Viewing entries tagged
flamenco learning

Don't Tell Me You're Too Old To Dance | The Weekly Letra

Comment

Don't Tell Me You're Too Old To Dance | The Weekly Letra

Don’t tell me you’re too old to dance.

Because Tía Curra, who you’ll see dancing in the video below, was in her late seventies when I filmed it.

I know you’re going to love her signature move at the end where she taps her tummy with the palm of her hand to the compás.

But first, here’s a bulerías letra referencing La Calle Nueva, one of the most, if not the most, historically important flamenco streets located in the Santiago neighborhood of Jerez.

Keep Reading

Comment

Basic Flamenco Footwork Terminology

Comment

Basic Flamenco Footwork Terminology

Sound made with the feet in flamenco is most commonly called zapateado, coming from the word zapato (shoe.)  It can also be called taconeo coming from the word tacón (heel).  Here are the basic flamenco footwork techniques that are used to create sound patterns with the feet.

Keep Reading

Comment

25 Reasons to Dance Flamenco

4 Comments

25 Reasons to Dance Flamenco

Why dance flamenco? 

Flamenco offers all kinds of benefits: physical, emotional, intellectual, cognitive ... It is perfect for those who never considered themselves to be dancers and for those who have done other forms of dance. And the best part? You can start learning when you're seven or when you're seventy, (no joke)!

Here are twenty five reasons to do it,

Keep Reading

4 Comments

Seven Essential Flamenco Dance Lessons From Jesús Carmona

Comment

Seven Essential Flamenco Dance Lessons From Jesús Carmona

Read on for my seven biggest takeaways from this month's workshops with flamenco maestro Jesús Carmona followed by a challenge for you.

Jesús is all about working hard, breaking things down, and holding high expectations all while having fun. A true master teacher. He sees everybody and expects maximum effort from all. He worked us HARD during the workshops in Portland. It was truly satisfying to see and feel the progress that we made in just four days. How can something be semi-torturous yet completely wonderful at the same time?

Here are seven pieces of advice from Jesús that will help you become a better flamenco dancer.

Keep Reading

Comment

20 Ways to Spice Up Your Flamenco Dance Practice

2 Comments

20 Ways to Spice Up Your Flamenco Dance Practice

Do you have a hard time finding the motivation to practice?

I hear you.

. . . And I want to help!

Here are twenty ways to bring new life to your flamenco practice

The following ideas will not only spice up your practice but will also make you a better dancer. Apply them to a full choreography, part of a dance, a combination, or even a single step.

1. Do it while singing (or humming) the melody.
OBJECTIVE: Connect the music to the dance. Move your focus away from the steps. Improve your memory. Improve your focus.

2. Do one part over and over.
OBJECTIVE: Solidify and perfect a given part.

3. Do it facing different directions in the room.
OBJECTIVE: Stop relying on the mirror. Focus. Test your knowledge of the dance. Learn to adapt to different situations. Prepare for performance.

Keep Reading

2 Comments