Se Abre Paso / Making Way

Abrepaso Flamenco is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts & culture organization whose mission is to create new pathways within, and new entry points into, the flamenco art form, because we know how live experiences with flamenco can be transformational for individuals and communities.

We share flamenco music, dance, history, and culture through workshops, year-round classes, K-12 Arts Education, apprenticeship programs, arts therapy, traditional tablao performances, and boundary-pushing collaborative performances.

Our Story

From a Vision to a Name and Beyond

Founder Alice Blumenfeld came up with the name Abrepaso from the Spanish phrase, se abre paso, which means to forge a new path, to make way. The name has taken on layers of meaning as we continue to evolve, and yet the mission has never strayed from the original idea: creating new pathways within flamenco and new entry points into the form. 

Initially, Blumenfeld wanted to see a new path for flamenco in the United States, where stereotypes surrounding flamenco no longer needed to define the form. She believed audiences would appreciate an unadulterated flamenco - true to its roots as a folk form and true to its openness as a performing art. 

While living her childhood dream of touring the U.S. dancing flamenco - that dream felt marred or incomplete. Blumenfeld didn’t want to be cheered simply for appearing onstage in a red dress with castanets - she wanted audiences to cheer because they were deeply moved by the art form. She didn’t want to cut and paste steps, but to explore new ways of choreographing from within flamenco. 
Not sure how to move forward, Blumenfeld left her tour life for Spain. While there, a sudden “duh” moment struck: she didn’t have to wait around for the flamenco company she envisioned to come into being, she could be the one to start it. In 2016, upon returning to her hometown of Albuquerque, NM, she partnered with the National Hispanic Cultural Center to produce three evening length productions, each one a unique and theatrical work featuring collaborations between flamenco and other music and art forms. 

Upon relocating to NE Ohio, the idea of carving a new path took on new meanings. Unlike in New Mexico, there was little flamenco in the area. We began in Ohio by shifting our focus to presenting traditional flamenco through tablaos and classes to educate audiences on flamenco’s roots and traditions. We were supposed to present one of our theatrical works in 2020 at Cleveland Public Theater, but unfortunately that event was canceled due to Covid-19. Finally, in 2023, we presented a new theatrical piece in Cleveland to high acclaim. 

We continue to develop programs that serve the communities of NE Ohio by sharing flamenco’s transformational power.

Live Experiences

We offer live experiences with flamenco in a number of formats, settings, and venues - flamenco can only affect individuals and communities in the live experience

Bringing flamenco to the community:

-arts education in K-12 settings

-community programs & partnerships, including with the Center for Arts Inspired Learning & the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center

-free community performances at events throughout NE Ohio

Opening space for personal expression and connection:

-cutting edge performances

-flamenco school

-student performance opportunities

-apprenticeship opportunities

-tablaos with guest artists

Our Aesthetic & Values

ABREPASO believes flamenco music and dance can unite people across all walks of life.Through flamenco, individuals are given the chance to express their stories with this emboldening music and dance form. We aim to give people tools to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

ABREPASO’s performances aim to inspire, enliven, and educate audiences. ABREPASO brings fresh diversity to the music and dance community in Northeast Ohio and beyond, creating cross-cultural understanding that builds a more tolerant world. By creating opportunities for dance students to intensively study flamenco, ABREPASO works to create the next generation of flamenco artists by encouraging personal style, curiosity, and artistic inquiry.

We work within flamenco, while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the form—both the cultural and choreographic boundaries. Much of our work is cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural, and the artistic process is open to any means to tell a story, explore a concept, or delve into a question about our world. Our work spans the full-spectrum from traditional to experimental.

ABREPASO values a creative environment which fosters collaboration to make original, meaningful work. By questioning our own relationship to the world and ourselves, we develop a process that pushes the boundaries of flamenco, and therein gives audiences a deeper understanding of the art form and their own relationship to the world at large. The company reacts to community needs, finding new ways flamenco can help strengthen and build community.

We aim to envision and enact new worlds and possibilities onstage.

We aim to build community through our classes and events.

Board Members

La Romera

Robert Cabrera

Alice Blumenfeld

Dmitriy Berkovich