Las Cruces flamenco aficionados will want to make a trip north June 21–29, 2024, for The 37th Edition of Festival Flamenco Alburquerque (FFABQ37), the longest-running and largest flamenco festival outside of Spain. Presented by the National Institute of Flamenco, the University of New Mexico, PNC Bank, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the festival will include over 20 performances, more than 40 paid workshops, 13 international performance companies, one New Mexican company, two world premiere shows, and more than 100 performers.
Now in its 37th year, Festival Flamenco Alburquerque is regarded as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind, having hosted many of the world’s most prominent flamenco artists. Ticket packages and workshops are available at ffabq.org.
Performances
Anticipate remarkable performances from a wide array of artists, including traditional interpreters, such as dancer Karime Amaya, grandniece of the iconic Carmen Amaya, unveiling her world premiere Contrapunto; internationally acclaimed dancer Farruquito, bringing the U.S. premiere of Concierto Flamenco; singer “El Pele,” one of flamenco’s greatest living vocalists, noted for opening David Bowie’s 1990 concerts in Barcelona and Madrid; and the exceptionally talented Campallo family, featuring dancer Adela Campallo’s world premiere Fui Piedra, along with dancer Rafael Campallo and guitarist Juan Campallo.
The festival features a range of flamenco interpretations, including avant-garde and rising artists. Thrilling new performances from visionary artists such as Manuel Liñán, winner of the 2017 Spanish National Dance Prize; Estévez y Paños, winners of the 2019 Spanish National Dance Prize for Creation; Mercedes de Córdoba; and María Moreno push the boundaries of the art form. Rising stars such as Águeda Saavedra, winner of the 2022 Festival de Jerez Revelation Prize for best new artist, and Eduardo Guerrero, winner of the 2022 Lorca Prize for best male dancer, bring intense, evocative energy to the stage. Yinka Esi Graves presents her critically acclaimed solo work, The Disappearing Act.
Concert Venues
All of the scheduled concerts will have their United States premiere during FFABQ37. Festival venues include the Journal Theatre at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and UNM’s Rodey and Experimental Theatres, as well as late-night tablaos at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque, located within Hotel Albuquerque.
Activities for All Ages
Kids and teenagers can attend the 25th Annual Flamenco Kids Camp and the 5th Annual Festival Juvenil. The Flamenco Kids Camp is a dynamic day camp introducing children ages 6–12 to the comprehensive range of flamenco arts. Festival Juvenil is the youth division of Festival Flamenco Alburquerque and the leading national flamenco camp for experienced young dancers ages 10–15. Students will participate in exclusive Festival Juvenil classes, instructed by guest artists from Festival Flamenco Alburquerque.
Festival Flamenco Alburquerque has something for everyone, including the Flamenco in Your Neighborhood Series, which offers free classes and outdoor concerts produced in partnership with Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, the Village of Los Lunas Parks and Recreation, and the Wildflower Playhouse in Taos. The Exposición Flamenca Juvenil provides a family-friendly Saturday morning with free performances by Flamenco Kids Camp attendees, Festival Juvenil dancers, and local and national student performance groups at Albuquerque’s Old Town Gazebo. As well as Flamenco En El Cine, a free and open to the public mini flamenco film festival held on Saturday June 22 at The Guild Cinema, located in Nob Hill Albuquerque.
About the National Institute of Flamenco
The National Institute of Flamenco (NIF) is a 501c3 non-profit that has become an internationally influential arts organization, with a comprehensive and deep range of programming.
Founded in 1982 by Eva Encinias, a lifelong flamenco artist and 2022 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, NIF is home to the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, which offers flamenco education starting at age 3, and Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, the first U.S.-based company invited to a Spanish flamenco festival. In 1999, Yjastros, now the resident dance company at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Theatre and Dance, began an artistic journey that would make it North America’s most unique flamenco project.
This innovative performance entity combines the multifaceted nature of the American repertory company with the authentic language of flamenco, creating a living archive of choreographic masterworks. Yjastros is directed by Joaquín Encinias, who co-founded the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts in 1999 with his mother, Eva and sister Marisol. Marisol Encinias currently serves as NIF’s executive director, collaborating with her mother, founding director Eva Encinias, and brother Joaquín to ensure the artistic significance, cultural excellence, and educational quality that position NIF as a leader in arts education and flamenco promotion.
About The University of New Mexico
The National Institute of Flamenco proudly collaborates with the University of New Mexico (UNM), where the Department of Theatre and Dance hosts the only accredited dance program in the United States that includes flamenco as a concentration (BA, BAIA, MA, MFA). The first Festival Flamenco Alburquerque coincided with the 50th Anniversary of UNM’s College of Fine Arts, establishing a long-standing partnership with the University. Yjastros, the institute’s professional flamenco dance and music company, is the resident flamenco dance company within UNM’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
About the National Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is focused on the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. The center offers exhibitions, lectures, book readings, performing arts, and educational programs that hold significance for the local community. It gives Hispanic, Chicano, and Latinx artists a venue to present their work and elevate it to a national level. The NHCC is dedicated to establishing a cultural home for the diverse identities within the community.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, belongs to The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is among the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, dedicated to fostering strong relationships with customers and communities. The bank offers a comprehensive suite of retail and business banking services, including a full range of lending products, and specialized services for corporations and government entities, such as corporate banking, real estate finance, and asset-based lending. PNC also specializes in wealth management and asset management. For more information, visit pnc.com.
THIS ARTICLE IS SPONSORED BY
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FLAMENCO
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Posted by LasCruces.com
