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What about Castanets?

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What about Castanets?

Read on for a short glossary of castanet sounds, a video, and a story...

Las castañuelas. Each finger movement has its own sound. And this is good.

With this we have a language for communicating what our fingers are supposed to do. So we can say the combinations (even if we can't do them) something I have found quite helpful to the learning process. Plus, it's fun. Another layer!

So a key needs to exist on this site, a mini-glossary of the sounds we make with our fingers on the castanets. You'll find that below (along with an incredible video.)

I waited a long time to start learning to play castanets

Not because I didn't like the sound. Not because I wasn't interested. Mostly because it just seemed like too much. I wasn't ready for the challenge. What with so many other things to figure out. So many other things to work on.

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How to know what to dance and when to dance it

Today a video of Belén Maya and Joaquín Grilo from Carlos Saura's movie, Flamenco, along with an explanation of the two main types of flamenco.

Many of us learn and study long choreographies.  They are challenging and, as I said, long. Then we learn short snippets.  Which, by the way, are also challenging.

So, how to know when to dance what?

I'll get to this soon.  But first...

We've been doing a lot of tangos this year.  Mostly in a por fiesta setting.

And it's been fun.

Lots of dancing, lots of smiling, lots of attitude.  Attitude in a good way, that is.

So last week during teoría we were talking about how the dancer responds to the cante.  Well, how everyone responds to the cante, when a really good question came up.

A student wondered how everyone knew to transition in the movie Flamenco when Belén Maya came out to dance.  I absolutely love that segment.  And not just because my boyfriend is in it. There are so many reasons to love it

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How to Survive a Flamenco Festival

As most of you know I went to Albuquerque earlier this month to Flamenco Festival Internacional.  Festivals are intense.  Intense can be good, but it can also be, well, fuerte.  Preparation can help. So...

1. Choose a festival hosting artists you want to see and learn from.

Artists I admire = inspiration and motivation.  Sure, I get a bit nervous at the thought of studying with these most amazing artists, but it usually goes away after awhile.

2. Go with a group of people.

You may know them before.  You may not.  You may travel with them.  You may meet up there.  Either way, having a small community within the bigger festival community offers support.  Plus it's just so much more fun with other people.  Think laughter, lots of laughter, therapeutic laughter.

3. Choose your learning tools.

There are many available.... An audio recording device to help you recall the sounds. A notebook for notes and reflections on class. Going over the choreography or tricky steps with another student after or before class. Getting centered and staying present.

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Viernes con una Letra | Jaleos

Here I am at the 25th anniversary of the Festival Flamenco Internacional de Albuquerque. Seeing fabulous artists perform every night.

Taking classes from some of them, Pastora Galván and Olga Pericet.

And doing it with friends.  The very best way to do it.

I've been wanting to tell you about it all week.  I'll definitely tell you more later...

We've been working on jaleos in Pastora's class.

Here is one of the letras we're dancing to and a video of Pastora Galván dancing.

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Emilio Has Some Answers (and soon he'll have even more)

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Emilio Has Some Answers (and soon he'll have even more)

An interview with flamenco dancer Emilio Ochando and a video:

I can't wait to ask Emilio a million things once he gets here.  I asked him some questions last year.  But I have so many more!  Like how did he get to be so good?  And who are his favorite dancers?  And what are his favorite practice techniques and strategies?

I know he has a lot to tell us.

So I warmed him up with a few quick questions the other day.  And here is what he had to say.

Qué debe saber la gente que quiere aprender a bailar flamenco? Deben saber que no deja de ser un arte y que ello te lleva a emociones.  Tambien le tienes que sumar la constancia y ganas.

What should people who want to learn flamenco know? They should know that it will never stop being an art and that it will bring up your emotions.  Also you need to be consistent and approach it with enthusiasm.

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4 Simple Tips to Becoming Better at Flamenco

Ricardo was here this spring...in case you hadn't heard.  He was constantly giving us tips during the workshops.  Many great tips.  I've shared some of them and I'll surely share more.

But perhaps just as helpful were the little phrases I heard him say over and over again.

He didn't really intend them as tips.  They were not things that he carefully considered before sharing with us.  They were more just reactions, spoken in the moment.

And, oh, these little comments had a lot to tell me.

So I want to keep hearing them.

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Before, During, and After

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Before, During, and After

A lot of things go through my head around workshop time, which can drive me kind of crazy. So, to help deal with overwhelm that comes about before, during & after a workshop with a fabulously amazing artist I try to remember that there are certain things I can do to make it easier...

Antes

Think about what I want to get from it.

Remind myself that the teacher is just a regular person, and, if it's someone I'm bringing, that this person is nice. Being nice...a requirement for giving a workshop here. Phew.

Remind myself that this is an amazing and once in a lifetime experience.

Get in flamenco form. [Go to class, practice, stuff like that...]

Durante

Focus on what I'm doing, instead of on how fast others are getting it.

Be there, as fully as I possibly can.

Go through parts that I remember in some way after class. [In my mind, actually doing it, just marking the steps, going over it with a friend...]

Run the steps right before class begins with a friend of by myself.  [All, tricky ones, whichever ones I/we can recall]

Jot down notes to help me during the workshop or to serve as reminders afterit is over. [using words, pictures, numbers]

When I get frustrated, remind myself of why I am doing this.  And that it is about having fun.

Laugh.  

And Breathe.

Y Después

Reflect on what I learned & notice how I grew, what I got from it.

Hold on to what I want to... [The choreography, the essence, one specific move.]

Practice with a friend.

Practice on my own, perhaps with a video.

Palmas workshop with Ricardo López

Palmas workshop with Ricardo López

I don't necessarily do all of the above.  But I know that there are ways to ease the situation.  I know that I have options.  I know that I can pick and choose.

And you, how do you prepare for a workshop?  What do you do afterward?  Let's discuss this, leave a comment.

And, speaking of workshops, Emilio is on his way.  Oléeeee!  And there is still a spot for YOU!

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A Show That Isn't a Show

As you know, one of my most favorite things when taking a workshop is the energy it provides.  It is what led me to start this business.

But the watching is wonderful too.

Because sure, as students we dance, (A LOT, I know, that's what we're there to do) but we are given little private performances as well.  I used to consider these performances a bonus, but now I realize they are part of the deal.

Sometimes I space out.  I get caught up watching and forget that I am in class and am supposed to be participating.  Because there is this incredible dancer right in front of me doing the most amazing things.  Giving mini-performances.  Many of them.  Like these...

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What do you want from it?

Today's post is about flamenco workshops, the different types and the different skills you can gain from different types.

My friend Shyiang from Vancouver has taken LOTS of workshops (even some here in Portland, from Ricardo López)  She told me once that she would usually just learn the choreographies and then let them go.  Her friends would wonder what was wrong with her.  They would ask her how she could justify spending the money without even bothering to remember the choreography, without actually using it later.

The thing is, the experience itself was enough for her.

The experience itself made it worth it.

When attending a workshop, you, the student, get to choose.  You may choose to go home with a funky new piece, or you may just focus on being there, on the dancing and the learning and the soaking up of that flamenco essence in the moment.

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Los nervios

Often times people tend to get a bit nervous around workshop time.  This is normal. Workshops can be quite scary.  (Especially if you're anything like me.)  We are getting ready to study with a professional who tours the world dancing in the most prestigious flamenco festivals.  We are just normal people from the United States.  Problematic thoughts start going through our minds.  Thoughts like

How will I possibly keep up?

What if the teacher gets completely frustrated with me?

What if he gets mad at me when I mess up?

I'm not dedicated enough to do this.

How will I get by not being able to speak any Spanish?

Thoughts like that.

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Ricardo's Take

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Ricardo's Take

Today, find out how Ricardo López approaches a flamenco workshop.

As you know, Ricardo is coming, so I thought you might like to get his take on the student's role in a workshop.  And, yes, he himself still enjoys taking workshops. And why wouldn't he?

They are incredibly fun

They provide a chance to study with someone new

And a format for learning new things

No matter your level.

I know that workshops can seem overwhelming at times...

and hard, difícil!  

He knows this too.

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Listen

Lately lots of students have been asking for recommendations for music.

I love this question.

Because you CANNOT do flamenco without appreciating the music.

No se puede.  

Impossible.

And listening.  Listening is so great.  Listening to wonderful songs over and over again

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What Three Dancers Had to Say

A couple of weeks ago we had a performance.  Abby, Julie, and Kikuyo, three members of the PFE Performance Group took part and danced fabulously, absolutely fabulously.  I was so happy to be on stage with them, dancing together, supporting one another.  I loved seeing how they each embraced their performance selves because they really truly did. As you may know, I love to interview people, so I asked these lovely dancers some questions.  And I thought you might want to hear what they said.

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And Then, the Smiles

In the past weeks I've noticed something.  For those of you who've been reading, you know that I am trying to make this year all about noticing.

Anyway, in class I've seen people coming in with all kinds of expressions.

Many people wearing the kind of day, or week, they've had on their faces. Class gets going, and there are concentrated looks, which is exciting.

And then, the smiles.

I've been seeing lots of smiles!  

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No Soy Bailarina

I have this thing in me that shows up a lot, Doubt, which I guess comes from Fear.  It keeps me from doing all kinds of things, or has me do things kind-of-sort-of rather than completely.  It bothers and annoys me, though I suppose it might have important things to tell me, perhaps it is there for a reason. I don’t usually know why or what it has to tell me, but I’d like to start paying more attention and perhaps find out.

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There Were Things Learned in 2011

Ok, so, I put this question up on the white board in the studio in mid-December... What can you do now that you couldn't do at the beginning of the year?  [little or BIG]

And someone said this,

"I can't even remember the beginning of the year."

So I reworded the question:

"What can you do now that you were unable to a month ago, or a week ago, or a day ago, or even a minute ago!?"

What can you do now that you couldn't do before? [little or BIG]

Anyway, there it was on the easel with sticky notes...for people to respond...and some people actually did.  Oleeeeee!  So let's celebrate, the big and the small.

Here is what they said:

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And Another Resolution

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And Another Resolution

Ok, so I mentioned that I had another resolution, apart from the first one.  This one is harder to put into words, so I'm allowing for it to be something other than a concise written statement.  After all, soy artista, used to expressing myself in a variety of ways. This resolution has to do with my business, with respecting and honoring it.  It has to do with allowing for it to evolve as it needs to evolve.  It has to do with me providing the space and time to let this happen.  It has to do with allowing myself to have doubts and fears but viewing those with curiosity rather than interpreting them as signals to give up. 

¡Dejarlo todo, No!

You see, quite regularly, I think about quitting this all and just going back to working for someone else.  It is confusing.  And it kind of terrifies me.  Maybe I am not supposed to say that here, but it is the truth, and I am saying it.  It is not that I don't want to be here or that I don't love what I'm doing.  Noooo, not at all.  In fact, I have been doing some research and have discovered it is quite the opposite:

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We Notice and We Practice

And we notice while practicing.  I know that in order to improve, practice is necessary, but paying attention and noticing are equally importante.  The importance of focus, something I'm not always so good at doing... So everybody is talking about New Year's resolutions right now.  I don't really remember having made any for the past several years.  Perhaps this is because I haven't followed through and have forgotten them.  Perhaps it is because I have in the past made big huge resolutions without keeping them.  Perhaps it is because I'm so busy making little resolutions all year-round.   No importa.  This year I actually decided upon a New Year's resolution back in September or October or something.  I didn't really mean to.  It just came to me.  Something I wanted to do...but didn't feel quite ready for.

Since then I have declared my resolution to certain people and have been preparing for it.  And now I feel ready to commit.

Because I've given myself some time to practice.

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