Sep ’24 #1: Remembering María Benítez, Company Named NDP Grantee, & More!

la voz flamenca

FLAMENCO NEWS

from flamenco vivo

María Benítez: Remembering the Dancer

A SPECIAL DEDICATION

Article by Brian Siebert for The New York Times

Dancer and choreographer María Benítez, a foundational figure in flamenco history, has passed away––leaving a tremendous legacy of spreading the art form in the US, particularly New Mexico. She was central to the creation of the region’s bustling flamenco communities for which it is known today.

It is difficult to summarize María’s impact, but perhaps it is best concisely articulated by former NY Times chief dance critic Anna Kisselgoff in 1984, who wrote that María’s performance displayed “the best of the ineffable quality that defines flamenco as a genre,” and proved that “you don’t have to be Spanish to perform Spanish dance.” This sentiment is now more widely accepted, and in large part thanks to María.

from flamenco vivo

Flamenco Vivo Named National Dance Project Grantee

THE WORD IS OUT!

To support new work by Patricia Guerrero

We are thrilled to announce we have received NEFA’s National Dance Project grant! An unprecedented level of support for the Company, this will bolster our upcoming commission and touring of Patricia Guerrero’s new work QUINTO ELEMENTO! This work will explore the fifth element of the earth: ether, that which we do not see yet is ever-present. Hailed as a master of tradition who dares to deconstruct the art form (The New Yorker), Guerrero draws on her deep knowledge of flamenco but ventures beyond its aesthetic bounds, unraveling flamenco’s expressive movement language through fragmentation and chaos in her choreography.

CHECK OUT THE NEWS

west coast report

Centennial Celebration: Old Spanish Days

A SANTA BARBARA TRADITION

by Maya de Silva Chafe

Flamenco Vivo Teaching Artist Maya de Silva Chafe (pictured center) shares her second installment of La Voz Flamenca’s new West Coast Report!

“When I was a child, my father rented an apartment right across the street from the beautiful SB County Courthouse, built in the 1940s in the style of a Spanish castle and occupying a solid block of beautiful gardens, fountains, and fantastical architecture. This was my play area, and for 4 nights every August I watched the performances in this “front yard” of mine, courtesy of the annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Inspired by this and my love of dance, I became a professional flamenco dancer. Though certainly not paved with gold, or even copper, it is a path that I have never regretted…”

READ THE REST HERE

This year, I went back, determined to not be an outsider looking in, but rather to dance in it and enjoy it more than ever––I was not disappointed. I danced at the courthouse stage and at a tablao with some excellent artists, Lakshmi Basile, Melissa Cruz, Kambiz Pakan and Jose Pelele. The Desfile Historico featured some of the finest horses, all weekend everyone was dressed to the nines in their Fiesta finery, strolling bands of mariachis were ubiquitous, and the flavor of general debauchery was incomparable. Ole and Viva La Fiesta!

Fun fact: Not only was the SB Fiesta the flamenco starting point for yours truly, it also kickstarted other artists’ flamenco pursuits, including 2022 Flamenco Certamen USA winner Talia Vestal, Paloma Ríos, and Timo Nuñez!

LEARN ABOUT THE FIESTA’S HISTORY

FUN FACT

Which world-famous ballet dancer once watched María Benítez perform?

DANCE HISTORY CROSSOVER

Hint: A household name, you don’t have to be a dance nerd to recognize him…

Answer: Mikhail Baryshnikov!

One of ballet’s greatest superstars, Mikhail Baryshnikov was the leading male classical ballet dancer of the 70s and 80s, principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet, later Artistic Director at ABT, founder of NYC’s Baryshnikov Arts Center, and even actor, for which you might recognize him from SATC.

And he took the time to watch María Benítez perform, as cited in the NYT article shared above. One world-changing dancer admiring another.

Their connection didn’t stop there––she had been “described by critics as ‘the Baryshnikov of Spanish dance,” according to the heartfelt article below.

la voz flamenca

from flamenco vivo

María Benítez: Remembering the Dancer

A SPECIAL DEDICATION

Article by Brian Siebert for The New York Times

from flamenco vivo

Flamenco Vivo Named National Dance Project Grantee

THE WORD IS OUT!

To support new work by Patricia Guerrero

west coast report

Centennial Celebration: Old Spanish Days

A SANTA BARBARA TRADITION

by Maya de Silva Chafe

FUN FACT

Which world-famous ballet dancer once watched María Benítez perform?

DANCE HISTORY CROSSOVER

Hint: A household name, you don’t have to be a dance nerd to recognize him… Answer: Mikhail Baryshnikov!

CURRENT AND PAST EDITIONS

Hint: A household name, you don’t have to be a dance nerd to recognize him…

Answer: Mikhail Baryshnikov!