Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre

The Company was founded in 1965 by Maria Alba, known to many aficionados as the most exponent of the seguiriya and many other Spanish concerts at Jacobs Pillow in the 60s and 70s under The Maria Alba Spanish Dance Company.

In 1980, the Company was revitalized under the direction of Maria and its current Artistic Director, Eva Lucena, who brought a group of extraordinary new dancers and choreographers to the Company.

Eva and Maria, before her passing in 1992, believed strongly in bringing a broad perspective of Spanish culture and traditions to the community. To this end, they worked to set the Company apart from other Spanish dance companies by bringing to the state dance dramas such as El Amor Brujo and dramatizations of the poetry of Frederico Garcia Lorca, as well as regional and traditional danced from all parts of Spanish, such as jotas from Valenxia and dances from Asturias and Galicia. "The Granada - The End," Eva i's original choreography dramatizing the death of Garcia Lorca, was nominated for a National Endowment for the Arts dance award (1998). Alborada's embrace of all Spanish dance art forms enables its audience to experience the breathtaking richness and beauty of the culture in full context. Alborada was incorporated as a non-profit organization in New Jersey in September 1995. On average, Alborada reaches at least 11,0000-15,000 people annually through its programs.

Every year, the Company brings Spanish dance to schools, colleges, senior centers, and community libraries in New Jersey and New York, with master classes and lecture demos. They also have an outreach program bringing joy to disadvantaged kids and senior citizens. They are proud to be part of the Arts-In-Education Programs at the Morris Arts Council and are about to become a member of FLENJ (Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey).