Flamenco dance is considered by many to be the world's second most challenging dance form.  I didn't choose it - it chose me!  I started Flamenco when I was 40 years old, taking 1-2 hours of classes a week the first year and coming home and practicing a couple of hours each day.  By the second year I was taking 20 hours of classes a week and still practicing every day at home.  All while holding a full-time job as a paralegal and managing a household. More than 20 years later, I'm still dancing - performing and teaching - and it has become my full time occupation.

I originally started, not because I was called by some strange  force compelling me to do this; I started because I loved the costumes!  I'm a girl - I like pretty clothes!  In fact, I have made most of my costumes over the years when I had time.  I love to sew.  Although I am not a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination, I can make a very nice costume (especially when I'm on stage and everyone else is in the audience and can't see some of the "imperfections" up close.)

I am considered more of an authentic Flamenco dancer than a theatrical Flamenco dancer as I only dance improvisationally.  I do not use choreography, except to teach my students the basics.  And I only dance to live music, not recorded music (except in a rare or unique circumstance such as a pageant where timing is critical).

When I won the Talent Trophy for Flamenco dance in the Ms. Sr. Arizona Pageant 2012.

Linda Machado and guitarist/husband Ricardo de Cristóbal