Voltage: UNM’s Faculty Dance Concert Sparks Energy, Emotion, and Artistry

By Madrone Matishak, February 20, 2025

Albuquerque, NM – The University of New Mexico’s Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents Voltage, an electrifying concert inspired by the production season’s theme of Safety/Danger. This performance explores tension, electricity, friction, and power—forces that originate internally and manifest externally—in a program that features works in flamenco and contemporary dance works from renowned faculty and invited guest artists.

This concert features two ensembles, the Contemporary Dance Ensemble and the Flamenco Ensemble, both of which have worked diligently over the past year to bring these works to life. The program includes choreography from six choreographers, each offering a unique style and interpretation, all connected to the theme of danger.

Featured Guest Artists

Contemporary guest artist Seán Curran has had a 35-year career as a choreographer and director for opera and theatre. A graduate of New York University, he is currently the Chair and Arts Professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dance. As a dancer, Curran is known for his early work with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, earning a “Bessie” Award for Secret Pastures, and for being an original cast member of STOMP! His choreographic works, created for Seán Curran Company, have been performed at nearly 100 venues worldwide, blending cross-genre collaborations. With UNM students, Curran brings a dynamic and challenging approach, helping them develop his distinctive movement style, which elevates the program to national and international recognition. His deep satisfaction with the students is reflected in his own words, as he expresses the joy he finds in working with such talented young artists.

Guest artist Dr. Elana Denise Anderson is a highly accomplished artist, educator, and scholar with over 30 years of dance experience. Trained in multiple disciplines, she has collaborated with renowned choreographers and performed across four continents in concert, commercial, opera, television, and film. Known for her excellence in the Black Dance aesthetic, Dr. Anderson is also an educator, holding a B.A. in African American Studies, an M.A., and a Ph.D., and serving in various professional organizations, including the African Studies Association and the American Guild for Musical Artists. She currently teaches Contemporary Modern Dance and serves as the assistant Artistic Director of the National Dance Institute at the Hiland Theater. For her new work with the Contemporary ensemble, she uses the “seven deadly sins” as a framework to explore themes of conflict, exploitation, and oppression, asking the repeated question, “Is it safe to go home yet?” While offering no clear answer, the piece invites the audience to reflect on the relativity of safety and the dangerous human behaviors that contribute to suffering, ultimately questioning, Will it ever be safe to go home?

Florencia Oz, a dancer and choreographer from Chile who has lived in Spain for over a decade, brings a unique approach to movement. She came to UNM in spring 2024 and set a duet on the Flamenco Ensemble based on Caña, a traditional flamenco palo. The piece incorporates bata de cola (trained dress) and mantón (shawl) and is performed with live musicians, showcasing flamenco’s elegance and strength.

Ricardo Moro, based in Madrid, Spain, came to UNM in Fall 2024 as a Guest Artist in Residence presents a new contemporary flamenco piece. Peligro Donde Hay Cuerpo explores the idea that wherever the body exists, there is always the potential for danger. The choreography plays with this concept, examining the inherent risks within us and what we allow to surface, reflecting on the shifting nature of risk in different spaces and situations.

“I gave him [Ricardo Moro] the idea of working with the concert’s theme, danger, and he created this piece for five dancers. This year’s ensemble is a young group—only one senior and the rest freshmen—marking the beginning of their artistic journey. It’s exciting to see how they engage with the work and envision how they will grow in the years ahead.” Said Flamenco Rehearsal Director Marisol Encinias. 

Celebrating Faculty Excellence

It is also a moment to celebrate the work of two resident professors, Vladimir Conde Reche and Donna Jewell. Vladimir Conde Reche, a gifted choreographer and faculty member, continues to contribute compelling work to the Faculty Dance Concert. For this new work Vladimir explores the concept of living inside boxes—both figuratively and literally—highlighting how we often unknowingly confine ourselves and others within invisible boundaries. While these “boxes” may offer a sense of safety or order, they also foster dangerous assumptions, leading to biases and misunderstandings that create division. The piece examines the idea that, at our core, we are all the same, transcending these limitations through performance.

During Voltage, Donna Jewell presents her final choreography at UNM before going on sabbatical and retiring soon after, making this performance a special tribute to her remarkable legacy. Donna’s contributions to UNM and the Department go far beyond her tenure as faculty and seven years as Department Chair. She served as a mentor to countless students and dance community members, was a tireless advocate for faculty and staff, and was a true leader and visionary.

A Fully Integrated Production

Voltage is a student-performed and student-operated production, offering invaluable hands-on experience under the guidance of UNM’s esteemed faculty and guest artists. The design faculty, led by William Liotta (lighting design), Inseung Park (scenic design), and Sara Ice and Stacia Smith (costume design), bring the production to life with their creative expertise and artistic directors Marisol Encinias and Vladimir Conde Reche shape the concert.

This production is a testament to the power of dance as a medium for artistic expression, critical thought, and cultural reflection. Audiences can expect an exhilarating evening of movement, emotion, and storytelling that will leave a lasting impact. 

Event Details:

Voltage will be performed at Rodey Theatre on February 28, and March 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30pm, March 2 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available at unmtickets.com or the UNM Box Office.

Photo: The UNM Contemporary Ensemble rehearse “Is It Safe to Go Home Yet?” by Elana Anderson. Photo by Francois Achan