Birthed in East Harlem, the women of Soles arrived with a single, transparent question: how do they find truth, connection, and storytelling through the rhythms of their respective cultures? Based in the rhythms of Tap (Amanda Castro), Flamenco (Arielle Rosales) and Kathak (Brinda Guha), their mission created the fire that is Soles of Duende. They devote their work together to yield nothing but joy and music, and to bring clarity to how they connect given their beautiful differences. 

Recently closing Singing In the Rain in the role of Kathy Seldon at theatre Olney Theatre, Amanda Castro is a multidisciplinary artist with her artistry rooted in rhythm with her soul in tap. Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Haven, CT - She has travelled as a performer, choreographer, judge, and teacher nationally and internationally including performances in London, Germany, & South Africa. Castro is a graduate of California Institute of the Arts where she studied under Glen Eddy of Nederlands Dans Theatre and Andre Tyson from Ailey Company. She was a principal dancer of the renowned company, Urban Bush Women for four years, and won the 2016 Run The Night competition at Highline Ballroom and placed 2nd in 2017 with her newly found all female percussive trio Soles of Duende.  Shot out of a canon into the musical theatre scene over the past 3 years,  she has spent the past season performing in The Ordway’s production of 42nd Street In the role of Lorraine. Amanda was also A “flinty” Anita in an “atomic” performance of West Side Story at the Glimmerglass Festival (NYT ‘18) , this past Spring Amanda performed for over 100,000+ audience members in the role of Anita in West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago.  She has worked alongside Julio Monge, Jared Grimes, Ayodele Casel, Jason Bernard, Andrew Nemr, and Nick Kenkel. She has danced at Radio City, Hammerstein Ballroom, The Kennedy Center, The John Anson Ford Theatre, and many more. Amanda is honored to be on this journey, and can’t wait for what the future holds!! @acastrodance #gobegreat

Arielle Rosales is a Bessie Award nominated Social Engagement Performing Artist and Interdisciplinary Flamenco Dancer. From dance to comedy to playwriting to percussion, this proud Native New Yorker’s performative approach is as eclectic and grounded as her upbringing. Credits include commercials for Nokia, Target, & MTV; episodes of “The Today Show” (NBC), “Good Morning America” (ABC), & “Fatal Encounters” (Investigation Discovery); and the feature film True to the Heart (Winner of the 2011 LIIFE Award for “Best Supporting Actress”). Her choreography has been featured in The Latin Quarter Show (REVEL Casino & Resort, Atlantic City), Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington DC), and the 2012 Logo Premier of Telemundo. In 2016, she founded House of Duende — www.houseofduende.com — birthing her signature #UnleashYourDuende creative movement workshop, which has been commissioned by Movement Research, Gibney Dance, and BRIC Arts Media. Rosales is the Fall ’18 Curator for Movement Research’s Artist of Color Council and is a 2018 Dixon Place Artist in Residence with the #ladiesinpercussion trio @SolesOfDuende, culminating in their world premier production of “CAN WE DANCE HERE?” 

Brinda Guha is a born administrator, artist and leader. With an extensive background in choreography, teaching, performing, arts administration and event planning, she is excited to bring her knowledge of the arts to the job as Symposium Coordinator at Dance/NYC. She is trained in North Indian Classical Kathak dance, and has experience in Manipuri, Flamenco, Contemporary and street styles of movement. She was Dixon Place's 2018 Artist-In-Residence, who commissioned Brinda's company Kalamandir to produce urbanJATRA, a full-length Contemporary Indian production, for three weeks. Most recently, Brinda dances with a percussive dance trio featuring Flamenco (Arielle Rosales), Tap (Amanda Castro), and Kathak called Soles of Duende. Soles was just picked up for the New Spotlight Residency Series at Gibney for 2020. Her company Kalamandir has performed at Gowanus Arts Center, BDC, Actor’s Fund Arts Center, Knockdown Center, Dixon Place, Secret Theater, Brooklyn Dance Festival, NYCDA Dance Festival, Symphony Space, Highline Ballroom, Madison Square Garden, Hammerstein Ballroom, and much more. She is now represented by CESD Talent Agency in the Dance Department. After six years at Broadway Dance Center as the organization's full-time training Programs Coordinator and International Student Visa Program's Designated School Officer, Brinda founded her own independent endeavor of bringing together the international dance community and activism work. She is the curator of WISE FRUIT NYC, a seasonal live arts showcase benefiting Planned Parenthood of NYC.  In this phase of her career, she feels this time of leadership and growth is a means to learn more about herself as a person, performer, and eternal student of the arts.