Luisa Palicio
y compañía
El Penúltimo Cuplé
DATE & TIME
Thurs. June 26 at 6:00pm
LOCATION
Rodey Theatre, UNM
About
The SHOW
Once upon a time, in early 20th-century Spain, a group of women defied societal norms and took the stage adorned with jewels, hats, and feathers to champion cuplé—a genre considered lowbrow yet transformative for the history of art and music.
These women, judged by morality yet desired by men, became iconic figures, brave heroines, and international divas. El Penúltimo Cuplé tells the story of five legendary artists—La Chelito, La Fornarina, La Cachavera, Raquel Meller, and Amalia Molina—gathering for one final night to enchant their audience with hits like La Pulga and Polichinela. Beneath their seemingly lighthearted performances lies sharp social, economic, and political critique. On stage, they laugh, lament, and remind us of their struggles, fines, and trailblazing courage as women ahead of their time.
Cuplé lives on—more vibrant than ever. Welcome to a unique show: El Penúltimo Cuplé. (Daniel Blanco Parra)
This captivating show will make its highly anticipated debut in January 2025 at the prestigious Festival de Jerez, followed by its first international performance at our Festival Flamenco Alburquerque.
Cast & Credits
Luisa Palicio
Choreography, Dance, Role of “La Chelito”
Coral Moreno
Dance, Role of “La Fornarino”
Ana Oropesa
Dance, Role of “Raquel Meller”
Inma “La Carbonera”
Cante, Role of “Amalia Molina”
Ángeles Ruso
Cante, Role of “La Cachavera”
Jesús Rodríguez
Guitar, Original Music, Musical Adaptation
David Chupete
Percussion
Claudio Columé
Artistic director
Luisa Palicio, Pepa Caballero
Concept, Production
Daniel Blanco Parra
Script
Pepa Caballero
Managment
Luisa Palicio, José Mª Tarriño
Costume Design
Tarriño New Atelier
Costume Construction
Antonio Valiente
Lights
Lauren Serrano
Sound
Photo: Daniel Perez
Learn More About
Luisa Palicio
Luisa Palicio is an acclaimed flamenco dancer from Estepona, Málaga, born in 1984. Renowned for her mastery of the Sevillian school and the bata de cola, she combines classical flamenco tradition with contemporary artistry.
She began studying flamenco and other dance forms at the age of four at the Conservatorio de Málaga. At 14, she trained under the celebrated Milagros Menjíbar, refining her distinctive style. In 2001, she won a flamenco dance contest and received a scholarship to the prestigious Fundación Cristina Heeren, where she learned from flamenco legends like Carmen Ledesma and Rafael Campallo. That same year, she won first prize in the National Alegrías Competition in Cádiz.
In 2006, Palicio was awarded the Giraldillo Artista Revelación at the XIV Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, marking her as a rising star. Over the years, she has performed in notable productions such as Piel de Bata (2011), Sevilla (2014), Biznaga (2017), and Tempus (2020), which debuted at the Festival de Jerez to critical acclaim.
A dedicated teacher, Palicio has been part of the faculty at the Fundación Cristina Heeren in Seville since 2007, shaping the next generation of flamenco dancers. She has also conducted workshops at conservatories and institutions worldwide.
Her latest production, El Penúltimo Cuplé, is set to premiere at the Festival de Jerez in 2025. This performance showcases her ability to honor flamenco’s rich traditions while exploring new creative directions.
Palicio’s artistry reflects a perfect balance between technical precision, emotional depth, and innovation, solidifying her place as one of flamenco’s most influential contemporary figures.