Music is in the air, and Festival Flamenco Albuquerque is on the lips of every music and dance aficionado throughout the Southwest, and beyond! Presented by the National Institute of Flamenco, in partnership with the University of New Mexico and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Festival Flamenco Albuquerque is the oldest and largest flamenco festival outside of Spain. Featuring 23 performances, over 60 workshops, 12 internationally-based performance companies, 1 New Mexican company, and 114 total performers, Festival Flamenco Albuquerque will bring the world of Spanish dance to venues throughout Albuquerque, June 9 – 17, 2023.
Now in its 36th year, Festival Flamenco Albuquerque is regarded as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind, having hosted many of the world’s most prominent flamenco artists. Expect unforgettable flamenco shows by the likes of Israel Galván, who was honored with the 2012 New York Bessie Performance Award for an Outstanding Production, the Spanish National Dance Prize, and the Fine Arts Medal awarded by the Council of Ministers of the Spanish Government.
What the Festival Brings You
On June 15 a late-night music experience will leave you breathless with an intimate cante concert at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque by award-winning artists José Valencia y Salvador Gutiérrez for a Recital de Cante Guitarra. The Festival presents the best in traditional flamenco with Raquel Heredia “La Repompa” and Nazaret Reyes bringing generations of Gitano (Spanish Roma) flamenco excellence to the stage.
In addition to traditional shows, Festival Flamenco Albuquerque proudly brings the best in avant garde dancers like Olga Pericet, winner of the 2018 Spanish National Dance Prize, and Andrés Marín, winner of the 2022 Spanish National Dance Prize and referred to as the Picasso of Flamenco. The majority of the scheduled concerts will make their United States premiere during Festival Flamenco Albuquerque.
Festival venues include the Journal Theatre at the national Hispanic Cultural Center, and UNM’s Rodey and X–Experimental Theatres, as well as nightly tablaos at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque located inside of Hotel Albuquerque.
Something for Everybody
Children and youth can join us during the 24th Annual Flamenco Kids Camp and the 4th Annual Festival Juvenil. Flamenco Kids Camp is a fun, immersive day camp introducing children ages 6-12 to the full range of flamenco arts and culture.
Festival Juvenil is the youth component of Festival Flamenco Albuquerque and the premiere national flamenco camp for experienced young flamenco dancers ages 10-15. Students take exclusive Festival Juvenil classes together as part of a cohort taught by Festival Flamenco Albuquerque guest artists.
Festival Flamenco Albuquerque truly has something for everyone, including the Flamenco in Your Neighborhood Series, featuring free classes and outdoor concerts produced in partnership with Bernalillo County. The Exposición Flamenca features an afternoon of free performances by Flamenco Kids Campers, Festival Juvenil dancers, and local and national professional performance groups.
A Global Enterprise
Festival Flamenco Albuquerque is produced in partnership with the University of New Mexico, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and Bernalillo County, with support from the City of Albuquerque, the National Endowment for the Arts, Heritage Hotels and Resorts, UNM Department of Theatre and Dance, TourSpain, Acción Cultural Española, the CABQ Urban Enhancement Trust Fund, Nusenda, New Mexico Arts, Spain/USA Foundation, the McCune Charitable Foundation, Instituto Cervantes, Martz Accountancy Corporation, New Mexico Mutual, the UNM Latin American and Iberian Institute, MidAtlantic Arts, and the New England Foundation for the Arts.
For more information about Festival Flamenco Albuquerque, visit the website. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased via the website, or through venue box offices.
Photo credits: Florencia Oz and Daniel Doña.
This article was posted by David Salcido
