Cocina Flamenca Live Returns For Third Annual Spanish Festival

The free food and art festival transforms the Latino Cultural Center with vibrant Spanish culture and flamenco performances.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:12pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a flamenco dancer's ornate, textured costume in rich, saturated colors like crimson red, deep indigo, and shimmering gold, conceptually representing the vibrant energy of Spanish cultural traditions.The vibrant textures and colors of flamenco fashion take center stage at the Cocina Flamenca Live festival, capturing the passionate spirit of Spanish culture.Dallas Today

The third annual Cocina Flamenca Live Festival is set to take over the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas on Saturday, featuring flamenco dance, music, food, and other Spanish cultural activities. The festival will utilize all of the LCC's performance spaces and include a showcase by the professional dance group Sabor Flamenco, a salsa-flamenco dance class, and a ticketed finale performance called Fiesta Flamenca XII.

Why it matters

Cocina Flamenca Live celebrates the rich cultural traditions of Spain, bringing the joyful energy and sense of community from the famous Feria de Abril de Sevilla festival to Dallas. The event highlights the inclusive and expressive nature of flamenco dance, which has a long history of influencing and being influenced by performers across the Caribbean and Latin America.

The details

The free Cocina Flamenca Live Festival will run from 4-8:30 pm on Saturday at the Latino Cultural Center, featuring performances, activities, and authentic Spanish cuisine. New this year is a salsa-flamenco dance class taught by celebrated dancer Nélida Tirado. The performance lineup includes a showcase by the professional dance group Sabor Flamenco, which will blend traditional and more contemporary flamenco styles. The festival will conclude with the ticketed Fiesta Flamenca XII finale performance featuring flamenco dancers, guitarists, and a vocalist.

  • The Cocina Flamenca Live Festival takes place on Saturday, April 26, 2026.
  • The festival runs from 4 pm to 8:30 pm.

The players

Delilah Buitrón Arrebola

The artistic director of The Flame Foundation, which produces the Cocina Flamenca Live event.

Sabor Flamenco

A professional flamenco dance group that has performed at previous Cocina Live festivals and plans to showcase a blend of traditional and contemporary styles.

Nélida Tirado

A celebrated flamenco dancer whose resume includes an appearance in the In the Heights film adaptation. She will be teaching a free salsa-flamenco dance class at the festival.

Julie Kinzie

A performer in Sabor Flamenco who has been practicing flamenco dance since 1999 and appreciates the art form's inclusivity.

Antonio Arrebola

The local Maestro of Flamenco DNA who will represent Dallas in the lineup for the ticketed Fiesta Flamenca XII finale performance.

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What they’re saying

“'What started as a single outdoor festival has turned into a full cultural takeover of the Latino Cultural Center. This year, flamenco isn't just happening in one place, it's alive everywhere.'”

— Delilah Buitrón Arrebola, Artistic Director, The Flame Foundation

“'We have a very interesting mix of dance styles and music. We have traditional numbers and also a few with a little bit more modern and contemporary infused flair.'”

— Julie Kinzie, Performer, Sabor Flamenco

“'For me, La Feria de Sevilla has always been about togetherness. Cocina Flamenca Live isn't about recreating the Feria exactly, but it's absolutely inspired by that same joy, pride, and sense of belonging.'”

— Delilah Buitrón Arrebola, Artistic Director, The Flame Foundation

“'Flamenco brought me back to dance in a passionate way. While I've danced all my life, I always felt excluded because I was not the picture of a traditional dancer, very long and lean. In flamenco [there's] a place for everybody. You're in a wheelchair? Great, we have something for you. You're overweight? Great, you're going to express yourself and do phenomenal things with your body. Flamenco is very inclusive and there is a dance for every emotion you could possibly imagine. Being able to express that is a gift.'”

— Julie Kinzie, Performer, Sabor Flamenco

What’s next

Tickets for the Fiesta Flamenca XII finale performance are limited, so attendees are encouraged to purchase them in advance.

The takeaway

Cocina Flamenca Live celebrates the vibrant Spanish cultural traditions of flamenco dance, music, and cuisine, bringing the joyful energy and sense of community from the famous Feria de Abril de Sevilla festival to Dallas. The event highlights the inclusive and expressive nature of flamenco, which has a long history of cross-cultural influence.