Chuscales (Guitarist, Musical Director, Composer), a world-renowned guitarist of legendary technical and musical prowess, will be joined by a fascinating group of flamenco artists, including:
Mina Fajardo (Artistic Director, Choreographer, Playwright, Dancer)
José Cortés Fernández - Special Guest Artist - Singer
Fernando Barros Lirola (Singer, Historian, Author)
Argos MacCallum (Actor)
Alejandro Valle Fajardo (Percussionist)
Marco Topo (Bass Player)
Alex Hudson (Lighting)
and with Monze Diaz, Amanda Crocker, Xochitl Ehrl, Janira Cordova, Heather Miro, Charles Brunn, Zoe Whittle, Maria Valle, Seri Kotowski, Jenna Espinoza, Carmella Scorcia, Paula Fasken, Kelly Tucker, Roxanne Tapia, Anahi Diaz
This year will be the 80th Anniversary of Garcia Lorca’s death. Chuscales and Fernando Lirola both grew up in Lorca’s hometown Granada, Spain. Special Guest Singer will be Jose Cortes Fernandez.
Jose Valle “Chuscales” (Guitarist, Musical Director, Composer) "Chuscales" was the name given to composer and virtuoso flamenco guitarist Jose Valle Fajardo by his grandfather. Born in Antequera, Spain, Chuscales grew up in a traditional gypsy family of professional flamenco dancers and musicians who lived and performed in the famed gypsy caves of the Sacromonte quarter in Granada, one of the legendary cradles of flamenco. During the nightly shows in his grandmother’s cave, he absorbed the rhythms of flamenco dancing and the nuances of flamenco singing. Chuscales recalls, “The families in the caves and the singing and dancing ... there might be seven, eight, maybe nine caves, and there would be more singing and dancing on the streets ... It was unbelievable ...” Throughout his distinguished career, Chuscales has accompanied many Spanish flamenco luminaries and toured with prestigious dance companies. He has been a featured performer at the Telluride Jazz Festival and the Santa Fe Jazz & International Music Festival. He has performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and Chuscales has been principal guitarist and musical director for Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco and Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe. In May he will perform at the Houston Flamenco Festival. Chuscales has taught at Santa Fe College, Northern New Mexico College, the National Institute of Flamenco, The Institute for Spanish Arts, Dartmouth University, the University of New Mexico and the Minneapolis and Calgary Guitar Societies. Chuscales.com
Mina Fajardo (Artistic Director, Choreographer, Playwright and Dancer) has received extensive training in flamenco, Escuela bolera, jazz, Tap and ballet. Mina has received flamenco training from El Guito, Carmera Greco, Ciro, La Tati, La China, Alejandro Granados,Yolanda Heredia, Isabel Bayon, Rafaela Carrasco, Pastora Galvan, Jose Maya, Ursula Lopez, Adela Campallo, Rafael Campallo, Concha Vargas, Eva La Yerbabuena, Farruquito, La Lupi, Andres Marin, Joaquin Ruiz and Keiko Issiki. She has taught in the Maria Benitez Institute for Spanish Arts, Eva Encinias Sandoval’s National Institute of Flamenco, The Spanish Institute of Dance in Houston, and Fazil Dance Studio in New York City. Fajardo has performed in Japan, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Houston, Maryland and Albuquerque and has made several appearances on television in Manhattan, New Mexico, Japan & Spain. In Santa Fe, she has performed at the Santa Fe Opera and in the Santa Fe Jazz and International Music Festival at the Lensic Theatre. She has performed with many artists, choreographed and performed in many productions, and appeared in films. She currently teaches flamenco dance classes at Santa Fe Community College, Northern New Mexico College, Santa Fe Danceworks & Moving Arts Española and performs with Chuscales, Juan Siddi & Kina Mendez. minafajardo.com
José Cortés Fernández (Singer) was born in the south of France in 1974 to an important gypsy family from Almería. At the age of ten, Jose began his career in Jerez de la Frontera where he won the ”premio del joven aficionado del cante flamenco,” accompanied on guitar by Terremoto hijo. Since then, he has shared the stage with the best flamenco artists. An incredible and traditional artist, José Cortés Fernández surprises us now by taking a step forward in his conception of flamenco by making pure flamenco live alongside other genres.
Fernando Barros Lirola (Singer) was born in Motril (Granada) Spain in 1952 and focused his studies on geology at the University of Granada. Since 1980 he has performed in concerts and at Andalusian flamenco festivals around the world. He is a singer (cantaor), composer, writer and innovator specializing in flamenco music, with emphasis on bringing voice to the poets and writers of Spain. Fernando is the author, with Sandra González, of the theatrical text, “Que venga, que venga flamenco!” He is writing a second book, “Why Flamenco?” As an invited member of the International Dance Council of UNESCO, Fernando is an active participant in the preservation of dance around the world. While in New Mexico as an artist in residence in 2014, Fernando led workshops in Santa Fe, conducted master classes in Colorado and at UNM, and performed in venues in Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, and Boulder. studyflamenco.com
Ticket Info
$25 general admission
$20 seniors and students.
Reservations: 505.424.1601 or online here.