celebration of almost 60 years as
a Flamenco and classical dancer.
In 1974 she became a principal
dancer in the “Sebastian Castro
Dance Company”, and in 1980
a principal dancer of the “Maria
Alba Dance Company”, which
she co-founded with Maria Alba,
which later transposed into the
“Spanish Dance Theatre”. Upon
the loss of Maria Alba in 1992 and
Ms. Lucena’s subsequent move
to New Jersey, the company then
became the “Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre”. She is also
a distinguished dance historian
and educator, not only in Spanish
dance but also in other world culture dances that show the crosscultural connections of Flamenco
– Jewish, Moorish, Latin American
and more, which has served to
fuel her creativity in developing
annual new full-stage productions
for the company. She served on
the Board of Dance New Jersey
for 10 years and was also a guest
artist and judge for NJN’s TV’s
New Jersey Stage
“Hispanic Youth Showcase” at
NJPAC for 12 years. Ms. Lucena
was interviewed and featured in
a full page preview by the New
York Times in December 2010,
and was interviewed and featured
in 4 New Jersey Network (NJN)
TV programs filming the company,
two of which were Emmy-awarded.
The Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts is located at 360
Hamilton Street in Rahway, NJ.
For more information visit www.
ucpac.org or alboradadance.org
September 2014
pg 54