The 2022 Creative Bravos Legacy Award went to Eva Encinias, founder of the National Institute of Flamenco (NIF), in a ceremony at the KiMo Theatre on June 2. Since 1982, Encinias has positioned the NIF as a flamenco arts center known the world over, and helped build a dynasty within her own family with Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company; her son is Artistic Director Joaquín Encinias. Yjastros is in permanent residence at UNM, where Eva Encinias has taught in the Department of Dance and Theatre for over 40 years, and is the only flamenco repertory company in the U.S. Festival Flamenco Alburquerque, which Eva and Joaquín established, is the most respected, best-loved flamenco festival in the world outside of Spain.
This year, Festival Flamenco Alburquerque celebrates its 35th anniversary with free community programs and dance lessons throughout the city. See the schedule below.
Outdoor Concerts:
Friday, June 10, 7pm, Veterans Memorial Park
Saturday, June 11, 5pm, Westside Community Center
Monday, June 13, 5pm, Paradise Hills Community Center
Thursday, June 16, 5pm, Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center
Music and Dance Classes:
Senior classes, Wednesday, June 8, 10am, The South Valley Multipurpose Senior Center
Youth classes, June 21-July 22
Cesar Chavez, Mountain View, Los Padillas, Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center, Westside and Vista Grande Community Centers
Full schedule of classes: ffabq.org/flamenco-in-your-neighborhood
As always, the Festival brings the best flamenco performers in the world to Albuquerque. Featured this year are Alfonso Losa and artists from Flamenco: [Espacio Creativo]; Eva Yerbabuena y Compañía in D’Madrugá, with strikingly modern choreography; and José Maya and Pastora Galván, both from flamenco legacy families, in Rizoma, with an all-Gitano (Spanish Roma) cast featuring singer Angelita Montoya and guitarist Antonio Santiago “Noño”; among other famous flamenco dancers and musicians.
The NIF also offers a Late Night Series, beginning with flamenco guitar and dance at Tablao Flamenco at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town on June 11. Tablao Flamenco is a year-round venue for the NIF in collaboration with Heritage Hotels, a true gem for this city. Main stage events are at Rodey Theatre at UNM and some late-night shows are in the X Theatre there; please check locations when you buy your tickets.