From humble beginnings as part of a performing trio in 1970, María Benítez created an immensely popular company that was a regular part of the cultural scene in Santa Fe for decades. Born in Minnesota to a Native American mother and Puerto Rican father, Benítez studied and performed extensively in Spain during the 1960s. She was acclaimed in The New York Times for “the extraordinary force of her technique” and a “distinctive, sinous style that suits her elongated arched back and expressive arms.” Together with her late husband Cecilio Benítez, she founded Santa Fe’s Institute for Spanish Arts, and she has continued teaching at the Institute after retiring from the stage and disbanding the company in 2007. Among those keeping her legacy alive in Santa Fe is her former company member Juan Siddi.
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