Lily Angel, Antonio Marrujo, and Mary Sanchez rehearsing their flamenco number

CNM Department of Theater and Dance to Host First-Ever Dance Concert

The show, called “ARCHitecture Flamenca”, will feature student dancers performing flamenco, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop
November 08, 2024

CNM Flamenco Instructor Bridgit Lujan and the Department of Theater and Dance are excited to announce the launch of CNM’s first-ever dance concert “ARCHitecture Flamenca,” which takes place Nov. 14-24 in the Coal Avenue Theater on Main Campus.

We caught up with Bridgit and several of the performers – Mary Sanchez, Antonio Marrujo, Lily Angel, and Marisol Porras – and asked them about the inspiration for the show and how it feels to be a part of CNM’s inaugural dance performance.

Q: What was the inspiration for the show? 
A (Bridgit): The idea for the show came to me back in 2021 when I was working on a site-specific project in Al-Andalus, an area of the Iberian Peninsula, and was inspired by the architecture of one of the buildings. It had 12 arches, which is important because flamenco is primarily performed with a meter of 12. I’ve been developing the show ever since, and it is not only an exploration of the Islamic and Moroccan influence on flamenco, but also an exploration of how flamenco can be combined with other dances practices.
Q: What drew you to perform in the dance concert? 
  • A (Mary): I have only taken a couple of dance classes, but I have really enjoyed the freedom and creativity of dance. So, when Bridgit told me about the dance concert, I decided to go for it and do something outside of my comfort zone, and I couldn’t be more excited! 
  • A (Lily): I did a couple of dance performances when I was younger but haven’t performed since then. Bridgit encouraged me to audition and I’m really looking forward to my first dance performance as an adult.  
Q: What are you most looking forward to? 
  • A (Antonio): I’ve been dancing since I was in high school,
    but this is my first time performing flamencoAntonio Marrujo rehearsing his ballet number which is really special. I also didn’t know that this was CNM’s first ever dance concert, so I feel honored to be a part of that.
  • A (Marisol): I truly just love to dance, and I think it will be a lot of fun to share that with the audience.
  • A (Lily): I’m excited to see how it all comes together after rehearsing and practicing for so long. This whole experience has been great, and I’m looking forward to seeing the final product.
  • A (Mary): I’m really excited to have all my friends and family come out and see me perform. It’s special to be a part of something that will bring so many people together. 
Q: Why is it important to hold a dance concert? 
A (Bridgit): This is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing dance community in Albuquerque, and specifically at CNM. Some folks in the community might not know that CNM teaches dance classes or that there is a theater space on Main Campus. Hosting something like this really opens the doors for a wider and more diverse group of people to engage with creative outlets like theater and dance.  

You can pre-purchase your tickets for ARCHitecture Flamenca through the CNM Marketplace.  Performances take place on Main Campus in the Coal Avenue Theater.

Interested in taking a Dance class? Check out the CNM Course Catalog.