Rafaela Carrasco
y compañía
Nocturna
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
Antonio Campos, Jesús Torres
Musical Direction, Composition
Carmen Angulo
Dance
Magdalena Magion
Dance
Nazaret Oliva
Dance
Cristina Soler
Dance
Carmen Yanes
Dance
Julia Gimeno
Dance
Cristina San Gregorio
Dance
María Gómez
Dance
Gema Caballero
Cante
Jesús Torres
Guitar
Marta Estal, Pablo Suárez
Piano
Jesús Torres
Musical Arrangements
Rafaela Carrasco, Emilia Yagüe Producciones
Production
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