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FOUNDER / TEACHER / DIRECTOR / RESIDENCY COORDINATOR
For over 30 years Alessandra has passionately taught, performed and created arts opportunities for youth in circus, puppetry and theatre. She believes deeply in the power of art to transform, empower and inspire. She co-founded Wise Fool New Mexico in 2000. She directed “Circus Across Cultures, (2005 and 2006) a cross cultural performing and teaching project in India. She directed Wise Fool’s most recent outdoor performance ”SeeSaw”. Alessandra continues to vision projects and programs for Peñasco Theatre Collective. Alessandra is also the only art teacher at the Peñasco School District, and helps to manage the Peñasco Theater Artist-in-Residency Program.
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VENUE MANAGER / PROGRAM COORDINATOR / PERFORMER / TEACHER
I have been part of this “family” for over two decades and have taken many different roles and witnessed some significant changes through out the years.
As a multidisciplinary artist myself for over 35 years, I feel personally inspired to be part of this collective. In my mind, the theater represents a timeless vortex where history and modern days witness each other in education, art, storytelling, performance, creation and genuine magic. It never ceases to amaze me.
I am grateful to share this experience and to collaborate with incredible humans like Alessandra and Rafa, to create a space that holds so much significance and relevance for our youth and community.
ABOUT
Anti-Discrimination Statement:The reality of contemporary society requires a new narrative. One that includes and celebrates the creative visioning that accurately reflects the many extraordinary voices that comprise it. Within artistic expression lies the transformative capacity for resilience and healing. We recognize the full diversity of the students, families and communities we serve in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, immigration status, physical ability, body type, body size, religious or political beliefs. We honor our collective histories of struggle against discrimination and other forms of oppression. We value collaborative arts education efforts that strive to promote community wellness, multi-racial coalition building and progressive social and economic justice. As an organization we commit to our continuing education about the various issues that seek to divide us.
The Peñasco Theatre Collective is dedicated to fostering community building, collective empowerment and social transformation through the arts.
On Highway 75, nestled beneath billowing clouds and a stark blue sky, is the area’s only solar powered hand-built adobe theatre. Built in 1940 by Amado Roybal, the Peñasco Theatre stands as a testament to the resiliency of a community gathering place, and the importance of keeping performance traditions alive. The edifice radiates with 75 years of collective expression. You can almost hear the laughter, the shuffle of dancing feet to Northern New Mexican melodies, the melodramas of Mexican Cinema, and the multitude of voices sharing centuries old ways of knowing echoing off the walls. The Peñasco Theatre Collective (PTC), a group of performers and visual artists continue the tradition of utilizing arts and culture to bring people together in a mutually respectful culturally diverse environment.
From ongoing youth performance afterschool classes based in circus arts to a self-directed artist-in-residency, the theatre offers a wide array of creative experiences for the artistically adventurous. Every summer, since 2001, the PTC hosts a youth inter-disciplinary arts workshop filled to capacity with enthusiastic young performers ranging in ages from 5 to 17 years. PTC artist/educators hit the road with their creative prowess bringing multi-disciplinary arts instruction to school students all over Northern New Mexico. PTC partners with various community organizations including MAS, Peñasco Schools, and Moving Arts Española.
The PTC is a project of MAS a Penasco based 501c3, non profit organization.
