NIF NEWS
"Xicano Power" Official Press Release
For immediate release
FLAMENCO CONCERT “XICANO POWER” AT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER
NOVEMBER 10 & 11, 2023
Enjoy a special pre-show conversation Nov. 10 & 11 before Yjastros' performance of "Xicano Power." The conversation is free and will take place in the National Hispanic Cultural Center Visual Arts Museum.
TAP PHOTOS TO DOWNLOAD - Photos of Yjastros performing “Xicano Power” courtesy of Farruk & Rafael Manjavacas
ALBUQUERQUE, NM: The National Institute of Flamenco invites you to experience Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company's fall concert “Xicano Power” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center this November 10-11.
This evocative flamenco concert sets potent choreography, music, soundscapes and imagery to an exploration of identity, history and culture, including the Chicano Movement.
Internationally acclaimed Sevilla-based flamenco artist Israel Galván choreographed the piece “Xicano Power” on Yjastros in 2004, just five years after the company’s inception. That title was then chosen for the concert when it debuted in February 2023 at the internationally acclaimed Festival de Jerez, in Spain. This was a landmark performance for the company in that Yjastros made history as the first US-based company to ever be invited to a Spanish flamenco festival. The concert evolved into its presentation during this year’s edition of Festival Flamenco Alburquerque, and now comes to Yjastros’ home theater, the Journal Theatre, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The concert features choreography and music that ranges from raw and explosive to joyful and triumphant. Emblematic of the company’s evolution, “Xicano Power” draws on diverse works of movement and music. The work of young contemporary choreographers such as Carmen Coy and Jesús Perona, who recently finished a residency working with Yjastros and UNM flamenco students, appears alongside the works of Marco Flores and the visionary Israel Galván. In collaboration with Theatre Director Alejandro Tomás Rodríguez, Yjastros embodies each choreographer’s unique vision and realizes a radical and beautiful thematic work, one that speaks to the complexities of our shared history and the joy and healing that is born out of struggle.
“‘Xicano Power’ is an iconic piece in our repertory, and I think it demonstrates what the repertory process was for Yjastros early on,” says Joaquín Encinias, Yjastros Artistic Director. “You really can't speak about the Chicano Movement and where the word ‘Chicano’ comes from in that time without speaking about the poem ‘Yo Soy Joaquín.’”
Like the epic poem "Yo So Joaquín," written in 1967 by Denver-based civil rights activist Rodolofo “Corky” Gonzales, the “Xicano Power” concert explores issues of reclaiming one's identity and a legacy of historical greatness. The concert utilizes pieces of this poem in its soundscape, as well as pieces of audio from Tejano filmmaker Hector Galán's award-winning 1996 PBS documentary “Chicano! History of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement.”
“The audio represents what was being fought for or against in the Chicano Movement — educational opportunities, fair employment, workers’ rights, civil rights,” says Marisol Encinias, NIF Executive Director. “The audio selected from Mr. Galán’s film captures voices of people involved in the Chicano Movement or the voices of people who the Chicano Movement was moving against.”
Tickets are on sale now at bit.ly/XicanoPower2023, or through the National Hispanic Cultural Center for this poignant work, created here in Albuquerque, NM, the flamenco capital of the United States.
Yjastros is the flamenco dance company in residence at the University of New Mexico Department of Theatre and Dance.
For questions or press inquiries:
Ungelbah Dávila
ungelbah@nifnm.org
505-242-7600 (office)
The Surprising Soundscape of "Xicano Power"
During “Xicano Power,” you may notice audio elements that are not your typical flamenco sound. That is because the show’s creators mixed pieces of audio from Tejano filmmaker Hector Galán's award-winning documentary “Chicano! History of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement” in the concert’s soundscape.
“The audio represents what was being fought for or against in the Chicano Movement — educational opportunities, fair employment, workers’ rights, civil rights. The audio selected from Mr. Galán’s film captures voices of people involved in the Chicano Movement or the voices of people who the Chicano Movement was moving against.” — Marisol Encinias, NIF Executive Director
In 1996, PBS aired the Hector Galán-produced, four-part series “Chicano! History of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement”, detailing the major situations that inspired and cemented the Chicano Movement between 1965 and 1975.
It features the Chicano land struggle, Cesar Chavez and the UFW, the Los Angeles High School Walk-outs and the creation of the political party La Raza Unida.
According to IMDB: Galan has cast his lens on the Latino experience in America, bringing the culture and history of the U.S. Latino experience to the screen. He is an independent filmmaker from San Angelo, TX, and has contributed over forty hours of programming to the national PBS television schedule including eleven episodes for the provocative series, Frontline, two programs for the PBS series The American Experience, and the landmark four-part PBS series, Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement.
His work has garnered numerous awards and recognitions including two Imagen awards, the Cine Golden Eagle Award, the Telly Award, SXSW Best Documentary, the Golden Apple, and the Blue Ribbon Award as well as numerous festival awards.
The Power Behind "Xicano Power"
What: Tickets for Yjastros’ Fall Season: “Xicano Power” are on sale now!
When: November 10-11
Where: National Hispanic Cultural Center
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
In Part 2 of our 8-week series exploring this new work, we will look at the power behind "Xicano Power", from Yjastros Artistic Director Joaquin Encinias, to civil rights leader Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales.
Joaquín Encinias, Yjastros Artistic Director, talks about what Chicano Power and the concert "Xicano Power" means to him.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Denver 7 takes a look at Rodolfo Gonzales and the Chicano Rights Movement of the 1960s.
TAP to read the epic poem “Yo Soy Joaquin” by civil rights leader Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales.
Yjastros performed “Xicano Power” at the 27th Festival de Jerez, in Spain.
Yjastros performed “Xicano Power” at the 36th Festival Flamenco Alburquerque.
Yjastros Fall Season Tickets On Sale Now!
What: Tickets for Yjastros’ Fall Season: “Xicano Power” are on sale now!
When: November 10-11
Where: National Hispanic Cultural Center
Andrea Lozano, credit: Farruk
In 2004, just five years after Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company’s inception internationally acclaimed Sevilla-based Flamenco artist Israel Galván choreographed “Xicano Power” on Yjastros. The concert now includes excerpts from the epic poem “I am Joaquin, Yo Soy Joaquin,” by Mexican-American civil rights and political activist Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez, (1928-2005). Like the poem “Yo Soy Joaquin,” “Xicano Power” explores issues of reclaiming ones identity, systematic inequality, and a legacy of historical greatness.
PART I: THE NAMING
"Israel Galvan set a martinete. It was a quirky, cool, piece. It had great steps, cool rhythm, and at the same time was just weird enough, like Israel.
In rehearsal, we would break up and do group stuff, duets, different things. I remember the experience being really cool. Israel was experimenting. This seemed to be something new for him. I don’t think he choreographed at the time much on groups, or on other people.
At the end of the residency period, during which the work was set — I think it was set over the period of a week or nine days — I remember Adriana Sandoval asking Israel, what is the piece going to be titled?
The way I remember it was that Israel asked Adriana about what her t-shirt meant. Adriana was wearing a t-shirt that said, 'Chicano Power'. Adriana explained her t-shirt. She said Chicano Power is about the power of a people, of Chicanos. 'We are Chicanos,' she said, 'and Chicano Power is about our power.'
Israel said, 'Well then, ‘Xicano Power’ is going to be the title of the new work.'
Yjastros debuted “Xicano Power” at the internationally acclaimed Festival de Jerez, in Spain, where Yjastros made history as the first US-Based company to ever be invited to a Spanish flamenco festival.
“Israel is from Sevilla. His mother is Spanish Romani (Gitana), and his father Español, not Romani. Israel comes from a place where he is familiar with the struggle for social and racial justice and power differential. I read a comment that Israel made once about his identity as someone who is of mixed Spanish-Romani and non-Romani descent. He said something along the lines of, 'I am half and half, the half of my body that is payo (non-Gitano) does eccentricities and weird things; the half that is Gitano ‘sabe rematar bien’ (knows how to finish a phrase in flamenco well).
In this case, Israel was making fun of the stereotypes, the divisions that are constructed when talking about artists and artistry, who they are, how they identify, and their related abilities. Israel pokes fun at the stereotype and at the same time playfully reaffirms it, to a degree. He casts light on the fact that the stereotype exists and that its existence is associated with a more complex and well established system of power and white supremacy.
When Adriana spoke to Israel about Chicano Power, I think that Israel resonated with the aspirations of this young Chicana who so proudly wore her t-shirt to rehearsal. Israel might have seen in all of us — all Chicanos from different parts of the U.S. Southwest — this element of being different and searching, as young flamencos, to speak truthfully through this art form.
This is at least how I remember the naming occurring."
— Marisol Encinias, NIF Executive Director
Joaquín Encinias Recaps Yjastros' Performance in Jerez
Joaquín Encinias, Yjastros artistic director, talks about the company's performance of "Xicano Power" at the 27th Annual Festival de Jerez , Spain, on February 28, 2023, and what's next for the company.
Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company is the first US-based flamenco company to be invited to perform at a Spanish flamenco festival, and the dance company in residence at the University of New Mexico.
Joaquín Encinias, Yjastros Artistic Director: The evening was called “Xicano Power,” based on the piece by Israel Galván that was in the concert, the third piece of the concert. It went really well. It was well received, I think.
The festival was really gracious with us and gave us a wonderful receptive welcome there. And we felt very welcomed and very honored to be part of that festival.
I think it was an important step for our company, and an important step for me personally, as an artistic director. The performers were incredible. The dancers did incredibly well. And the musicians did incredibly well.
We're looking forward to doing it in our Festival Flamenco Alburquerque in June here in Albuquerque.
Ungelbah Dávila, NIF Marketing Manager: What would you say the biggest win of the week was for you?
JE: It's a challenge to move such a big company, but, nobody was hurt, nobody was sick. So that's a big challenge. And, so I think the biggest win was, first of all, doing our best work without any hiccups.
I mean, I just feel like, so many things could have gone wrong and didn't. And I think that's a lot of luck, but also, it's a lot of hard work, and our company was well prepared. I think that's what I'm most proud of is that I feel we were well prepared, and we were ready.
UD: What was your favorite part of the experience?
JE: I got to see a bunch of shows, but of the performance experience for me personally, it's a surreal moment, you know, being there was surreal. And performing in Spain, as much as I've been to Spain many times before, it's not the same as when you're performing there.
I think one of the my favorite moments was between I was approached by this very elderly woman on the street, who was obviously a Spaniard woman and very short in stature and she just came up to me and two other dancers in the show, and just said that she thought we were incredible, and she couldn't believe what she had just seen. And that was very satisfying, you know. Obviously this woman who's been in the center of flamenco for a long time, and she really loved it.
UD: So what's next for Yjastros?
JE: Now that you're back home, we start the emerging artists project coming up. Dancers in the company do some choreography themselves. I think that it's an incredible thing coming up with our Spain trip. I'm sure a lot of them are ready for it and inspired. So, I'm looking forward to seeing them do that.
My sister and I will be working on our next show, which is going to premiere in November next year. We've been doing a lot of work getting that ball rolling, but we've gotten some good grants to do a project about Mestizo culture through flamenco.
So we're going to be working on that starting here very earnestly, now, and then the company will keep cleaning the “Xicano Power” show and getting it prepared for our June festival. Some very important choreographers will be here who have choreographers in the show, so I want to do the pieces really well for them.
The other thing that is so special about the Albuquerque festival is that those artists are here for 10 days in one place. In the Jerez festival artists come in, they perform and then they leave. Not a lot of people are there for the whole two weeks, or three weeks or four weeks. And at our festival a lot of those artists stay here, and so they're at shows every night. It's an incredibly warm and bonding experience at this festival. So I'm looking forward to doing our show in our festival for some of these artists to see and for the Albuquerque audience to see also.
