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Flamenco Heats Up Denver

Contributed by: Renee Fajardo-Anstine on 4/9/2008

The "Dancing Stars" of Fiesta Colorado
Dance Company perform Flamenco y Folklórico for
1st time at West High School

Renee Fajardo

Fiesta Colorado's vibrant 30th Anniversary Celebration will be a treat for all audiences! Presenting a full spectrum of Hispanic dances, it features the best of Flamenco and Mexican Folklórico in Colorado. The performances will be at Denver West High School, 951 Elati Street, on Friday, April 18 & Saturday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Flamenco y Folklórico, will present dance and music from both Spain and Mexico. It includes Alegria from Seville, Bulerias accompanied by fiery Spanish guitars, and the classical La Leyenda del Beso, all originals from the Iberian Peninsula. Also, on the program, will be Mexican Folklórico favorites from Veracruz, Jalisco, Guadalajara and Tamaulipas among others. Audiences will be delighted, not only with the dynamic choreography, but also with the visually exotic costumes from each region.

Guitarists Steve Mullins and Sangria, with their fiery Flamenco rhythms, will accompany master dancers, Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero, Gina Martinez and María Vasques who together create the ambience and passion of the authentic Tablao Flamenco, the favorite of all who visit Barcelona or Madrid.

The award-winning Fiesta Colorado Dance Company, full of talent and exuberance, performs a colorful extravanza of many zapateados, which takes the audience on a delightful trip through the different regions of Mexico.

This unforgettable program, Flamenco y Folklórico, is under the direction of Jeanette Trujillo. Fiesta Colorado Inc. and Danzantes Studio is an elite group of dancers that have worked wit Trujillo for decades. These professionals are considered the best of the best among Mexican and Spanish dancers. They have preformed at numerous venues, fundraisers, corporate functions, schools and major stages through out Colorado and the region. Thousands of people have been entertained and enlighten through their awe-inspiring renditions of traditional and modern Hispanic dance. The troupe breathes the breath of life into the dances of Old Mexico and Spain.

Thirty years ago when Trujillo formed her first dance troupe she had a dream. Inspired by her teacher internationally renowned dance instructor Lucille Campa, Trujillo was determined to preserve a way of life. " Even back then I realized that the dances were a bloodline to the past. There is this rich heritage that belongs to all of us and it is so important to make sure that it survives. I think I knew instinctively that in order to keep the tradition alive you need to nurture and protect that tradition."


In many ways Trujillo is a Colorado tradition all by herself. She moved back to Colorado in 1987, after spending several years in Santa Fe. She came home to raise her sons and to start a dance studio. " At the time there were no studios in Colorado teaching Folklorico or Flamenco. I had been a dancer for many years and the South West was a great place to ingrain the full impact of the music and dance in me. But deep down inside I longed to come home and create a dance tradition in our own state. I began from scratch; I worked as a waitress and saved all my money. I knew that there was need to have this type studio in Denver and I was determined to see it happen."

Trujillo's hard work and patience paid off. By 1988 she had her first full production at the Arvada Center. The rest as they say is history. She has preformed with her dance troupe through out the world. A featured performer for Governor Romers Inauguration, she has also had the distinction of being one of the first Hispanic Artist to perform with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She is a recipient of the Mayors Award for Excellence (97, 07), a CCA Colorado Folk Artist (92, 93), and has preformed with the world renowned Mariachi Tecalitlan of Mexico.


Trujillo laughs gently, "What is the next level? Let me tell you! I think it is important for a city of our size to have a professional dance troupe like this. We keep alive dance traditions from Mexico and Spain that might otherwise be lost or unavailable to the community here in Colorado. I see myself as a link between generations. We have proven ourselves as professionals. I think it is equally important that the community support these types of dance groups. It is very important for studios and troupes such as mine to exist; they are the heartbeat of culture. Being at West High School is one of the most exciting places we could be, right here in the heart of the barrio where we all grew up."


Tickets for the show can be ordered at www.fiestacolorado.org (Go to Season - Special Events Page, Under April events) $15 -Adults,$10 - Children 12 and under, Students, & Seniors 55+
At the Door day of the performance: $18 - Adults,$13 - Children 12 and under, Students & Seniors. For more informationa call Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero 303-274-7844 or
Email:fiestacolorado@comcast.net


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Renee Fajardo-Anstine has posted 164 stories and 0 comments since joining on 4/1/2006. Renee Fajardo-Anstine 's average story rating is 5.
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