Santa Fe has a new venue for flamenco. After the loss of the María Benítez Theater, when the Lodge at Santa Fe changed hands, and the same (old) story at the Canyon Road Spanish restaurant El Farol, Unit B, a beautiful dinner club opened incongruously in an off-the-beaten path location in 2024 by the team behind “The Chocolate Maven,” a popular breakfast and lunch spot in midtown Santa Fe, invited the National Institute of Flamenco to offer performances for nine weeks this summer. There is so much excellent flamenco in New Mexico that it was a crime that there were so few places to find it during the busy tourist season in Santa Fe, until now.
More than a tablao, (a tiny Spanish-style bar with dancing) Unit B has tablecloth dining, waiters delivering drinks throughout the performance, and a stage that looks expansive compared to the postage-stamp space at El Farol. The rotating cast of musicians and dancers bring the passion and professionalism that are the hallmark of NIF artists. They are well-trained, the performance was tight, and the informal MC of the evening, singer Vicente Griego, had a kind of ‘aw-shucks’ attitude, seeing a full-house of well-lubricated flamenco lovers on a Wednesday night. “I think I like it here,” he said at the outset.
What followed were solos by each of the three dancers, Carlos Menchaca, Isabella Aldarete, Isabella Nuanez, as well as musical interludes offered by singer Vicente Griego, the Godfather of cantadores in New Mexico. Guitarist Estevan Pacheco also had an opportunity to shine in a spotlit solo. Nuanez was a stand-out, in her purple elegance. She is a very assured mature dancer–all the details were there, clean lines, a markedly feminine approach to movement, quick turns, and clean, rapid-fire footwork. Menchaca, a virtuoso male dancer, offers surprise turns, jumps like the rocksinger Prince, and an ability to isolate body parts as if playing a game to move from head, to back, arms, hips, legs, and finally those machine-gun-fast feet. Aldarete, in her polka dots, had a stronger attack than Nuanez, a different way of adding weight to her dancing. She didn’t seem to have the balletic training of her colleagues, but when she pulled up her skirt and showed some fierce flamenco footwork (and muscular calves) it was exciting.
Unit B opened as a music venue, but flamenco looks good on its stage. The floor was not particularly sharp-sounding, even with special microphones at foot level. There was also a problem with lighting–dancers would spend whole sections of solo with their faces in shadow. These are easy fixes. What was outstanding about the evening was the show itself–tight, professional and exciting. It’s great to have a secret– flamenco music and dance happening in the middle of Santa Fe, far from the madding crowds of summer tourists. Of course, Unit B has the room for everybody.
