We were lucky to catch up with Julia Chacon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission the drives your brand?

The mission of Flamenco Theater is to leverage the expressive power of flamenco to inspire connection and compassion, foster curiosity, and build community. It came about because of a particular experience I had as a child that led me to explore flamenco. As a result of that experience, I started a journey that helped me understand that dance has the power to fill human needs for personal growth, connection, and communication.

When I was about 12 years old my mom was late picking me up from a dance class. The studio was a converted church in Phoenix, and the threshold from the lobby to the studio was wide open double door. I sat at the edge of the threshold as I waited and observed the private flamenco lesson that had started after my class. The student was the most expressive dancer I had ever seen; she was radiating emotion as she danced. I had never seen anyone express themselves like that before.

The instructor was in the corner waving her hand in time to the music, which I had never seen, but I dismissed it as a curiosity. When the music ended and the dancer finished, the instructor started giving corrections, but was not speaking directly to the dancer. Instead, she was talking to someone seated behind me in the lobby. I turned, and the dancer’s mother was there, translating the words into sign language because the dancer was deaf.

In that moment, my world shifted. I realized that dance – particularly the individual expression of Spanish dance – had the power to transcend language, and whatever was transmitted in that moment has never left me. Through dance, I found some of the most satisfying connections and life experiences. I have learned lessons that helped me to understand my own humanity and to see the humanity in others. I believe that all forms of dance have the power to connect people, to communicate individual expression, and transmit cultural traditions. Dance may not look the same around the world, but it serves the same needs for connection, communication, and growth. A person does not have to be a professional artist with virtuosic skills to meet these needs through dance, and dance is not the only way to meet these needs, but it is a very special way. Dance is a way to explore, savor, and experience the wonderful gift of life and to share it with community; whether in a dance studio, dance club floor, on a stage, or as a witness – a member of the audience. Because my world shifted in that moment, I hope to inspire a sense of connection for others through the art that I love and share.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Julia Chacon and I am a flamenco dancer. I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and when I was six months old, my parents moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where I was raised. I have a mixed ethnic identity of Latinx and White and I express all aspects of myself through dance. For 12 years I toured with international flamenco companies based in New York, Madrid, Seville, and Santa Fe. I founded my own troupe in 2008 while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2014 I returned to Arizona and began producing shows and teaching in the Phoenix Valley. My company, Julia Chacon Flamenco Theatre is currently entering our fifth year on the season programming of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, I am graduating in May 2022 with two masters degrees from Arizona State University, where I am also pursuing a doctorate in Theater and Performance of the Americas. I am a two-time finalist for the Phoenix Mayor’s Arts Award and a finalist for the Arizona Governor’s Arts Award. In 2021 I created an exhibition exploring the history of Spanish dance in the Phoenix Valley called “Spanish Legacies: 75 Years of Spanish Dance in Arizona,” that will be on display at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts until May 2, 2022. I teach and perform in the Valley and strive to support dancers and artists of all genres.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first learned to dance flamenco I was taught to execute a particular sound using the ball of the foot in a way that looks good, but can be injurious to the body. This is a very crucial move in percussive dance, and the way I learned it is the way it is most often taught. Eventually, the step fractured bones in my feet and ruptured a joint capsule. I had a four month tour in which I danced on fractured bones and was in excruciating pain, but continued to fulfill my contracts. Unlearning this move meant recalibrating the most basic ways in which I danced. It was very hard to unlearn, but without doing so, my career would have ended. From this, I learned that sometimes it is the most basic, most simple things that can most hold us back. I learned that sometimes how we are taught is not always totally correct, and that blindly following how something is “supposed” to be done can only take me so far. It is most important to understand the impact of one’s actions and to modify in order to find what works with the forces around you. This way, I can work with my body and my resources to continue forward and to help guide others, rather than perpetuate ideas that might not really serve..

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new opportunities for me has been word of mouth. I have a marketing presence, but for me, personal relationships are the basis of the performing arts. The kind of work that I do does not have a tangible product that can be purchased. I perform and teach, so what I offer is an experience and a form of connection. People can book a performance or take classes. Neither of these are things people can possess, but rather they are things that take them on a personal journey. Flamenco is a way of connecting with other people; it is a genre of dance and music that deeply resounds with some, but not with others. Human growth and connection is at the core of the experience, so maybe new clients find me when the time is right.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspiracionflamenca.com
• Instagram: inspiracionflamenca
• Facebook: @InspiracionFlamencaJuliaChacon
• Twitter: @Julia_Chacon
• Youtube: flamencaSantaFe

Image Credits
Life Photography, Byron Medina, Mary Nelle Brown