Elizabeth Serna Flamenco Collection

Native Santa Fean, Elizabeth Serna (also known as Betty Serna, Isabelle Serna, and Betty Serna Cárdenas), studied dance at la Gitana Dance Studio in Santa Fe, NM in the 1940s. She had taken an interest in traditional Spanish and Mexican regional dance from experiences at community events in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. Serna moved to California after graduating from high school to study at the San Francisco Ballet School (1947). One of the teachers there, Guillermo del Oro, was from Spain and taught classical Spanish dances. She also connected with Elisa Cansino, from whom she took private lessons in Spanish dance. Both of these teachers helped Serna refine her technique and castanet skills. Elizabeth Serna, was featured on the cover of New Mexico Music in 1947 and was crowned Fiesta Queen the following year. Upon her return to New Mexico, she opened her own studio, where she taught Spanish dance classes. She was also a volunteer instructor at Santa Fe’s St. Vincent’s Orphanage, and taught regularly at the Taos Inn.

Source: Chávez, Nicolasa. The Spirit of Flamenco: from Spain to New Mexico>. Museum of New Mexico Press, 2015.