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Yjastros will be performing choreography from visiting flamenco masters.
“Encuentros” is the title of an evening of dance that Yjastros, Albuquerque’s flamenco company, will present.
But there’s more to the Spanish word – translated as “encounters” – than is immediately apparent. The word also refers to an expanded program of encounters that visiting choreographers are having with members of Yjastros.
“In the past we’ve had artists here for eight days. It’s not the same experience to have them here four to eight weeks,” said Yjastros artistic director Joaquin Encinias.
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If you go WHAT: Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4 and 8 p.m. Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 WHERE: National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth SW HOW MUCH: $15-$45 in advance at the NHCC box office or by calling 724-4771 or by visiting www.nhccnm.org |
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“There’s more time for instruction, more time on the details of the choreography. So Yjastros now has a deeper experience with flamenco than it had before.”
The University of New Mexico Dance Program has made possible the expansion of these encounters for Yjastros, the flamenco company in residence at the University of New Mexico, Encinias said.
The expanded visitations began last fall when choreographer Mercedes Amaya of Mexico was here for one month. Amaya was followed by Carmen “La Talegona” of Spain, who worked with the company in November and December. The third choreographer was Spain’s Concha Jareño, who was in town in January and February.
“That means these guest artists have rehearsed with our company in class every day. During that time they each set a choreography on Yjastros,” Encinias said.
The result is that the 14-member company will perform Amaya’s “Martinete,” La Talegona’s “Farruca” and Jareño’s “Cantiñas.”
Performances will be Thursday, April 4, Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
“I hope the audience will see a much richer experience in the choreography and they’ll see a level of dancing and artistry that is growing much quicker than we saw in the past,” Encinias said.
“It’s about being exposed to excellence. … It will do incredible things to the landscape of flamenco in this city and in the country.”
The program also includes “A Nuestro Aire,” a work that has been in the company’s repertoire, the solo “Solea” that Marisol Encinias Ibarra, a UNM associate professor of dance, will perform and the solo “Solea por Buleria” that Encinias will dance.
Besides the dancers, others performing in the production will be guitarists Chuscales, Ricardo Anglada and Mario Febres, singer Vicente Griego, Encinias on percussion and various company members doing palmas or hand clapping.
Encinias said a fourth guest choreographer, Alejandro Granados of Spain, will come to Albuquerque in April.
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at dsteinberg@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-823-3925
