TEACHER BIOS
Eva Encinias-Sandoval
She has flamenco roots that run generations deep. Her grandmother, Juanita Lopez, was one of the first people to bring flamenco to the United States. In the 1800's, this young gypsy girl settled in New Mexico with her adoptive Spanish parents. At age 5, Eva began learning flamenco from Juanita's daughter, Clarita Garcia de Aranda. Soon, Eva was performing at community events. At age 15, in Clarita's studio, Eva began her teaching career.
After traveling in Spain and Mexico to study with numerous flamenco artists, she began studying dance at the University of New Mexico. During this time, Eva studied many forms of dance, including modern, jazz, tap and African.
In keeping with her tireless commitment to infuse flamenco into the New Mexico communities, Eva founded the National Institute of Flamenco (NIF) in 1992. This non-profit organization, directed by Eva, preserves the art and culture of flamenco through many avenues. In 1999, Eva co-founded the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, the educational branch of NIF. Her son Joaquin Encinias and her daughter Marisol Encinias are esteemed professional flamenco artists and instructors working side by side with Eva at NIF and the Conservatory.
Eva has received numerous awards for excellence in the arts as an educator, presenter and performer. Although her flamenco responsibilities are multi-faceted, she is most fulfilled in her role as an educator.
Joaquin 
Encinias
Joaquin plays a key role in the revolutionizing of American Flamenco today. Born into one of the few flamenco families in America, Joaquin has begun a new generation of artistry through his innovation and dedication to the art form. He began his first lessons in Flamenco from his grandmother, Clarita, and joined her performance company at age five. He went on to become a soloist in his mother's company at age twelve. Today, he is one of the most highly sought after Flamenco artists and instructors in the nation due to his unique exposition of technique and craft. His musical talent and deep understanding of the language of Flamenco make him a truly valuable instructor and choreographer. He is an accomplished cajon player and has studied and performed many other forms of dance and music, recently appearing on a recording produced by Jazz pianist Danilo Perez. Joaquin has worked closely with world-renowned artist including Antonio Canales, Eva La Yerbabuena, Los Farrucos, and Manolete. In 1999, he worked with director Debbie Allen in the production "Soul Possessed," which premiered at the Kennedy center in Washington DC. He has also been featured in Festival Flamenco Internacional. As co-director of the National Institute of Flamenco, he feels blessed to be working with his mother, Eva Encinias-Sandoval and his sister Marisol Encinias who help him bring integrity to the challenge of presenting and creating Flamenco that is both true to its own inherent roots and to the roots of their own family and culture. "Yjastros", the National Flamenco Repertory Company, directed by Joaquin is the expression of this vision of Flamenco in the United Sates, and is the first of its kind.
Marisol Encinias
Marisol began studying flamenco at age 5 with her grandmother Clarita Garcia de Aranda. As a fourth generation flamenco dancer, Marisol is one on the few American flamenco dancers raised in a flamenco family. Her artistic interpretation, stunning in its depth and purity, arises from Marisol's immersion in the art form throughout her childhood. Marisol has been featured in the internationally renowned Festival Flamenco Internacional and is Assistant Director for this annual event. She has been an instructor for the National Institute of Flamenco since 1990 and became a member of the University of New Mexico dance faculty in 2000. Marisol performs as a soloist with the American Flamenco Repertory Company, "Yjastros," directed by Joaquin Encinias.
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