Maria Benitez
Encyclopedia
María Benítez is an American dancer, choreographer and director, internationally recognized as a leader in Spanish dance and flamenco
. A native New Mexican, Benítez is best known for the work of the company she and her husband Cecilio founded and direct - María Benítez Teatro Flamenco.
Known as a standard for rising Spanish flamenco performers wanting to break into the US market, The María Benítez Teatro Flamenco has performed at festivals and concert halls in all 50 states of the US, as well as Canada, Germany, Holland, Spain and Austria since the early 1970s.
production of La Vida Breve
With the Metropolitan Opera
of New York, she choreographed their production of Carmen
in 1987; La Forza del Destino
(directed by Giancarlo del Monaco) in 1989; in 1996 the Met's new production of Carmen (directed by Franco Zeffirelli
) and in 1998 the Met's new production of La Traviata
also directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The Met's Carmen was televised by PBS's Great Performances
in the spring of 1997 and Benítez performed in this production in 1997 and 1998 in New York. She has also choreographed and/or performed with the Boston Lyric, Virginia, Dallas, Fort Worth, St. Louis and Austin opera companies and in 1997 choreographed and performed in the Santa Fe Opera production of La Traviata. As a solo artist, Benítez has performed with the Orchestra of Santa Fe, the New Mexico and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras.
; New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson; former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson
; and through a joint resolution of the New Mexico House and Senate. In addition. Benítez was elected to the Board of Directors of The Santa Fe Opera.
on PBS's "Evening at POPS" with the Boston POPS, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
and mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves
. Benítez reunited with Graves at the Dallas Opera, choreographing and performing in El amor brujo and La vida breve by Spanish Composer Manuel de Falla
.
, is a not-for-profit, educational and cultural organization established to present programs of the highest quality of the rich artistic heritage of Spain. The institute's mission is to preserve, strengthen and disseminate the rich and artistic Spanish heritage as expressed through music, dance, visual arts and other art forms. Major projects include adult and children's Spanish arts workshops every summer, Flamenco's Next Generation summer season performances and Flamenco dance and guitar classes for youth and adults year round.
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
. A native New Mexican, Benítez is best known for the work of the company she and her husband Cecilio founded and direct - María Benítez Teatro Flamenco.
Known as a standard for rising Spanish flamenco performers wanting to break into the US market, The María Benítez Teatro Flamenco has performed at festivals and concert halls in all 50 states of the US, as well as Canada, Germany, Holland, Spain and Austria since the early 1970s.
Early career
After initial ballet training in the USA, Benítez traveled to Spain to study and perform. Her basic training was with Mercedes and Albano and Victoria Eugenia in Madrid. During her tenure abroad she performed throughout every province of Spain, in North Africa, Portugal and in South America with large national Spanish dance companies and smaller flamenco groups. She also performed numerous times on Spanish television. After returning to the USA, Maria and her husband Cecilio established homes in New York and Santa Fe. They continue to be active promoting Spanish dance and culture in the US.Choreography for Opera
Benítez regularly performs and choreographs for opera. Her first opera experience was performing and choreographing The Santa Fe OperaSanta Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
production of La Vida Breve
La vida breve
La vida breve is an opera in two acts and four scenes by Manuel de Falla to an original Spanish libretto by Carlos Fernández-Shaw...
With the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
of New York, she choreographed their production of Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
in 1987; La Forza del Destino
La forza del destino
La forza del destino is an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on a Spanish drama, Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino , by Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, with a scene adapted from Friedrich Schiller's Wallensteins Lager. It was first performed...
(directed by Giancarlo del Monaco) in 1989; in 1996 the Met's new production of Carmen (directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
) and in 1998 the Met's new production of La Traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
also directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The Met's Carmen was televised by PBS's Great Performances
Great Performances
Great Performances, a television series devoted to the performing arts, has been telecast on Public Broadcasting Service public television since 1972...
in the spring of 1997 and Benítez performed in this production in 1997 and 1998 in New York. She has also choreographed and/or performed with the Boston Lyric, Virginia, Dallas, Fort Worth, St. Louis and Austin opera companies and in 1997 choreographed and performed in the Santa Fe Opera production of La Traviata. As a solo artist, Benítez has performed with the Orchestra of Santa Fe, the New Mexico and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras.
Awards and recognitions
Among many other recognitions, Benítez has been awarded the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Field of Dance, the City of Santa Fe Mayor's Arts Award, the Classical Spanish Dance Award from the Institute of Puerto Rico in New York City, the Hospitality Individual of the Year Award, for María's boost to tourism in Santa Fe and a golden key to the City of Miami. She received a nomination for the National Medal of Arts, supported by U.S. Senator Pete DomeniciPete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
; New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson; former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
; and through a joint resolution of the New Mexico House and Senate. In addition. Benítez was elected to the Board of Directors of The Santa Fe Opera.
Additional Appearances
Benítez was featured nationally in her choreography of El amor brujoEl amor brujo
El amor brujo is a piece of music originally composed by Manuel de Falla for a chamber group, then re-scored as a symphonic suite, and eventually as a ballet...
on PBS's "Evening at POPS" with the Boston POPS, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet consists of John Dearman, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant and Matthew Greif . They are known for using nylon string guitars to imitate a variety of instruments and effects....
and mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.-Early life:Graves was born on March 7, 1964, to Charles Graves and Dorothy Graves-Kenner. She is the middle of three children and was raised by her mother on Galveston Street, S.W., in the Bellevue section of Washington...
. Benítez reunited with Graves at the Dallas Opera, choreographing and performing in El amor brujo and La vida breve by Spanish Composer Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
.
Current Projects
Currently Maria Benitez, along with husband, Cecilio Benitez, is the Founder and Director of the Institute for Spanish Arts. The Institute for Spanish Arts, located in Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, is a not-for-profit, educational and cultural organization established to present programs of the highest quality of the rich artistic heritage of Spain. The institute's mission is to preserve, strengthen and disseminate the rich and artistic Spanish heritage as expressed through music, dance, visual arts and other art forms. Major projects include adult and children's Spanish arts workshops every summer, Flamenco's Next Generation summer season performances and Flamenco dance and guitar classes for youth and adults year round.