“…When Ms. Benitez has the stage to herself, she swirls and tosses her long hair with such ferocity that you imagine that at any moment she’ll fall into the huge circle of fire. Her dance is raw and headstrong, calming only slightly with the appearance of her rakish Gypsy lover, played by Daniel Peregrino….”
(El Amor Brujo)

“…Benitez strides down the ramp with an enormous train, a vision of elegance and confidence. Two men and four women join her to form geometric patterns as they dance with a grand and impeccable manner…..”
(La Vida Breve) Dallas Morning News

“….A wonderful dance sequence, presented with enthralling passion by choreographer/dancer Maria Benitez and an ensemble of her colleagues, provides further visual intensity…..” (La Vida Breve)……..” magnificently danced by Benitez and splendidly sung by Denyce Graves….” (El Amor  bujo)
– Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

“Maria, you are the pride of New Mexico…a most beautiful talent. You will be very much in our thoughts…”
– Pete Domenici, United States Senator

Internationally acclaimed as a performer, choreographer and director, María Benítez is recognized as one of the finest exponents in her field – Spanish dance and all that it embraces. Ms. Benítez is best known for the work of the company she and her husband Cecilio founded and direct – María Benítez Teatro Flamenco. With a long standing reputation for excellence, the company’s history includes performances at festivals and major concert halls in all 50 states, Canada, Germany, Holland, Spain, Austria and 12- week summer seasons in Santa Fe, NM since the early 1970’s.

Ms. Benítez also regularly performs and choreographs for opera. Her first opera experience was performing and choreographing the Santa Fe Opera 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 María 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, Ms. Benítez has performed with the Orchestra of Santa Fe, the New Mexico and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras.

A native New Mexican, after initial ballet training in the USA, Ms. Benítez traveled to Spain to study and perform. Her basic training was with Mercedes and Albano and Victoria Eugenia in Madrid and she now continues to work with Ciro 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 TV. After returning to the USA with her husband Cecilio, Ms. Benítez established homes in New York and Santa Fe.

Among many other recognitions, Ms. 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 single-handed 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, enthusiastically supported by U.S. Senator Pete Domenici; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson; New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson; and through a joint resolution of the New Mexico House and Senate. María was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Santa Fe Opera.

Ms. Benítez has been featured in her choreography of El amor brujo on national PBS TV’s “Evening at POPS” with the Boston POPS, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. Recently Ms. Benitez reunited with Ms. Graves at the Dallas Opera, choreographing and performing in El amor brujo and La vida breve by Spanish Composer Manuel de Falla. Performances ran January 9 – 17, 2004, and photos from these productions can be seen on the Dallas Opera website, www.dallasopera.org.

MARIA’S MOST RECENT WORK AT THE DALLAS OPERA

December 14th, both Cecilio and Maria went to Dallas for one month to work with the Dallas Opera and the renowned opera singer, Denyce Graves in Manuel de Falla’s La Vida Breve and El Amor Brujo. Maria choreographed and performed in both operas. She said, “working with Denyce Graves is a paramount experience for me…a breath of fresh air and what an astounding voice!” It was wonderful to perform these operas once again and be on the same stage with Denyce.” These two operas were first presented by the Dallas Opera in 1994 in which Maria choreographed and performed in both. Johnny Jaramillo and Daniel Peregrino, both New Mexico’s own, also performed in both operas. Both operas were directed by Bliss Hebert and set design by Allen Klein.

Of Special Interest

In August 2006 Maria was given Spain’s most prestigious honor- La Cruz de Isabel La Catolica Award – by the Spanish Consulate Julio MontesinosIn the summer 2006 Maria choreographed CARMEN for the Santa Fe Opera. Governor Bill Richardson recently nominated Maria for the Thirtieth Annual National Governors Association (NGA) Awards Program for Distinguished Service to State Government in the Arts Category for Artistic Production (as an artist).

From Land of Flamenco, Honor to Maria Benitez

“At the conclusion of her Saturday-evening retrospective show at the Lodge at Santa Fe for an audience of ilustres, a singular honor awaited Maria Menitea: La Gran Cruz de Isabel la Catolica.

“Isabel la Catolica is the name by which Spain’s legendary Queen Isabella of Castile is known. The grand cross bearing her name is the king of Spain’s highest artistic award. Consul-general Julio Montesinos traveled from Houston to present it to Benitez on behalf of King Juan Carlos.
“The grand cross was established back in 1815 for services to the Spanish crown.
“In official language, it recognizes “those who have distinguished themselves in their contributions toward relations of friendship and cooperation between Spain and the international community.”
“And who has done more than the Taos-born Benitez? For nearly four decades, she and her Teatro Flamenco have been a fixture of the Santa Fe summer; eloquent reminders of our community’s four-century-old Spanish heritage, and captivatingly entertaining performers of that deep dance form.

“She brings great passion and power to her performances; qualities which have gained her and her group national fame in cante jondo.

“The gran cruz is only the latest of many such awards she and her troupe have garnered while attracting audiences in this and many nations — including Spain.
“Maria Benitez is ours; her career has taken her far, but her return to Santa Fe, to her studio and to her summer show has been cause for celebration among her many local friends and devoted fans. We join them in a round of felicidades upon the past weekend’s well deserved recognition.”
– THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, August 28, 2006

Cecilio Benitez

Cecilio Benitez, born in Arenys de Mar, Barcelona, Spain.  Cecilio Benitez began his apprenticeship at the age of 14 in the Fontalba Theatre in Madrid.  In 1951 he became Technical Director, a position he maintained working in many major theaters throughout Spain, including the “Teatro de Zarzuela” in Madrid and “Teatro Calderon” in Barcelona.  For the next 20 years he toured with major opera, dance, theater and zarzuela companies.  After arriving in this country, Mr. Benitez taught Spanish literature at Verde Valley School from 1969 to 1973 where he also directed such plays as Blood Wedding and Casa de Bernarda Alba by Garcia Lorca, Don Juan Tenorio by Zorrilla, and La Barca Sin Pescador by Alejandro Casona.  He also directed the College of Santa Fe’s mobile bilingual theater for a summer.  Mr. Benitez serves as Lighting Designer for the Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco and the regional company, “Estampa Española”.  His dramatic and stark design are praised by audiences adn critics alike.  His other current position is Co-Founder/General Director of the Institute for Spanish Arts.

en Español

María Benítez, bailarina,coreógrafa, y directora, es reconocida por ser una de las mas fieles exponentes del baile español en todos sus sentidos. Empezó sus estudios en Madrid con Victoria Eugenia y Mercedes y Albano. Estudió con estos maestros unos 5 años y durante este tiempo hizo numerosas giras por toda España con la compañía de María Rosa y otros grupos.

La Señora Benítez es conocida por sus trabajos profesionales con su compañia María Benítez Teatro Flamenco de la cual es directora y fundadora con su marido Cecilio Benítez. En el año 1998, la compañia celebró su aniversario vigesimoctavo gozando de una excelente reputación ameritada por su larga historia de grandes logros, que incluyen haber trabajado en los mejores festivales y los mejores teatros en los 50 estados de EEUU, Canada, Alemania, Holanda, Austria y Sudamérica Sus últimos trabajos han sido :

En 1996 María Benítez Teatro Flamenco se presentó El Amor Brujo de Manuel de Falla (coreografiado por ella) con el BOSTON POPS y la famosa cantante de ópera, Denyce Graves. Fue televisado nacionalmente por PBS. También se hizo la temporada de Nueva York en el Joyce Theater, seguido de una gira nacional con gran éxito. En el Joyce Theater de Nueva York y en el Kennedy Center en Washington ha trabajado con su Compañía diez temporadas. Regularmente baila y coreografia para baile español y ópera. En 1993 coreografió y bailó La Vida Breve y la primera version de El Amor Brujo en la Opera de Dallas. Ha bailado y coreografiado para Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis y Austin Opera. La Sra. Benítez coreografió en el Metropolitan Opera de Nueva York, Carmen, que fué televisada por PBS “Great Performances”. En enero de 1996 la Sra. Benítez coreografió para el Metropolitan Opera la producción La Fuerza del Destino, dirigida por Giancarlo del Monaco y cantada por Plácido Domingo. Como fue esta asociación un gran éxito, el Metropolitan le pidió volver para coreografiar la producción de Franco Zeffirelli, Carmen, con el director de orquesta James Levine y las voces de Plácido Domingo y la mezzo soprano Waltraud Meier. También fue filmado por la PBS “Great Performances”. La Sra. Benítez fué contratada este pasado otoño de 1998 y otra vez en el 1999 por el Metropolitan Opera de Nueva York, para coreografiar la producción de Franco Zeffirelli,La Traviata, y para bailar otra vez en Carmen, siendo el tenor Plácido Domingo.

En Febrero de 1999 hasta Marzo 7, se presentó de nuevo en el Teatro Joyce de Nueva York con su compañía e inició otra gira por la geografía Americana. La Sra. Benítez ha dirigido un Teatro Tablao dentro del Hotel Radisson en Santa Fe, Nuevo Méjico por mas de tres decadas donde trabaja 15 semanas con su Compañía en la temporada de verano.

Entre muchos honores rendidos a María Benítez, se le ha conferido el Premio del Gobernador de Nuevo Méjico por Excelencia en el Campo del Baile; el Premio en Reconocimiento del Arte del Alcalde de la Ciudad de Santa Fe. Fue propuesta para el conferimiento del National Medal of Arts, con el apoyo entusiasta de Pete Domenici y Gary Johnson (senador y gobernador, respectivamente, del estado de Nuevo Méjico); de Bill Richardson, embajador de EEUU a las Naciones Unidas; y por medio de una resolución conjunta del Senado y la Casa de Representates del estado de Nuevo Méjico.