Michael S. Hauser

life story

Godfather of Flamenco in MN and a helluva birdwatcher

Michael was a nationally known and internationally travelled flamenco guitarist responsible for creating a vibrant community in MN of participants and lovers of the Spanish art form.

About Michael

Michael Hauser, the godfather of Midwest flamenco, passed away on April 15, 2026, 
at the age of 87. He was preceded in death by his parents, nationally known sculptor Alonzo Hauser and modern dance choreographer Nancy Hauser. He is survived by daughter Bridget O’Flaherty, siblings Heidi Hauser Jasmin (Paul) and Tony Hauser (Carol Brown Hauser), nieces Laura Tillmann-Hauser (Sean) and Julia Hauser, grandniece Romy Tillmann-Hauser, and former wife Susana Di Palma.

He lived a life as full as one could possibly ask for, raising pheasants and trapping raccoons as a boy, obtaining a degree in forestry at the University of Minnesota, and working as a forester in Idaho and Alaska. He spent two years in Liberia, West Africa, as a division manager on a rubber plantation, and ultimately became one of the few flamenco guitar masters in the United States.

Somewhere between the time Michael started on a degree in forestry and worked in Liberia, he became fascinated with the flamenco guitar. He said his parents had some flamenco records, and he taught himself by copying the records of Montoya and Sabicas. On the way back from West Africa, he stopped in Madrid. Over the years, he studied with a number of Spain’s great flamenco guitarists including Luis Maravilla, Niño Ricardo, Justo de Badajoz, and Juan Maya “Marote,” as well as with Andrés Segovia’s classical guitar protégé Jesus Silva.

Michael brought flamenco back to Minnesota in 1963 and began performing in the Twin Cities. He became an integral part of the Nancy Hauser’s Guild of Performing Arts along with his sister, modern dancer Heidi Hauser Jasmin, and brother, classical and flamenco guitarist Tony Hauser. With his brother, the Hauser Guitar Duo concertized extensively for over 50 years. In the early 1970s he met and married flamenco dancer and choreographer Susana di Palma. Together they founded the Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater and established a thriving flamenco community. Michael performed extensively as soloist, accompanying a number of nationally known dancers and with Zorongo Flamenco with di Palma. During his career, Michael performed in all 50 states, Canada, Yugoslavia, Taiwan, and Japan.

He was on the music faculty at Macalester College in St. Paul, where he taught flamenco guitar. His classes ranged from an introduction to basic flamenco, to an intensive study of various flamenco rhythms and styles and the history of Gypsy and Moor influence on the flamenco art form.

Michael’s cabin near River Falls, Wisconsin, was a source of great memories of both “juergas,” or flamenco parties, and quiet times. As a birdwatcher, he travelled to an island on the far west coast of Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and Big Bend, Texas. Beginning in 1964, his brother Tony joined him for what would become hundreds of performances, and bird watching.

A memorial-juerga will be held on June 21, 2026. The venue will be the Zorongo Flamenco Studio at 3715 Minnehaha Ave Suite C, Minneapolis, MN 55406 beginning at 4PM.

Memorials may be made to Michael Hauser Guitar Scholarship Fund (MHGSF) via Zorongo Flamenco. Please visit https://www.givemn.org/story/hauserguitarfund

memorial service

Memorial-Juerga

June 21, 2026

Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre 3715 Minnehaha Ave Suite C, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA

bring your shoes and castanets!