Dance with Spirit, a flamenco concert with Compañía Chuscales, Mina Fajardo, and special guest Roberto Zamora.
Compañía Mina Fajardo & Chuscales come back to Teatro Paraguas this November 2017! They have given sold-out performances the past six years. Audiences still remember their shows: Flamenco x3 (2015); Una Nota de Lorca (2016); and Choreography and Calligraphy (2017).
The show this November is based on a bedtime story from the Brunn family, remembering events from 400 years ago in what is now Santa Fe, New Mexico, and how its ancient inhabitants were confronted with New Spain.
As with all treasure hunts, the true purpose is to reveal the magic of the human spirit and its will to survive, discovering the wealth of faith, family, and community.
With utmost respect Teatro Paraguas presents legendary flamenco singer Roberto Zamora; renowned flamenco guitarist/composer Chuscales; and choreographer/dancer Mina Fajardo.
Final Performance:
Sunday • November 5 • 2 pm
Tickets:
$25 in advance at BrownPaperTickets.com
$30 general admission at door
$20 seniors and students
Call for Reservations: 505-424-1601
Artistic Director: Mina Fajardo
Choreographer: Mina Fajardo
Playwright: Mina Fajardo, Zoe Vangunten, Charles Brunn
Music Director and Composer: Jose Valle “Chuscales”
Singer: Roberto Zamora
Guitarist: Chuscales
Percussionist: Alejandro Valle
Principal Dancer: Mina Fajardo
Dancer: Monze Diaz
Lighting: Argos MacCallum
Actors: Charles Brunn & Sienna Price
and Fiesta Flamenca Dancers
Biographies:
Mina Fajardo • Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Dancer
Mina Valle Fajardo has received extensive training in flamenco, Escuela bolero, jazz, tap, and ballet. She 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.
Mina has taught in the Maria Benitez Institute for Spanish Arts, Northern New Mexico University, Santa Fe Community College, Eva Encinias Sandoval’s National Institute of Flamenco, Nava Elementary School, Sweeney Elementary School, New Mexico Academy of International School, Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe Danceworks, Moving Arts Española, Maria Vazquez Flamenco Denver, Spanish Institute of Dance in Houston, and Fazil Dance Studio & Japanese Chamber of Commerce 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, and 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 including Elena Andujar, El Pripi, La Tibu, Carmen Rasarao, Chuscales, YiYi, Silverio Heredia, Tequila de Jerez, Omayra Amaya, Jose Cortes, Manuel Gutierrez, Kina Mendez, Jose Cortes, Juan Siddi, Keiko Isshiki.
Mina choreographed and performed in many productions including “Illusions in Arts “Calligraphy & Choreography” (Santa Fe, NM 2017), “Romance de la Luna “ (Santa Fe, NM, 2016), “Una Nota de Lorca” (Santa Fe, NM 2016), “Gypsy Book” (Santa Fe, NM 2015), “Flamenco Masters” (Denver, CO 2015), “Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival 2015” (Houston, TX 2015), “Flamenco X3”(2015), “Gypsy Passion”(2014), “Flamenco Fiesta!” (2014 & 2013), “Forever in My Heart” (Santa Fe, 2013 ), “My Gypsy Soul” (Santa Fe, 2012), “Chuscales at Old Main, Boulder” (CO, 2011), “Chuscales y Mina Fajardo con Las Tres Mujeres” (Las Vegas. NM, 2010), “Chuscales Live at MIT” (Boston, 2009), Telluride Jazz Festival (Telluride, 2008), “Chuscales at Tubac” (Tubac, AZ, 2007), “Soul del Arte Tradiciones e Innovaciones” (San Francisco, 2005), “Ainadamar, Landscapes and Impression” Santa Fe Opera (2005), “A Night of Flamenco Magic” Lakewood Cultural Center (Denver, CO, 2005), “Santa Fe Jazz and International Music Festival” (2004 & 2001), The John E. Morlow Guitar Series “ Flamenco Night” (Chevy Chase, MD, 2004), SJC Multicultural Arts Series “Flamenco” (San Juan Capistrano, CA, 2003).
She appeared in films “Flamenco Passion & Soul” (1999), “El Payo” (2010), “Españoles en el mundo – Nuevo Mexico” (2013).
Mina currently teaches flamenco dance classes at Santa Fe Community College, Northern New Mexico University, Santa Fe Danceworks, Casa Blanca Studio & Moving Arts Española and performs with Chuscales, Juan Siddi & Kina Mendez at Local Tablao & Theater in Santa Fe, NM. www.MinaFajardo.com
Chuscales • Music Director, Composer and Guitarist
Chuscales was the name given to Jose Valle Fajardo by his grandfather. Since then, the name Chusco has come to describe a guitarist of consummate skill and a profound understanding of the Flamenco traditions.
A native of Antequera, Spain, Chuscales grew up in a traditional gypsy family well known for its professional musicians and dancers. His grandmother was among those who lived in the caves of Sacromonte, one of the legendary cradles of flamenco. Chuscales recalls, “There were shows with Gypsies from Granada who grew up in families that lived there. I wish you could see it, the families in the caves and the singing and dancing. There might be seven, eight, maybe nine caves, all with singing and dancing, and there would be more singing and dancing on the streets every day. It was unbelievable. It was a very formative time in all my life. It was like a dream. This is where I learned everything—the rhythm, the beat, the guitar. I am still learning from those thousands of nights performing with my family, with my father, my grandfather, and my friends.
Chusco began guitar lessons at age six under the instruction of his uncle Joaquín Fajardo, as well as with Maestro Agustinillo, two prominent masters in the region where such greats asSegovia have studied. As a teenager, Chuscales found himself frequently in the company of Paco de Lucía, who often performed in the area and would take time to play with the talented youngster and to answer his questions. Meanwhile, he began his performing career as a dancer—an experience that provides him with a detailed understanding of flamenco's rhythmic nuances. Chusco elaborates as the accompanying guitarist, “I can understand and follow dancers. I can see where they are going before they take their next step. I know what the dancer is looking for, how much tension is in the music, the right rhythm, when to play strong or soft so if a dancer asks me for something, I know what they ask.” Chuscales’ affinity for dance is delightfully apparent in his artistry; blending music and movement as he does is no accident. “It’s something we learn through life,” he says. “A lot of people don’t have my luck to grow up in the caves, learning flamenco in a Gypsy family where the music comes from tradition to tradition, from legend to legend. I thank God I have been around such great musicians all my life.”
Whether versed in flamenco traditions or not, audiences find Chuscales’ music at once touching and exotic; his presence is engaging, and his skill as a guitarist simply astounding. A Chuscales concert is an experience that audiences take with them.
He played the guitar for prince and princes of Spain at Santa Fe in 2009. He appeared in films Camelamos Nauerar (1976), Gypsy Heart (1998), Flamenco Passion & Soul (1999), Viaje Al Duende (2009), The Spanish Table (2010), El Payo (2010), Españoles en el mundo – Nuevo Mexico (2013). He received the Dora More Award for outstanding sound design/composition (2010, 2009, 2007), Isadora Duncan Awards for composition, arrangement, and direction (2011 & 1997). www.chuscales.com
Roberto Zamora • Singer and Painter
Roberto Zamora has been involved in flamenco for more than forty years. He took his first extensive trip to Spain in 1973 to steep himself in Flamenco Gitano, where he became intimate friends with the “Gastoreno” family of Moron de la Frontera, most intimately Juan del Gastor and Agustin Rios, and also became friends of the gypsies of Utrera and Lebrija. From this visit he gained the friendship of artists La Fernanda and La Bernarda, Miguel Funi, Anzonini del Puerto, Paco de Valdepenas, Pedro Bacan, and Pepe Rios.
Over the years Roberto took frequent trips to Andalucia where he cemented his lifelong friendships. He was fortunate to become Agustin Rios’ lifelong friend when Agustin moved to the United States in 1976. He performed for many years with Agustin Rios (nephew of Diego del Gastor), superb guitarist in the tradition of Diego del Gastor and also great singer and festero. In 1981 he cemented his friendship with Anzonini when he came to live in the Bay Area for several years, touring and being in his “cuadro festero.” He studied solo dance for many years, among his teachers being Pepe Rios, Manolo Marin, Rafael Negro, El Guito, Isidro Vargas, and El Faico.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Roberto has worked as a singer/dancer with Rosa Montoya, Teatro Flamenco, and continues to work extensively with all the major companies as a singer and “festero,” among them Yaelisa's Caminos Flamencos, Teatro Flamenco, La Tania, and Agua Clara Flamenco.
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Teatro Paraguas
3205 Calle Marie • Santa Fe
www.TeatroParaguas.org
teatroparaguas@gmail.com