Flamenco by La Emi at the
Benitez Cabaret at the Lodge at Santa Fe
For Tickets:
www.hhandr.com/entertainment
La Emi
La Emi began her flamenco journey at the age of four and has emerged as a teacher and performer acclaimed for her artistry and craft.
La Emi started studying flamenco with the Maria Benitez Institute for Spanish Arts (ISA) when she was four years old and began working with the Institute’s youth company, Flamenco’s Next Generation at the age of 10. Just two years later – when she was only 12 – she started teaching within the Northern New Mexico public school system. She began teaching for Moving Arts Española in 2005 and ISA in 2006.
As a performer, La Emi has danced on stages from New Mexico to Spain, appearing in the production of “El Pintor” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque (2010), Entreflamenco, the company of Antonio Granjero and Estefania Ramirez, at the Lodge at Santa Fe (2011, 2012 and 2015), Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe (2013, 2014 and 2016) and Compañia Chuscales y Mina Fajardo (2010-2014). She also danced with the National Institute of Flamenco in their Summer Season at the Lodge at Santa Fe in 2017.
In 2011, La Emi was nominated and selected as one of the 12 young and emerging artists in Pasatiempo. In 2012, she received the Santa Fe Mayor’s Melissa Engestrom Youth Artist Award for Excellence in the Arts.
La Emi studied intensively in Spain with Gala Vivancos, Carmela Greco, La Popi, José Galván, Juana Amaya, Yolanda Heredia, Iván Vargas Heredia, Torombo, Rocio Alcaide Ruiz, Monica Fernandez and many others. She has performed under the direction of Carmela Greco, José Galván, and Torombo and at major venues including the Carmela Greco Seminario de Flamenco y Danza Española and Café de Chinitas in Madrid; Cuevas Los Tarantos in the Sacramonte of Granada and the Teatro Alameda Festival Flamenco in Sevilla.
La Emi founded her non-profit EmiArteFlamenco Academy in 2019 where she continues to teach and is the director. She also performs in many venues throughout the country.
La Emi began her professional career with Heritage Hotels & Resorts in partnership with the National Institute of Flamenco in the summer of 2018 and produced with them a second summer season in 2019. In the fall of 2019, La Emi launched her independent company, with a series of performances at The Lodge at Santa Fe.
featured artists
Vicente Griego
“El Cartucho”
From Dixon/Embudo, NM, Vicente is devoted to Cante Flamenco. In 1999, toured internationally with José Greco II and mentored by Alfonso Gabarri, “El Veneno”. Griego is a pupil of guitarist (Jose Valle, Chuscales) and singer, José Fernández. Griego performs with Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, and EmiArteFlamenco. He is lead singer in the Rumba Flamenca band, ReVoZo. Griego’s a faculty member in the department of Theatre and Dance at the University of New Mexico
Juan Siddi
Juan Siddi has been described by the Santa Fe New Mexican as “a bundle of beautiful energy tempered by technique and taste.” His high-profile presence in the United States where he directs, teaches, choreographs and performs for more than a decade, nominated him for various recognition archives such as San Francisco’s Isadora Duncan Award, and Santa Fe’s Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. Appearances include guest artist/ choreographer for Theatre Flamenco San Francisco. American Bolero Dance Company, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and most recently the 2021 Flamenco Festival Albuquerque.
Photo Credit: Morgan Smith
Juan Siddi has been described by the Santa Fe New Mexican as “a bundle of beautiful energy tempered by technique and taste.” His high-profile presence in the United States where he directs, teaches, choreographs and performs for more than a decade, nominated him for various recognition archives such as San Francisco’s Isadora Duncan Award, and Santa Fe’s Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. Appearances include guest artist/ choreographer for Theatre Flamenco San Francisco. American Bolero Dance Company, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and most recently the 2021 Flamenco Festival Albuquerque.
Photo Credit: Morgan Smith
Gabriel Lautaro Osuna
Gabriel was born to a family of artists and musicians in New Mexico; began singing hymns and laments as a child in his mountain
village. He later pursued the study and performance of flamenco guitar in Spain and abroad. Chuscales, El Viejin, Pedro Cuadra, Ramon Jimenez, Rafael Habichuela, El Entri, Juan Maya Marote, David Marin and Miguel Angel Cortez are some of his most influential mentors. He has worked with vocal artists such as Angelita Agujetas, Jose Fernandez, El Rubio De Pruna, Israel Fernandez, Curro Albaicín, Haroun Teboul, Jesus Montoya , Vicente Griego (El Cartucho), Alfonso Gabarri (El Veneno), Mamak Khadem and Florence Riggs. He has collaborated on numerous studio recordings and is featured on Dezeo, a Ladino album by Consuelo Luz. He has performed at the “World Expo” in Hannover, Germany, and at the “Saint-Florent-le-Vieil Les Orientales” Festival in France. Osuna has presented his music in theaters and in“Tablaos” (small flamenco cabarets) including a season at the gypsy caves in Granada. Locally, he has performed in community centers, schools, rest homes, prisons and at humanitarian events. He participates regularly in the “Festival Flamenco Internacionál” in Albuquerque New Mexico. In 2010 Gabriel performed in the world premiere of the opera "Il Postino" where he had the honor and privilege of working under the legendary Placido Domingo and the beloved Mexican composer, Daniel Catán. He then toured with “Il Postino” in Vienna and at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Currently Gabriel resides and performs in the Los Angeles area with the Hip Hop Crew “Subsuelo” and his own musical group "Encuentro".
Meagan Chandler
Meagan Chandler is a performance artist and expressive arts educator with over 20 years of professional dedication to Flamenco Cante. Flamenco first claimed her as a youth in her home town of Boulder, CO. She took her first wobbly cante steps in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain at age 20, and from there has built a flourishing career of her Flamenco love affair. Meagan has toured nationally with such groups as Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Flamenco Denver, Inspiracion Flamenca, and Abrepaso. Meagan also has two decades of experience teaching Flamenco arts education programs with Carlota Santana’s Project Olé based in North Carolina, sparking the passion of the art form in the next generation.
Meagan Chandler is a performance artist and expressive arts educator with over 20 years of professional dedication to Flamenco Cante. Flamenco first claimed her as a youth in her home town of Boulder, CO. She took her first wobbly cante steps in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain at age 20, and from there has built a flourishing career of her Flamenco love affair. Meagan has toured nationally with such groups as Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Flamenco Denver, Inspiracion Flamenca, and Abrepaso. Meagan also has two decades of experience teaching Flamenco arts education programs with Carlota Santana’s Project Olé based in North Carolina, sparking the passion of the art form in the next generation.
Dancers
JANIRA CORDOVA
Janira started dancing at the age of 5 with Baile Espanol, a Folklorico group in Santa Fe. Soon thereafter she discovered Flamenco and began studying under Maria Benitez at the Institute for Spanish Arts. By the time she was 8 Janira was asked to join the group Flamenco’s Next Generation (FNG), a youth company formed in 2002 through the Institute of Spanish Arts. As she continued to perform and cultivate her passion for Flamenco, Janira had the privilege to further her dance and study under well-known Flamenco artists, such as Adela Clara, Juan Siddi, Jose Junco, Antonio Granjero, Ileana Gomez, and many others. Later, Janira performed and studied under Mina Fajardo and Chuscales in Santa Fe. Janira has taught at EmiArteFlamenco Academy and holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Arizona State University and is presently working in Santa Fe with children with autism.
Cienna Chavez
Cienna is a dancer, artist, and performer at heart. She was born and raised in Albuquerque. She started dancing at Tierra Adentro of New Mexico, a flamenco performing arts school, as well as The National Institute of Flamenco where she learned that flamenco was her calling. She has been a part of groups such as Teeños and YFP (Young Flamenco Philanthropists). In these groups she was able to perform for the community and raise money for young dancers to study flamenco. In her years of training, she has learned Danza Española, Bolera, Jota, and Ballet while studying Flamenco. She has worked with dozens of guest artists from around the world, the one that influenced her the most was Hugo Lopez due to his ability to dance freely and genderless, aspects she wants to incorporate in her art. As her second year in the EmiArteFlamenco company, she is excited to perform for the people of Santa Fe and make many new memories.
Photo Credit: Joel Wigelsworth
Tessa Torres
Tessa Torres grew up in a family of musicians and performers who sparked her interests in the arts. At age 5, inspired by watching her mother, aunt, and cousins on stage, she began dancing under the direction of her aunt, Sonya Casillas, with the San Antonio, TX Parks and Recreation Department's dance program. There, she joined the city's pre-professional youth troupe, Fandango, where a greater knowledge for learning and performing flamenco and folklorico was fostered for 7 years. Tessa has since moved to New Mexico, where she's furthered her studies at UNM and the National Institute of Flamenco. This is her professional debut and first year working with EmiArteFlamenco.
Production Team
Kyra Murzyn
(Lighting and Set Build)
Kyra Murzyn received her BFA in Technical Design and Production with a specialization in Lighting Design from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design in 2018. After completion of her degree, she attended a One-Year Technical Internship at Yale School of Drama, joining the Electrics Department Staff in the MFA program’s 2019-2020 season. Kyra has worked extensively in the Santa Fe Theater community since her arrival in 2014 at venues including the Santa Fe Playhouse, The Lensic Performing Arts Center, and the Santa Fe Opera. In her time on the East Coast, she worked as an Electrician at Longwharf Theater, Hartford Stage, Yale Music Hall, Yale University Theater, and Yale Repertory Theater. Kyra has also worked as Lighting Programmer at Houston Stages as well as the Kranzberg Art Center in St. Louis, MO. Upon returning to Santa Fe in 2020, Kyra was the Technical Director for the National Dance Institute of New Mexico at the Dance Barns. In 2022, she switched roles to her current position as Stage Manager and Internship Program Supervisor at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.
Diego Gonzales
(Light and Sound Technician)
Diego Gonzales was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2005. He is Hispanic and Native American of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Band. He has had a love for all the arts and creating art since a small child. He enjoys painting, wood carving, writing poetry and playing music. He has a passion for movies, shows and live performances.
As someone who does not want to perform on stage he would rather be a supporting part of production by making performances happen behind the stage. His first experience was participating in an internship with the Lensic. He learned about lighting, sound and minor stagework. He is excited to be working with the Lensic this summer and taking on more experience and responsibility within the program. Hoping to make a career within the industry, he plans on going to college for an engineering degree and still working as he can to obtain hands on experience.
He is currently a 17 year old straight A student, at Monte Del Sol Charter School and will be starting his Senior year this Fall. He lives with his single mother in Santa Fe, NM who is an artist. He comes from a family of artists and has been surrounded by all types of art his whole life, so it is no surprise that he has a passion for the arts.
Deja Chung
(Box Office Manager)
Deja Chung, was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With a love for music and art, she found a special joy for the art of Flamenco. She describes it as a different movement through the soul to the movement to the feet; inspirational. Deja expresses her personal art through drawing and fitness. As of 2021, she is studying to become a personal trainer, and works at Superior Fitness. She has previously worked as manager for a company in 2020, and in the box office for the movies in 2018. She entered the EmiArteFlamenco family, July 21, 2021 as Box Office Manager.