Today we’d like to introduce you to Griset Damas Roche.
Hi Griset, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Griset Damas- Roche professional Flamenco dancer.
This coming January, we will be guest artists with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
January 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ohio Theatre — Latin Rhythms and Hollywood Drama.
I will be dancing the passionate “El Amor Brujo” by Manuel de Falla”
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Griset Damas-Roche was born in Havana, Cuba, where she began studying ballet at a young age at the Instituto Superior de Arte before joining the renowned Ballet Español de La Habana.
In 1998, she moved to Bogotá, Colombia, where she introduced flamenco to more than 3,500 students as a teacher and choreographer. For 17 years, she successfully ran her own dance school and company, “Griset Damas Escuela de Flamenco.” As a soloist, she collaborated with numerous flamenco companies throughout Colombia, performing in the country’s most prestigious theaters and with the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra and the Colombian Symphony Orchestra. She also performed as a soloist in Boleros, a work by acclaimed choreographer Antonio Canales.
In 2014, Griset moved with her family to Columbus, Ohio, where she began teaching at the prestigious Flamenco del Corazón school. Shortly after, she took the next step in her artistic career and founded her own studio in Plain City: U Will Dance Studio, The name itself reflects her conviction: You will dance. Griset quickly became an integral part of Columbus’s arts community. She was invited to participate in the city’s Columbus Makes Art promotional campaign, an honor that opened doors to performances with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. For the past decade, she has been a guest flamenco instructor in BalletMet’s Summer Intensive Program and has shared her expertise with numerous dance schools in central Ohio, including New Albany Ballet and the Dublin Dance Center. Her performances have graced stages such as the Columbus Museum of Art, and she was a flamenco dancer at TEDxColumbus in 2019 and 2021.
Griset also directed the Columbus Flamenco Company, collaborating with distinguished musicians and experts from Ohio and Spain. Her most recent artistic project is Caña Flamenca, a trio of dancers and musicians dedicated to sharing the richness of flamenco with the Columbus community.
She has received numerous awards that have allowed her to travel to Spain to further her training in Spanish dance and flamenco at the prestigious Amor de Dios school in Madrid, where she studied with some of the most respected masters of the art. She currently works as a flamenco teacher at Columbus City Schools through the Teaching Ohio program.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For many Cuban artists, the journey to the United States is filled with both hope and profound challenges. Arriving with little more than a dream often means starting from zero—without financial stability, professional connections, or the support networks that most artists rely on. The first struggles are often basic but overwhelming: adapting to a new culture, navigating immigration processes, learning the language, and finding a way to survive while still holding onto one’s artistic identity.
For a flamenco dancer, the challenges can feel even greater. Flamenco is a deeply rooted cultural tradition, and establishing credibility in a new country can take years of persistence. Building an audience, educating the community about the art form, and earning opportunities to perform or teach requires immense resilience. Access to studios, musicians, costumes, and training is costly and often out of reach in the beginning.
Yet perhaps the greatest challenge is emotional—leaving behind family, homeland, and the artistic world where you were shaped. Rebuilding a career from the ground up demands courage and constant reinvention. But it is precisely this struggle that strengthens the artist: the determination to preserve cultural heritage, the passion to share it with a new community, and the belief that art can open doors where nothing else can..For me, the journey has never been just about becoming an artist—it has also been about carrying my family with me every step of the way. I am the mother of a beautiful daughter with autism and the caregiver of my nearly 80-year-old mother. They are my daily inspiration, my strength, and the reason I continue pushing forward even when the road feels overwhelming. Their resilience and unconditional love have shaped my own, reminding me that every challenge I face is an opportunity to show them what perseverance, passion, and hope look like. In many ways, my success is not mine alone—it is the result of the love and courage we share as a family. am also blessed with a husband who has been the foundation of both our home and my career. His support, stability, and unwavering belief in my work have allowed me to grow as an artist while keeping our family strong. I want to mention that along my journey I’ve had friends like Suzi Wilkof who have been a great support to me and to Flamenco in Columbus, and other students and friends I haven’t mentioned here. Thank you all for believing in me and in the process.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a flamenco dancer, choreographer, and teacher dedicated to sharing the beauty and passion of Spanish dance. I specialize in flamenco with a focus on expressive techniques using castanets, and I also perform and teach with traditional accessories such as mantón, abanico, bata de cola, and sombrero.
I am most proud of inspiring my students and audiences, helping them connect deeply with this art form. What sets me apart is my ability to combine technical precision with emotional expression, bringing both authenticity and creativity to every performance and class.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I really enjoy exercising, stretching, watching TV, and sometimes I can be a little lazy. I don’t like arguments, I tend to talk a lot, and I love listening to salsa music. I love the solitude in my studio for choreographing and creating. I also love rehearsing with Caña Flamenca, and I enjoy being with all my studio dancers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uwilldance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grisetdamas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16PEoN4DJk/
- Youtube: Griset Damas Escuela de Flamenco
