Carol Basilio, artistically known as “Caro la Champi,” has been dancing flamenco for 20 years, studying, performing, and teaching in Philadelphia, New York, and Sevilla, where she lived for five years. With deep respect for flamenco’s roots, Carol is committed to dismantling the entrenched stereotypes that have long defined the artists’ gender roles. She challenges the rigid expectations of femininity and masculinity in flamenco, rejecting the conventional dichotomy of the delicate, decorative bailaora and the forceful, dominant bailaor. Carol prefers to perform in a suit, embracing an androgynous aesthetic that reflects the full emotional spectrum of flamenco—strength, vulnerability, defiance, and passion—without being confined by gendered movement or costuming. Her dance is a testament to flamenco’s evolving nature, proving that authenticity lies not in adherence to convention, but in the fearless expression of one’s truth. Living now in San Diego she now performs at Cafe Sevilla San Diego regularly.