Carmen La Golondrina: Flamenco Fiesta at Teatro Paraguas

Base on a true story: Chuscales’ grandmother, Carmen La Golondrina, had a gypsy cave, also known as Cueva de La Golondrina (cave of the swallow), in Sacromonte, Granada, Spain.
 
Carmen Maya Cortes “Carmen La Golondrina” was born in Sacromente in 1906 and died in 1996. Since she was little, she danced at the Zambra of the Amaya and Maya, appeared in the films Mara de la O and Forja de Almas, and danced at the Cante Jondo Festival in 1922. Carmen performed in Barcelona Expo International. She opened the Cueva de La Golondrina with her husband, Joaquin Fajardo, guitarist, and her three children, Isabel Fajardo Maya, Maria Fajardo Maya, Antonio Fajardo Maya in 1947. She performed throughout Andalusia and Morocco. She danced at “Franco en la Granja” and in Hotel Palace for many seasons. She toured with famous singer Antonio Chacon in 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.
 
Cast:
Music Director, Composer, and Guitarist: Jose Valle Chuscales
Artistic Director, Choreographer, Playwright, and Dancer (Old Carmen): Mina Fajardo
Dancer (Young Carmen): Sveta Backhaus
Dancer (Middle age of Carmen): Monze Diaz
 
Artistic Director Mina Fajardo choreographed and performed in many productions including in Santa Fe: The Little Match Girl, Dance with Spirit, Illusions in Arts: Calligraphy & Choreography, Romance de la Luna, Una Nota de Lorca, Gypsy Book, Flamenco X3, Gypsy Passion, Flamenco Fiesta! in 2014 & 2013, Forever in My Heart, My Gypsy Soul; in Denver: Flamenco Masters; in the Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival 2015; in Boulder, Chuscales at Old Main; in Telluride at the Telluride Jazz Festival; in Las Vegas, NM, Chuscales y Mina Fajardo con Las Tres Mujeres; and in Boston, Chuscales Live at MIT.

Performances:
Saturday • April 28 • 8 p.m.
Sunday • April 29 • 6 p.m.

Tickets:
$30 General admission
$25 Students and Seniors
Click here to buy tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com
or call 505-424-1601

For more info, visit www.TeatroParaguas.org
Call Argos MacCallum, 505-424-1601

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Teatro Paraguas
3205 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-424-1601
www.teatroparaguas.org