Issue date: 6/8/06 Section: Culture

Media Credit: Xavier Mascareñas Flamenco dancer Marisol Encinias performs while Calvin Hazen accompanies her on guitar during a practice session Friday at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts on Gold Avenue.

by Marcella Ortega

Daily Lobo



Eva Encinias-Sandoval said Festival Flamenco Internacional has come a long way in 20 years.

The annual festival began in 1987 as a celebration of UNM's College of Fine Arts' 50th anniversary. Encinias-Sandoval, who was a UNM flamenco instructor at the time, organized the three-day event that consisted of three workshops, two performances and featured three guest flamenco artists.

"It was received with tremendous enthusiasm," Encinias-Sandoval said. "They asked if I would consider making it an annual event. In the past 20 years, it grew in size and scope."

This year, the festival will last eight days and include 32 workshops in dance, singing, percussion, history and theory for amateurs and professionals. It will feature 52 artists from around the world in 10 performances.

"What we are doing is more recognized in Spain than here," she said. "It is amazing that it has an international reputation. UNM has been key in the fact that Albuquerque is considered the center of flamenco in the United States."

She attributes her passion for flamenco to her family heritage.

"We are five generations of flamenco artists," she said. "That is unheard of in this country."

Encinias-Sandoval's daughter, Marisol Encinias, is a dance instructor at UNM and the director for the University's pre-professional flamenco program, Alma Flamenca. Encinias, who began dancing at 6, said her mother and grandmother taught her how to dance.

"I grew up in a family of dancers," Encinias said. "Art was always a huge part of our lives. My mom danced many forms, so we were always around dance."

Encinias said she and her brother Joaquin Encinias, who is the director of Yjastros: American Flamenco Repertory Company, returned to their family's tradition after pursuing different interests.

"It's something that I've always been a part of," she said. "I love that I can do it for a living. It's always challenging and exciting."

Continued...

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