Enchanted Fire

TEMPO Magazine, The Taos News

COVER STORY

Sueños Flamencos will set the TCA stage ablaze this weekend

By Denise M. Spranger for The Taos News
Photo by Rick Romancito

"Flamenco is deeper than the person singing it. It stems from the first sob or the first kiss."
– Federico García Lorca

What the great Spanish poet, Lorca, so eloquently described is "duende," the quality of spirit that ignites flamenco with an inner fire impossible to resist.

When "Encanto Flamenco" takes the stage of the Taos Community Auditorium Saturday (March 30), the sparks should certainly be flying. The presentation by Miel Castagna and Sueños Flamencos promises to be an evening of stunning beauty, powerful performances and above all, "duende."

"Duende is more like an expression of the soul," said Castagna, "That is the thing that sets flamenco apart."

Contributing to that expression will be featured flamenco artists Vicente Griego, Marisol Encinias, Paco Antonio and Lucilene de Geus.

"In my opinion," said Castagna, "Vicente is probably the best flamenco singer in the United States."

Griego, a native of Dixon who currently resides in Albuquerque, has toured with the Jose Greco Company and has performed with Maria Benítez in Santa Fe.

"We also have a wonderful couple coming from Santa Fe, Lucilene and Paco," said Castagna.

De Geus, originally from Brazil, studied ballet for many years before directing her talents to flamenco, while Antonio has been dancing flamenco for "half his life," said Castagna, adding that both are "excellent dancers."

Dancer Marisol Encinias can claim a background steeped in the flamenco tradition.

"Marisol is really special because she comes from the only flamenco family in the United States," said Castagna. "She is a fourth-generation flamenco dancer."

Encinias is the daughter of Eva Encinias-Sandoval, who directs the flamenco festivals at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Castagna noted that UNM is the only program in the nation with a fully developed curriculum in flamenco dance.

Taos will add its own fuel to the evening's fire with local flamenco dance group, Sueños Flamencos. The group, which has been led by Castagna for a little more than two years, formed itself as "Sueños Flamenco" 10 months ago. Members include Candy Allen, Erica Dimond, Alexandra García, Molly Hayfield, Norah Flatley Lovell, Kathy Namba, Maria Robins, Miranda Rivera and Rita Santistevan.

Miel Costanga and Sueños Flamencos will perform Saturday (March 30) at the Taos Community Auditorium.

Castagna, who has danced flamenco since the age of 19, once lived in Spain, where she studied at the academy of Matilde Coral, the internationally acclaimed "diva" of flamenco. Castagna has refined her technique over the years with continued European study.

The exquisite style of 15-year-old Alexandra García is rarely found in one of any age. A freshman at Taos High School, García said that many of her classmates are supportive of her work.

"A lot of them really like it and want to see me perform," she said.

Despite the recent pressure of rehearsals, schoolwork and promotional tasks for Encanto Flamenco, García remains enthusiastic about the dance.

"There's so much passion involved in flamenco," said García, "It's such a great form of expression."
Sueños Flamencos dancer Kathy Namba, who has been with the group for two years, spoke about the challenge of performing at the TCA.

"It will be a big stage for us," said Namba, "We've only danced as a group in the Underground Studio space."

Namba, who has also studied flamenco in Spain, said that Sueños Flamencos is considering a group trip to Granada, Spain, for a two-week flamenco workshop.

Along with several other group members, Namba has participated in the Maria Benitez workshop held every summer in Santa Fe. She has also studied with flamenco teacher Lili DeHeredia.

Molly Hayfield is a relative newcomer to Sueños Flamencos. When asked what drew her to flamenco, she said, "I've always been a dancer and I've always loved dance. I like the passion of it, the rawness of it."

The inspiration to present the "Encanto Flamenco" performance struck a match with the revival of the TCA.

"It had been a long while since some really good flamenco was in town," said Castagna, "and when the TCA reopened we thought it was the right time."

Castagna stressed that public performance is essential for students of flamenco.

"Unless you're performing," said Castagna, "your dancing doesn't move to the next level."
Although several adult members of Sueños Flamencos admitted to some nervousness in anticipation of the March 30 event, the pair of 11-year-old dancers in the group expressed little concern. Perhaps this is because Miranda Rivera and Erica Dimond, both students of Taos Charter School, have been studying flamenco since they were 4 years of age.

"I'm excited and I think it's going to be fun," said Dimond.

When Rivera was asked if she had the jitters about performing before such a large crowd, she simply responded, "No, not really."

Vanessa Dimond, Erica's mother, described herself as a "flamenco mom" who "just shows up with the costumes."

After watching her daughter dance her way through childhood, the "flamenco mom" offered a few insights of her own.

"I think it's a wonderful thing," said Vanessa. "It's crosses cultures and generations."

Dancer Maria Robins, another newcomer to the group, spoke about the roots of that culture. In her native Spain, Robins used to dance flamenco "just for fun."

"I love it. It's unbelievable," she said. "This is our history; this is in our blood."

The dancers will be accompanied by several local musicians, including Phillip Ansteth and Daniel Swayne on guitar and Josef Mora on the "doumbek," a Middle-eastern drumming instrument well-suited to the Moorish influence resounding in flamenco music.

"We have some excellent musicians here," said Castagna, "and we wanted to show what Taos has to offer."

Castagna spoke about the improvisational nature of flamenco, particularly in solo dance performances.

"It involves the interplay of singer, guitarist and dancer," she said. "It's a conversation between the three.

"We're putting a couple of modern elements in the performance," Castagna added, "but basically it will be very traditional."

Castagna noted that the title of the performance, "Encanto Flamenco," or enchanted flamenco, was chosen to reflect flamenco's deepest tradition.

"Enchantment is the use of magic, as if you were putting someone under a spell," she said, "That is our aim in the show – that feeling you have when you're watching flamenco and suddenly, you catch your breath."

While "Encanto Flamenco" may very well set the stage of the TCA on fire, the audience need not panic. Nothing is burning but that stolen breath of "duende."