she taught in the Centre for Performing Arts.  She later opened her own studio, World Dance Centre, where not only Flamenco was taught but a range of other ethnic dances.

After seven years Liana sold the business to further develop opportuities to create dance using her interpretation, choreography and drama skills.

"I ended up collaborating with chris Shepherd in a show Cuban gypsy through my newly established dance group Teatero del Mundo." Liana said, "and through working with Chris, who is a tru pro in contemporary jazz dance, we formed a personal partnership."

Chris and Liana moved to Aldgate in 2000 as they both ahve always really loved the hills.

"After almost 30 years of dancing, training five to six hours a day, six days a week and reaching my mid 40's, the body was starting to hurt," she said, "and quite frankly the fire had gone out so I decided to try something else."

Two years ago, Liana took up on some unfinished business from her teen years by enrolling in the Adelaide Central School of Art, embarking on her Bachelor Degree in visual Arts.

Liana's early work, being exhibited at the Rising sun Hotel in Kensington features the movement and colour of flamenco however she is expanding her focus.

"People are liking and buying my work, which is really exciting.

"I find paint very seductive, very sensual and painting a journey of discovery." she said.

"I am loving this new form of expression - dance is so transient whereas painting lives on."

Teaching art to children in Mount Barker, Liana is revelling in her new life of working hard studying and teaching.

"I really try to inspire my students - we have a lot of fun and they find the essons very rewarding."

Looking at her life size replica paintings of Velazquez's Mars, God of War and Rubens' The Three Graces, Liana's talent coupled with her determined hard work will no doubt eventuate in success.

"I was looking for another art ot conquer and for me that's what striving means - setting up the challenge then meeting it, as daunting as it may seem.

"The support of Chris has enabled me to pursue this dream.

"The Hills is the only place we could live - it's our refuge," Liana said, "and when we drive home from the city, we get an overwhelming sense of belonging."

Liana's thirst for challenge, obvious creative talent and strong work ethic can only culminate in some exciting outcomes. We look forward to seeing more spectacular exhibitions of Liana Vargas's work very soon.