Out of the ‘Void’
Alice Blumenfeld flamenco show explores human connection to nature
Inspiration is everywhere for Alice Blumenfeld.
And she brings that inspiration to her flamenco choreography. Blumenfeld’s latest piece “Vacío/ Void” is inspired by environmentalist Rachel Carson.
Carson was an American marine biologist and author who is credited with advancing the global environmental movement.
Blumenfeld says her latest piece explores the figurative and literal voids that thwart us from seeing our own connections to others and nature.
“(Rachel Carson) was the first person to bring awareness that human beings were destroying the environment,” Blumenfeld says. “She’s the initial inspiration. I wanted to pay homage because she is a childhood hero of mine. She’s influenced my thinking in life.”
Blumenfeld’s Abrepaso Flamenco is presenting the piece this weekend at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The performance uses moving set pieces to divide, bring together, or highlight dancers and/or parts of dancers.
This is Abrepaso’s third season at the NHCC.
“This show has eight dancers in total, and we’ve never had more than two dancers,” she says. “There’s new commissioned music for the piece. We also have set pieces by Vic Browder. Those are three new pieces in the company, and I felt we needed them to explore Carson’s themes.”
Blumenfeld will be joined by flamenco dancers Lydia Gallegos, Miquela Wiegel, Olivia Marín, Johnathan McVey, Ysabela Trujillo, and Marissa Zagone. Kimberly White will be the contemporary dancer, and Natalee Maxwell is the visual artist.
Blumenfeld found the dancers through an audition process.
“In New Mexico, there’s a lot of flamenco,” she says. “The dancers who showed up for the auditions were so interested in the work. That makes all the difference when putting together a show like this.”
It’s taken Blumenfeld about two years to bring “Vacio/Void” to fruition.
“Some of the choreography was started at the beginning of this year,” she says. “It’s been a quick turnaround, and we’re making it happen. This project is special, because Rachel Carson has made an impression on me.”