About Al Alba In 2020, Nahede founded Candela Flamenca, a flamenco initiative to dramatize new dimensions of classic stories and showcase themes of vitality, defeat, triumph, and tragedy.
Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba is a story of tyrannical oppression – the extreme subjugation of freedom and passion to a strict traditional code of honor based on superstition, law, and religion. Bernarda Alba, widowed at the play’s outset, creates a hothouse of jealousy, anger, and fear by imposing a tortuous version of this code on her five daughters. She seeks to exact purity and uphold, at all costs, family honor. Less a play of action than of atmosphere, the characters experience frustration in love and life, leading to despair, which ultimately brings death.
A fresh version of one of Spain’s best stories, Al Alba resurrects the ruinous struggle between love and honor. Reimagined and retold through flamenco and theatre, Al Alba brings Lorca’s characters to life.
The true aim of this project is to strike a chord of resonance in contemporary audiences of what it means to be trapped and long for something that is forbidden. The circumstances that prevent people from reaching their object of desire can take many forms, but in the end the result is the same: to the degree that profound longing is repressed, it will reappear and destroy.
Al Alba's creators believe that Arts productions spur self-awareness, inspire creativity and imagination, stimulate empathy, help people make meaning, enlarge tolerance for complexity, and deepen cross-cultural understanding. In difficult times, the Arts can help safeguard children’s lives and give adults a renewed sense of purpose.
We are committed to bringing meaningful performance experiences to others.
Candela Flamenca’s performances are made possible through the generous support of viewers like you. All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged by a tax-deduction letter.
A gift of any size makes a difference.
Artist fees constitute the greatest expense in producing Al Alba. Your gift will directly support the artists - the choreographer, dancers, and musicians - for their time at rehearsals and shows. Other costs include rehearsal space rental, sets and costumes, and theatre rental.
