Like every year before, when February rolls around we are presented with the newest edition of the Flamenco Festival in Albuquerque, with this year being its 36th. The Journal Theatre in the Hispanic Culture Centre, both the Rodey theatre and the X Experimental Theatre inside the Centre for UNM Arts building and the Albuquerque Flamenco Tablao are the venues chosen to host the shows from the 9th to the 17th of June 2023. 

Summertime in Albuquerque is synonymous with flamenco. A festival organised by the National Institute of Flamenco and the New Mexico University and that will take place over eight days, where the city of Albuquerque will be the cultural epicentre of this deep and loved artistic genre.The poster designed for this year’s festival was created by Albuquerque native,  photographer Delilah Montoya and graphic designer Lee Gallegos. 

“The purpose of this project is to preserve and promote the art, the history and culture of Flamenco communities both nationally and internationally, ” the organisation explains on its web page. An event where training is exceptionally important, there have already been over thirty workshops teaching the importance of flamenco. Classes include its history, development as an art form, dance skills, music, sounds and rhythms that are specific to the genre. 

“The classes are downloadable and designed for students of all ages and backgrounds, creating a diverse and multicultural atmosphere that promotes excellence, personal growth and knowledge”  the festival web page continues. .

You can see all available workshops on their official website. Taking place in the main campus for the University of New Mexico in Carlisle Gym, the flamenco workshops in Albuquerque provide opportunities to learn for all levels, from students starting out to professionals. The workshops include classes in guitar, cajons, singing, dancing and clapping. 

“New Mexico is considered the centre of Flamenco in the United States and this event is unique and is without comparison in the quality of its scope and scheduling, with students and audiences travelling far and wide to visit. “

As for the schedule of their shows, artists such as Olga Pericet, Patricia Guerrero, Israel Galván, Daniel Doña, Nazaret Reyes, Tacha González, Marco Flores, Florencia Oz, Andrés Marín and La Repompilla, among others are set to play at the festival. You can see all the programmes and information regarding tickets on the official website of the festival.

Translation: Eoin McLoughlin