NEA Approves NIF for 2022 Grants for Arts Project

The National Endowment for the Arts has approved the National Institute of Flamenco (NIF) for a 2022 Grants for Arts Project grant in support of Festival Flamenco Alburquerque 35! We at the National Institute of Flamenco are grateful for the agency’s support on this project and look forward to continuing to work with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Learn more about NEA: https://www.arts.gov/

After School Program Begins January 18

Join us for the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts After School Program, starting January 18, 2022.

This program is open to all middle and high school students, and invites young people to study flamenco music and dance extensively with professional artists. We welcome new students and encourage students from APS and nearby schools to take these classes! No prior experience is needed.

After School Program classes are free* to TANM students. Current Conservatory of Flamenco Arts students receive a 20% discount on After School Program tuition.

Simply fill in the linked registration form below. Once you have filled in a registration form, a member of our staff will contact you to complete payment (if applicable).

CFA Spring Semester Begins January 24

Check out our full schedule of classes and find registration links by clicking the button below.

IF YOU ARE A RETURNING STUDENT, PLEASE FILL OUT A NEW REGISTRATION FORM IF YOUR VACCINATION STATUS HAS BEEN CHANGED/UPDATED!

Please note: All students ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to participate in in-person classes. Starting February 28th, ALL students ages 5 and older must be fully vaccinated to participate in in-person classes. Per the New Mexico state mandate, EVERYONE MUST WEAR A MASK WHILE IN THE BUILDING.

Questions? Call (505) 242-7600 or email Claudia@nifnm.org or Addison@nifnm.org

La Estrella Tickets On Sale NOW!

Tickets for La Estrella: A Flamenco Story of the Kings' Quest are on sale NOW!

Witness the famous story of the three kings told through the beautiful art of flamenco! La Estrella is a magical holiday production, featuring members of Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company and students of the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, that will delight all ages!

CFA After School Program

Join us for the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts After School Program!

This program is open to all middle and high school students, and invites young people to study flamenco music and dance extensively with professional artists. We welcome new students and encourage students from APS and nearby schools to take these classes! No prior experience is needed to take the beginning level classes.

After School Program classes are free of charge* to TANM students. Current Conservatory of Flamenco Arts students receive a 20% discount on After School Program tuition. Simply fill in the linked registration form below and specify which classes your child will take. Once you have filled in a registration form, a member of our staff will contact you to complete payment (if applicable) and class sign-up. All students can access their classes on our student portal.

After School Program classes are free of charge* to TANM students. Current Conservatory of Flamenco Arts students receive a 20% discount on After School Program tuition. Simply fill in the linked registration form below and specify which classes your child will take. Once you have filled in a registration form, a member of our staff will contact you to complete payment (if applicable) and class sign-up. All students can access their classes on our student portal.

*TANM generously subsidizes After School Program Tuition for TANM students.

Student Companies at The Balloon Fiesta

Thank you to everyone who came to the Balloon Fiesta and saw performances by the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts student companies, Niños & Teeños, the UNM Ensemble, and the TANM Ensemble!

UNM Ensemble

TANM Ensemble
Photo by Anna Padilla

TANM Ensemble
Photo by Anna Padilla

Congratulations, Eva!

Eva Encinias, the National Institute of Flamenco Founding Director, is one of this year's Dance Teacher Award Honorees! Join us as we celebrate Eva and her impactful 45-year career at the University of New Mexico, and her ongoing work at the National Institute of Flamenco during the 2021 Dance Teacher Awards ceremony.

The 2021 Dance Teacher Awards will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 6, at 4pm MST. Tickets are $25. All net proceeds from ticket sales for this year's event will go to fund the Dance Teacher Scholarship at MOVE|NYC. Click below to register and learn more.

Register Here

Photo Credit: Douglas Kent Hall

Try Special Topics Classes!

Did you know that in addition to flamenco classes, the Conservatory offers Special Topics classes in other dance forms and flamenco complementos? Dive deeper into your dance experience with fun, challenging classes like Bata de Cola, Jota, Escuela Bolera, Ballet (Adult and Children's classes), Castanets, Sevillanas with Castanets, and Footwork Bootcamp! These classes give students the opportunity to learn new techniques, skills, and grow in their flamenco studies.

Questions about which classes are right for you or your child? Email Claudia@nifnm.org

Check out our schedule to see our full list of Special Topics classes

Bata de Cola

Escuela Bolera

Jota

Ballet

Conservatory of Flamenco Arts Fall Semester Has Begun!

The Conservatory of Flamenco Arts Fall semester is finally here! Join us for flamenco music and dance classes for people of all ages and skill levels. Click below to fill out a registration form, see our schedule, and sign up for classes. Questions? Please email Addison@nifnm.org or Claudia@nifnm.org.

The Conservatory of Flamenco Arts (CFA) is the school of the National Institute of Flamenco.  The National Institute of Flamenco, founded in 1982, is an arts-based non-profit organization which exists to preserve and promote flamenco’s artistry, history, and culture by presenting the finest flamenco in the world and by educating the American family in this art form while emphasizing the positive influence of art on family and community.

Established in 1999, CFA offers year-round, community-based and pre-professional dance training as well as music programming in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s historic Sawmill District.  CFA is a world-renowned flamenco school that follows a proven curriculum to offer pre-professional training, professional development, and community enrichment in an inclusive and nurturing environment. The School’s diverse and professional faculty provides comprehensive and progressive instruction; CFA teaching faculty consists of accomplished and master resident teachers as well as invited guest artists. There are opportunities for students to perform in our school.  CFA also includes pre-professional student companies for dancers ages 8-18.

Conservatory of Flamenco Arts Block Party

Join us for the annual Conservatory of Flamenco Arts Registration Week Block Party! Enjoy an afternoon of family fun with FREE ice cream from Pop Fizz, music, and an exclusive NIF garage sale.

Come see our studios, meet our teachers and staff, and register for classes.
RSVP: https://nifnm.formstack.com/forms/block_party_rsvp

The Conservatory Fall semester begins Monday, August 23!

Block Party attendees are REQUIRED to wear a mask while indoors. If you do not have a mask, a disposable mask will be provided.

Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque Returns with Weekend Performances

Experience flamenco in its most intimate, powerful setting every Friday and Saturday evening at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque!

Featuring a world-class line-up of artists, Tablao Flamenco presents a dynamic schedule of performances, featuring premier artists from Spain and the United States. Tablao Flamenco delivers an unforgettable experience for the senses, featuring a new four-course, prix fixe dinner created by Hotel Albuquerque's Chef Gilbert Aragon. Enjoy regionally inspired fine wines and spirits with your meal.

For the best Tablao Flamenco experience, we recommend arriving between 6:15-6:30 pm for dinner service at 7:00 pm and performance at 8:00 pm.

Spring Student Showing

Join us Saturday, June 12th at Tiguex Park in Old Town for an informal performance by our Conservatory of Flamenco Arts students. Celebrate our students' hard work and see what they have learned!

Tierra Adentro of New Mexico presents "Doce"

Tierra Adentro of New Mexico, an Albuquerque arts charter school and educational partner of the National Institute of Flamenco recently released Doce, a documentary film taking an intimate look at the arts charter school, the students' and teachers' experiences with arts education during the pandemic, and what's in store for the future.

This film highlights the dedication and perseverance of teachers, administrators, students, and families during the pandemic and the work that went into a successful school year. Click below to watch the full film!

Tierra Adentro is enrolling grades 6-12! Learn more: tierraadentronm.org

Eva Encinias Talks Distinguished Dance Teacher Award and Festival Flamenco Alburquerque on KRQE

Our Founding Director and Professor Emerita of the University of New Mexico Dance Program, Eva Encinias, has been awarded Distinguished Dance Teacher of the Year by Dance Teacher Magazine. This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to dance and education, and her lifetime of work educating students and their families in the art and culture of flamenco through the University of New Mexico, Festival Flamenco Alburquerque, the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, and the numerous places where Eva has reached communities throughout her career. ¡Enhorabuena!

National Institute of Flamenco & Festival Flamenco Alburquerque Founding Director Eva Encinias stopped by the KRQE studio to discuss her Distinguished Dance Teacher of the Year award and the upcoming Festival happening in July. Click below to watch the full interview!

The Language of Tablao Episode 1 - Now Showing!

Join Joaquin Encinias, Artistic Director of Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company for an in-depth look at the Language of Tablao! In the first episode, Joaquin recounts his formative experiences and begins to demystify some foundational elements of what happens in a tablao.

Watch the episode on our Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/532432213
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/451Op8y5PMA

We hope you enjoy this look at the Language of Tablao!

Be sure to catch Yjastros perform April 9th and 10th streaming live from Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque! Details and viewing passes at nifnm.org/yjastros-current-season.

Member Spotlight: Melinne Owen

In 1986 the Santa Fe Opera had a gala performance to celebrate their thirtieth year. They invited leading singers to perform and they invited Maria Benitez to dance. I was working as the Costume Shop Coordinator and was asked to be her dresser. While she performed, every stage hand, electrician, props running crew and dresser crowded the wings to watch her dance. They did not do this for the singers. I had already met Maria because the Head Costumer was a good friend of hers and had been making her dresses for years. Every summer the Costumer took me to see Maria at The Lodge.

In 1976 Maria was performing at El Nido Restaurant and she was in Act III of La Traviata. She would do the first half of her show, jump into the police car waiting outside the restaurant, and rush to the opera with flashing lights and no siren. The police car would take her to the back steps of the stage where she would dance and then she was back into the police car to go back to the restaurant to continue her show.

When Maria retired I helped her sort her dresses at an elementary school where she taught little girls. I would wait in my car until her classes finished. I enjoyed watching the little girls come out and get into cars usually driven by their fathers.

My husband and I enjoyed flamenco in Spain and Cuba where we got to know a Cuban flamenco dancer, Irene Rodriguez. We went to Festival Flamenco Alburquerque at the Hispanic Cultural Center and every place in Santa Fe that offered flamenco. During a Festival performance there was an advertisement on the screen for a store with flamenco supplies. I wanted to buy a mantoncillo for Irene so I went to your store in your old center. My favorite memory of NIF is walking in on past classes of girls pounding their little heels.

A few years later Irene and her mother came to visit Santa Fe during the Folk Art Market. While they were visiting we went to every flamenco venue in Santa Fe including the Aspen-Santa Fe Ballet at the Lensic. I made arrangements for us to go backstage. The dancers had lots of fringe attached to their dresses. Irene and I turned to each other and whispered “the fringe.” When we went backstage the dancers showed her how to use the fringe. I ordered some for her. A Cuban diplomat visited the next Market and took the fringe and fabric back to Cuba in the diplomatic pouch. That fringe is now back in the States where Irene’s mother attached it to a dress she wore during a performance for the Los Angeles Opera, without an audience.

I made an appointment for Irene and her mother to meet with Marisol and her mother, Eva. My husband drove them as I was too busy with the Market to go. The Institute had just moved into their new space and everyone loved the experience. I have since looked in the window of your gorgeous space. Someday I hope to visit.

One of our favorite experiences is to go to Albuquerque and stay in the Albuquerque Hotel or Hotel Chaco and go to Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque, where we share a bottle of wine and tapas. We have done this many times. We were at your fund raiser and heard Jim Long. We have since tried to stay in his hotels all over New Mexico.

By being a member of the National Institute of Flamenco, people can stay informed about this wonderful organization and support what NIF is doing for children and cultural preservation.

April Member Viewing: Noche de Cadíz y Sevilla

As a benefit of a NIF membership, we offer viewing access to previously recorded performances! Members are granted access to a recorded Tablao performance the first Saturday of each month.

Viewing access to the performance of Noche de Cadíz y Sevilla from Festival Flamenco Alburquerque 2020 will be available Saturday, April 3.

Viewing pass goes live Saturday April 3rd at 10:00AM mountain time and is valid for 48 hours.
If you have not received your link and password, please email Caro@nifnm.org.

To learn more about becoming a member, click here. Have questions? Reach out to Stephen Wynne, Development Manager at Stephen@nifnm.org or Caro Acuña, Assistant Development Officer at Caro@nifnm.org.

The National Institute of Flamenco does not share these recordings with the public. The opportunity to view them is an exclusive membership benefit.

Festival Flamenco Alburquerque History Conference Keynote Speakers Announced

The National Institute of Flamenco and Festival Flamenco Alburquerque are honored to announce 8th Biennial New Perspectives in Flamenco History and Research Symposium keynote speakers Dr. Brenda Dixon Gottschild and Meira Goldberg.

Photo: Ryan Collerd for Pew Center For Arts & Heritage, courtesy of Dr. Dixon Gottschild

Brenda Dixon Gottschild is the author of Digging the Africanist Presence in American Performance: Dance and Other Contexts; Waltzing in the Dark: African American Vaudeville and Race Politics in the Swing Era (winner of the 2001 Congress on Research in Dance Award for Outstanding Scholarly Dance Publication); The Black Dancing Body–A Geography from Coon to Cool (winner, 2004 de la Torre Bueno prize for scholarly excellence in dance publication); and Joan Myers Brown and The Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina-A Biohistory of American Performance.

Additional honors include the Congress on Research in Dance Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dance Research (2008); a Leeway Foundation Transformation Grant (2009); the International Association for Blacks in Dance Outstanding Scholar Award (2013); the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Civil Rights Award (2016); and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2017).

A self-described anti-racist cultural worker utilizing dance as her medium, she is a freelance writer, consultant, performer, and lecturer; a former consultant and writer for Dance Magazine; and Professor Emerita of dance studies, Temple University. As an artist-scholar she coined the phrase, “choreography for the page,” to describe her embodied, subjunctive approach to research writing.

Nationwide and abroad she curates post-performance reflexive dialogues, writes critical performance essays, performs self-created solos, and collaborates with her husband, choreographer/dancer Hellmut Gottschild, in a genre they developed and titled “movement theater discourse.”

More about her work can be found at www.bdixongottschild.com and Facebook - Brenda Dixon Gottschild

Photo Credit: Michael Penland, courtesy Dr. Meira Goldberg

K. MEIRA GOLDBERG is a flamenco performer, choreographer, teacher, and scholar. In 1980s Madrid, she performed nightly in flamenco tablaos alongside artists such as Antonio Canales, Arturo Pavón, El Indio Gitano, and Diego Carrasco. In the US, she was first dancer with Carlota Santana, Fred Darsow, and Pasión y Arte. Since going grey, she has instigated and collaborated on 100 Years of Flamenco in NYC (NYPL, 2013), Flamenco on the Global Stage (McFarland, 2015), The Global Reach of the Fandango in Music, Song and Dance (Cambridge Scholars, 2016), and Transatlantic Malagueñas and Zapateados in Music, Song, and Dance (Cambridge Scholars, 2019). Forthcoming projects include the collaborations Flamenco: History, Performance and Culture (Cambridge University Press, 2022), Indígenas, africanos, roma y europeos. Ritmos transatlánticos en música, canto y baile (Música Oral del Sur, 2021), The Body Questions: Celebrating Flamenco’s Tangled Roots (Cambridge Scholars, 2021), and a monograph, Perra Mora: Love and War in the Body of a Woman. She teaches at FIT and is Scholar-in-Residence at the Foundation for Iberian Music (CUNY). Her monograph, Sonidos Negros: On the Blackness of Flamenco (Oxford University Press, 2019), won the Barnard Hewitt Award for best 2019 book in theatre history or cognate disciplines, as well as Honorable Mention for the Sally Banes Publication Award for best exploration of the intersections between theatre and dance/movement, both from the American Society for Theatre Research.

Learn more about the 8th Biennial New Perspectives in Flamenco History and Research Symposium here.

Board Spotlight: Helen Maestas, Board Chair

Helen Maestas, NIF Board Chair

Helen grew up in California and moved to New Mexico in 1996 to attend the University of New Mexico where she double majored in Political Science and Communication. While in college, she made a call in response to an internship posting to work alongside then New Mexico State Senator Dede Feldman. That one phone call and opportunity were the start of what has become a 20 year career in public service working for New Mexico on the staff's of U.S. Congressman Tom Udall, U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Martin Heinrich, and Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins. In 2017, she joined the staff of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and continues to serve as his Deputy Director for Constituent Services/Boards & Commissions. Helen is married to Christopher D. Maestas, and is also known as "Carmen's Mom".

Not long before leaving California, Helen attended her first Flamenco performance at a tiny theater in Pacific Grove, CA. The performance was full of life and energy and unlike anything she'd seen before; she knew right then that Flamenco had to be a part of her life. Once she arrived at UNM, she was thrilled to discover that she could study Flamenco and began taking classes with Ms. Eva. However, it didn't take long for her to realize that she's better at supporting than performing. Still, she vowed that if she ever had a child, they would become a Flamenco dancer! And so it was. Helen's daughter, Carmen started dancing ten years ago at age 3 in the Conservatory's Baby Flamenco class and danced until earlier this year deciding to focus more seriously on violin.

Helen and her family are proud to support the National Institute of Flamenco and believe strongly in its mission to share the art of flamenco through artistic excellence in performance and teaching. As a "Flamenco mom" and aficionado, Helen has witnessed first hand the incredible power of a high quality Flamenco education and credits Carmen's self-confidence and discipline as an artist, dancer, and musician to the training she was provided by her teachers at NIF's Conservatory of Flamenco Arts.

She is especially proud of NIF's quick (but by no means easy) pivot as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic from an in-person to virtual presentation of the Institutes annual Festival Flamenco and the role that NIF has played during and since the virtual Festival in convening Flamenco organizations and leading artists from around the world in conversation on the need to build a better safety net for working artists.

Member Viewing Passes

As a benefit of a NIF membership, we offer viewing access to previously recorded performances from Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque!

The National Institute of Flamenco does not share these recordings with the public. The opportunity to view them is an exclusive membership benefit. We are grateful for your support, and hope that you enjoy this perk!

Members are granted access to a recorded Tablao performance the first Saturday of each month.

The next Member Viewing will be Saturday, March 6!

To learn more about becoming a member, please click the button below. Have questions? Reach out to Stephen Wynne, Development Manager at Stephen@nifnm.org or Caro Acuña, Assistant Development Officer at Caro@nifnm.org.