Maria Benitez

María Benítez passed away peacefully on September 2, 2024 in her Santa Fe, New Mexico home at the age of 82. María, who took Spanish dance and flamenco to a global audience as a leader, performer and teacher, has left us with a legacy that will live on for generations. She will be missed by many. She is survived by her son Francisco (Paco) Benitez, daughter-in-law, Anne Marcy-Benitez of Santa Fe, stepson and stepdaughter José Maria and Afriquita Benitez, her cousins Wesley and Beverly Martin, and too many friends, students and fans to mention,including her dear friend Theresa Cardenas of Los Ranchos, NM.

María Woesha Díaz Benítez was born in Cass Lake, Minn., on April 14, 1942. Her father, Josue Díaz, born in Puerto Rico, worked for the federal government in New York and her mother, Geraldine (Decoteau) Harvey, of Chippewa and Oneida descent, taught elementary school on various Native American reservations in the Rockies before settling in Taos with Maria.  A free spirit, Maria loved riding horses on the Montana ranch where she would spend her summers. 

An internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and director, Maria is recognized as one of the finest interpreters of Spanish dance and Flamenco. After ballet and classical Spanish dance training at a young age, she relocated to Spain at 18 to further her studies and perform. There she met her future husband, Cecilio Benitez with whom she would eventually found Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco in the United States. With a long-standing reputation for excellence, the company’s history included performances at festivals and major concert halls throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, North Africa and South America. Maria also performed and choreographed for the Metropolitan Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the Dallas Opera and  the St. Louis Opera, collaborating with Placido Domingo and Franco Zefirelli, among others.

After several years in Spain, longing for New Mexico, she returned to the US with Cecilio and performed at El Nido in Tesuque from 1968-1970. From 1969 to 1973 they both taught at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona. They are fondly remembered by their ex-students as extraordinary teachers. They founded the Institute for Spanish Arts, the first non-profit in New Mexico dedicated to disseminating the Spanish arts through dance and the visual arts. In 1977 they moved to New York and began splitting time between that city, Madrid, Spain, and Santa Fe, where Maria and her company would perform every summer, at El Gancho, La Fonda and eventually at the Lodge of Santa Fe, in the Maria Benítez Cabaret Theatre where she furthered her vision by creating opportunities for her youth company, Flamenco’s Next Generation. Many of the local and Spanish artists Maria brought to Santa Fe remain in the region and have gone on to create their own companies.

After four decades of touring, teaching, managing her company and the Institute, she is recognized as one of the most prominent artists and historical figures in New Mexico. The recipient of many accolades, Maria received in 2005 Spain’s most prestigious award, La Cruz de Isabela la Católica, in recognition of her contribution to the preservation of Spanish arts. Her life’s work also earned her recognition in 2014 as a Santa Fe Living Treasure. 

Her papers, photographs, performance videos and other legacy items will go to the University of New Mexico Library’s Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections. Donations can be made to the University of New Mexico Foundation Maria and Cecilio Trust Fund. A public memorial is planned for a later date. The family wants to expressly thank Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations. Special thanks goes to Theresa Cardenas for her steadfast support, and to Pearl Pacheco and the team at Corazon Concierge for their incredible caregiving work with my mother for the last few years. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the  “Maria Benitez Fellowship Fund.

Send checks to:

ATTN: Carol Kennedy (University Libraries)The University of New Mexico Foundation, Inc.Two Woodward Center700 Lomas Blvd NEAlbuquerque, NM 87102-2568

Please note on the check that this is for the “Maria Benitez Fellowship Fund – 203223.

For those wanting to make online donations please visit:  University of New Mexico Foundation - 2022 Lightning Giving Form – Your Gift (unmfund.org)