JOAQUÍN ENCINIAS VIEWS THE ANNUAL Festival Flamenco Alburquerque as a big, beautiful, artistic gift. The oldest and largest flamenco festival outside of Spain brings more than 100 flamenco dancers, singers, and musicians to the Duke City for eight days of workshops, performances, and sharing the art form. “All of the artists come to the festival with this incredible energy,” says Encinias, the artistic director of both the National Institute of Flamenco, which hosts the festival, and the institute’s professional company, Yjastros. “There is this infusion of flamenco knowledge and expertise. We are gifted with so much in such a short amount of time.”
Take a workshop. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, the festival has a workshop for your interest and ability, including a special flamenco appreciation course taught by festival director Marisol Encinias, Joaquín’s sister. “The way we format our classes makes it so you can take many classes in one day,” she says. “All of these renowned artists are teaching in one venue.”
See more. The festival spotlights the breadth of flamenco, which ranges from the traditional to the avant-garde.
“I am trying to show different representations in the spectrum of everything that could be considered flamenco,” she says. The best way to experience it is with one of four ticket packages, all of which include the 10 main-stage performances.
But if you can catch only one... The Fiesta Flamenca concerts, June 16 and 17, join four headliners together in mini performances. “Seeing artists of this caliber in a shared concert is very rare,” she says. “The power and the way the energy builds is special.”
Catch G Precious at the Indigenous Ways Festival this June in Santa Fe.
Photograph courtesy of Indigenous Ways Festival.
Indigenous Ways Festival, Santa Fe
June 2
The Santa Fe Railyard hosts a gathering of poets, singers, and musicians, including Joshua Dixon (Diné), Lyla June (Diné), and G Precious (Ohkay Owingeh).
CavernFest, Carlsbad
June 9 & 10
Dig deep into family fun with cornhole tournaments, volleyball games, food trucks, and live music.
Harwood 100th Birthday Bash, Taos
June 16
Celebrate a century of the Harwood Museum of Art, in Taos, with a party at the Sagebrush Inn.
Piano concert, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
June 18
Pianist Donna Coleman performs two Father’s Day concerts (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) at the Quarai site of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
Summer solstice, Salmon Ruins
June 21
Greet the astronomical first day of summer at the ruins with a 7 a.m. guided tour to see the solstice marker at work.
Lefty Holman competes in the saddle bronc event at Rodeo de Santa Fe.
Photograph courtesy of William Kierce.
Don't miss a New Mexico United soccer match this month.
Photograph courtesy of City of Albuquerque.
HAVE A BALL!
New Mexico United
June 3
vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
June 17
vs. Rio Grande Valley
June 21
vs. Phoenix Rising FC
June 25
vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Albuquerque Isotopes
June 6-11
vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys
June 29-30
vs. El Paso Chihuahuas
