Rafaela Carrasco
y compañía
Nocturna
Arquitectura del insomnio
Sponsored by real time solutions
DATE & TIME
Sun. June 22 at 8:30pm
LOCATION
Journal Theater, NHCC
About
The SHOW
A piano. A voice. Bodies in motion. An insomniac journey from dusk to dawn, evoking the mysteries of feeling, consciousness, and memory.
Through words and bodies, Nocturna presents a dance, musical, and poetic exploration of the major themes and contradictions generated by the night, seen from the clarity and hallucination of those who stay awake, of those who live insomnia: daydreams versus nightmares, the subconscious versus thought, celebration versus calm… All while not forgetting the night as a mystical experience, as a visionary path, and its opposite: the night as a game, as a playful ritual of identity confusion.
The night, the great shadow, has been an immense source of inspiration for great artists across all times and disciplines. Vigilance, staying awake, has acquired profound cultural meanings throughout the centuries, from keeping watch over weapons to romantic restlessness, passing through magical, tragic, or festive vigils; staying up all night means delving into our hidden face.
As a time for sleep, insomnia, or nightmares; as a magical or cursed space; as a period of rest or madness; as a storehouse of fears or fantasies, the human being finds in this dark mirror the reflection of its deepest questions, which we now pose in a flamenco key.
The night changes, transforms, confuses, moves: it is pure movement. Today, we follow its steps. Today, we dance until dawn.
“”
Rafaela Carrasco’s work stands out for its ability to transform flamenco into a deeply poetic experience, where dance, music, and storytelling converge to captivate audiences, even in unexpected and challenging settings.
Rosana Torres
El PAís
Cast & Credits
Rafaela Carrasco
Concept, Choreography, Direction, Dance
Álvaro Tato
Dramaturgy, Lyrics
Pablo Martín Jones, Pablo Suárez, Jesús Torres
Musical Direction, Composition
Carmen Angulo, Julia Gimeno, María Gómez, Magdalena Magion, Nazaret Oliva, Crsitina San Gregorio, Cristina Soler, Carmen Yanes
Dance
Gema Caballero
Cante
Jesús Torres
Guitar
Juanfe Pérez, Javi Rubio
Electronic Music
Marta Estal, Pablo Suárez
Musicians-Recorded Music, Piano
Jesús Torres
Musical Arrangements
Pablo Martín Jones, Pablo Suárez, Jesús Torres
Musical Direction and Composition
Pablo Martín Jones,
Sound Space
Gloria Montesinos (AAI)
Lighting, Original Lighting, Set Design
Ángel Olalla
Live Sound space design
Miguel Ángel Guisado
Machinery
Belén de la Quintana
Costume Design
Pepa Carrasco, Sol Quirel, Belén de la Quintana
Costume Construction
Beatrix Mexi Molnar
Phorography and Video
Goyo Ucle
Graphic and web design
Emilia Yagüe
Distribution
Alejandro Salade
Executive Production
Production by Rafaela Carrasco
Photo: Laura Ortega
Learn More About
Rafaela Carrasco
Her career highlights her profile as a dancer and, above all, as a choreographer. From the beginning, she has aimed to rethink, research, and personalize flamenco. She has ventured to create her own vision of dance: warm, elaborate, conceptual, and designed for a dance ensemble in a stage space.
Carrasco has worked to develop flamenco, updating it by incorporating knowledge from other dance disciplines while maintaining its flamenco roots, creating a highly personal journey in both her experience and expression of dance.
She is a deep connoisseur of Spanish dance and flamenco, thanks to her two great masters: Matilde Coral, with whom she learned discipline, technique, and passion for dance, and Mario Maya, who gave her her first professional opportunity and introduced her to the stage. She started with Mario Maya’s company and later joined the Compañía Andaluza de Danza.
Rafaela moved from Seville to Madrid in 1996 and has since worked with prestigious companies and figures, including Belén Maya, Israel Galván, Javier Barón, Adrián Galia, Rafael Amargo, Ricardo Franco, Teresa Nieto, Ramón Oller, Antonio Canales, Farruquito, Duquende, Chicuelo, and Merche Esmeralda, among others.
The dancer and choreographer is also a distinguished teacher at major schools, such as Amor de Dios in Madrid, the Centro Flamenco de Estudios Escénicos in Granada, and the Festival de Jerez, offering international courses.
Rafaela Carrasco holds the title of professor and teaches flamenco methodology and pedagogy at the “María de Ávila” Superior Conservatory of Dance in Madrid.
Photo: Beatrix Molnar
Photo: Beatrix Molnar