Albuquerque, N.M. – The 22nd Annual Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque comes to Albuquerque, New Mexico June 6-15. This festival is the largest in North America, and the Festival Flamenco de Jerez, Spain has recognized it as one of the largest festivals outside of Spain. The festival is an international treasure prompting Albuquerque to be described as the Sevilla of North America by the Journal of Flamenco Artistry in London.
 
Popular Flamenco Artists

The 22nd annual festival will be a world-class event as top flamenco artists from all over the world flock to Albuquerque to share their artistry and tradition with students from around the world. Performances will take place at the University of New Mexico’s Rodey Theater, the National Hispanic Cultural Center and the Lensic in Santa Fe.

“The festival brings international attention to Albuquerque with visitors and participants from all over the world,” said Dale Lockett, President/CEO of the Visit Albuquerque. “This world-class event showcases the diverse and unique cultural arts that are evident throughout Albuquerque.”

The event will demonstrate flamenco artistry from various artists including Antonio Canales, Rocío Molina, Albuquerque’s Yjastros: "The American Flamenco Repertory Company" and many more. The festival also includes the VI Concurso Nacional de Flamenco, a competition of pre-professional and professional flamenco dancers who will present their choreographies, musical numbers or vocals to a panel of judges comprised of top flamenco artists.
 
The Festival Flamenco is unique in that it offers participants – young and old – the opportunity to study all aspects of flamenco in workshop classes June 7-14. Workshop participants can experience the beauty of flamenco’s dance technique and repertory as well as its guitar, cante, palmas and cajon. The festival will also be hosting its annual Kids Camp. This camp teaches children the basics of flamenco allowing them to interact with working artists.
 

“Every year is exciting for the festival – for about 10 days – the city is just buzzing with flamenco artists and aficionados from all over the country and the world,” said Eva Encinias Sandoval, director of the National Institute of Flamenco in Albuquerque. “It is a great, intense emersion into an amazing art form that really puts Albuquerque and New Mexico on the map.”

Visit www.nationalinstituteofflamenco.org or call 505-242-7600 for information on the festival. For information on visiting Albuquerque, go to www.itsatrip.org.