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PUBLISHED AUGUST 21, 2004 |
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Give a Little R-E-S-P-E-C-TAmerican flamenco dancer La Meira talks about how she got her first job in Spain and the importance of studying the art in its mother country.JALEOLE: When people hear about an American who works in Spain in flamenco, it's pretty impressive. How did you become technically good enough and also accepted to work with the flamencos in Spain? LA MEIRA: If you're really good, you can get into a company in Spain and that just has to do with being a really good dancer, just being good enough to do it. Also, having luck and having a connection of some sort is helpful. I got my first job through a connection through my teacher.
When I started working in Spain, I had dances that my teacher had set for me that were simple and clear enough that people could follow me. But I didn't know how to lead. Once you do it and you can make it through, then you can start to understand what a step is doing; what the guitar sounds like; what the singer is doing; what the palmas sound like; what the jaleos sound like; how the whole package fits together.
LA MEIRA: It taught me how to dance. I learned everything I know. I learned about how to improvise and about compás. I learned compás and how to play palmas there. I learned about the style. I learned about the meaning of things. You learn about all these verses, and what is it that they're saying. When you go over there, you're with the people, in the land and speaking the language. The whole thing starts to fit into place. JALEOLE: It's said flamenco is a closed culture in Spain. Did you find that to be true? LA MEIRA: I think that's true. When I was in Spain, I was dancing in tablaos and I got to the level of being a soloist. But to get from there to the next level was doing festivals. And there wasn't much in between. No foreigners were doing those fests. More people are breaking in now. JALEOLE: How does an outsider get accepted into that closed culture? LA MEIRA: Live the life. Join the life. Be part of the community. Just imagine a foreigner who is a great dancer, can do really amazing steps and get the chance to dance in a tablao. When you go to do that, they just put you into the cuadro and it's just your turn to dance. So you better know you better be able to communicate. If can't do it, it reveals a lack of understanding, and that is like a lack of respect. La Meira teaches flamenco dance classes at Fazil's Studio in New York. She visited Atlanta to teach a two-day workshop on flamenco communication on August 21-22, 2004. Watch for her to return to Atlanta in the near future! Connecting the DotsPercussionist Jerry Fields plays a key role in connecting dance and rhythm. By Jerry Fields
Dear Flamenco family,
Also, Rodrigo and I introduced Zoological Flamenco to new members of Perla Flamenca earlier this year. La Meira's bulerías class could have been just another day at the zoo! Yet, La Meira's approach seemed foreign and difficult to many of you. Let's take a Field's Trip to the zoo again! Many of you wonder how I can be of help to a dancer. I urge you to attend Julie's classes at Dance South in September and find out. I will be substituting for her every Tuesday. Many of you have asked, "What will we do?" After observing, loving and sharing as much of myself with the Atlanta flamenco community as possible, over the past 3 years, here are a few answers to your questions. We will at least cover the following: Compás Where does compás live? Knowing compás backwards and forwards. Letting compás live in you. Breathing in compás. Allowing compás to be a playground, not a prison. Compás as a compass. The sensuality of compás. Hearing the melodic elements of compás. The easiest common denominator for all compases of 12 counts. The sentence structure of compás. Choreography Choreography as movement in "time." Using the resources that you already have as aids to flamenco. If you can walk, hobble or drag a leg, you can express something. Stillness as choreography. Yes, I will stomp a little too! Recitation as an aid to phrasing in, around and through compás. The concept of tension and release in improvisation. Practice How to observe yourself while you practice. How to let your Solo Compás CDs work for you. Effective practice techniques. How to practice all of the time. Practice, class and performance are one and the same. The means as the end! Connecting the Dots! Palmas The Allstate Insurance Company, or "good hands" approach to Palmas. The role of Palmas. Why contra? Picking the best and least intrusive rhythm to "support" the singer, dancer, guitarist etc. We will cover many other aspects as they arise in the class dynamic. I am looking forward to sharing with you, improvising with you, and especially, learning from you! We will play, dance, sing and laugh and grow together in flamenco!
In humility Jerry Fields is a professional percussionist in Atlanta. He will teach rhythm for dancers at Dance South on Tuesdays in September. Take Flight With BarbaraSeville-trained flamenca Barbara Bretón brings her shawl to Atlanta.A single whip of her manton (shawl) de Manila, and a flamenco dancer gives new meaning to the adage, "gliding across the dance floor." Her giant shawl jumps and plays in the light, creating grace and elegance that has been linked with flamenco as far back as anyone can trace the art form. Mantones originated in China and made their way to Spain via Manila in the 16th century, when The Philippines was a Spanish colony. At that time, Manila was a stopping point for Spanish ships carrying cargo along the China-Mexico trade route. One look at the beautifully embroidered shawls, and the Spanish adopted them into all walks of life. They kept factory workers warm in the cold months, provided beautiful adornment to aristocratic ladies and gave wings to flamenco dancers. Mantones de Manila get their introduction to Atlanta when Seville-trained flamenco dancer Barbara Bretón shares her knowledge of the shawl during a performance and workhsop in September. She'll teach advanced dance students how to lift, whip and turn the shawls as they chasse across the floor, and entertain flamenco aficionados during a weekend performance.
Learn more about Bretón's workshop in the jaleolé calendar. Flamenco For the LocalsFlamenco student Lourdes Ramirez shares some secrets about where to find 'real' flamenco in Madrid and Seville. Her article is the perfect resource for Atlanta flamencos heading to Spain in time for the 2004 Bienel or any other time of year!
Before I list the places that I recommend for flamenco experiences in Spain, I'll suggest that if you want to find a good flamenco show, you can start by getting the names of tablaos, nightclubs and bars that feature flamenco from guidebooks. However, this is just a start. Keep in mind that anything listed in a guidebook is geared towards tourists. So, if you go solely based on what the guidebook says, you may find yourself in an audience full of tourists and watching a show that may be watered down for tourists. If you are in northern Spain (Barcelona, for example), I recommend that you forget about flamenco until you reach southern Spain. Once you are in the South, it's a good idea to ask the hotel staff where to go for authentic flamenco. Don't be surprised if a couple of people tell you they don't know. Not everyone in Spain is into flamenco. When asking about shows, mention the places that you read about in the guidebook and ask if these shows are for tourists or for locals. If they'lre all for tourists, then ask the locals where you can go to see an authentic show - again - by locals for locals. Now, on to the places that I highly recommend. You won't be sorry you went to these places: Madrid - Las Carboneras - The show starts at about 10:00 p.m. It features three female dancers, one male dancer, one singer and three guitarists. This place was recommended by Pilar Carrasco, who recently taught a flamenco workshop in Atlanta. Fellow flamenco Student Michelle Ríos was in Madrid at the same time I was and we went to see the show with Pilar. Although there were are few tourists, the show was extremely legitimate and the dancers really got into their dancing. It was such an eye-opening experience to see what it took to get them to dance that way! They were dancing with their feelings! I had never seen anything like it. Las Carboneras serves tapas. The cost of the show is about $25 and a drink is included. Las Carboneras is located at Plaza del Conde de Miranda 1. It is not easy to find. You'll need to walk a couple of blocks to get to a major street to find a cab. The major site closest to this place is Plaza Mayor. Find Las Carboneras online at www.tablaolascarboneras.com. Madrid - Al-Andalus - This is truly flamenco and sevillanas dancing for the locals, performed by locals. There was a live flamenco band and singer who sang both flamenco and sevillanas. And, rather than a stage, there was a dance floor that became packed whenever the singer belted out sevillanas. There were all kinds of people there, including an older couple who were enjoying themselves tremendously with their sevillanas. The husband wore flamenco shoes! If you want to dance with locals and test your sevillanas skills, then this is the place to go. Plan on getting there at 11:00 p.m. at the earliest and go when you don't have to get up early the next day. I'll never look at sevillanas the same way again! The address is Capitán Haya 19. Al-Andalus is within two or three blocks of the Hotel Meliá Castilla and located near a Pizza Hut. Al-Andalus is online at www.andalusimadrid.com. Al-Andalus is closed on Sundays. Madrid - Triana Bar Flamenco - All I can say is, wow, it doesn't get any more authentic than this! This place will deceive you at first. When you walk in, you'll find a very quiet, laid-back bar. Then, there's a narrow hall that leads to a back room and that's where the action is. In that back room, we found two old men playing guitar and a young man singing flamenco songs. I can't say there was an audience, because that would mean there was a show. These people were singing and playing guitar for their own enjoyment. There were some locals listening and having drinks. And, of course, there was an older gentleman playing palmas. If you are in Madrid, you should plan on visiting this place and see what you find. The singing is not scheduled. It just happens. That's pure flamenco! Triana Bar Flamenco is located at Cava Baja 10. Sevilla - La Carbonera - You'll find flamenco aficionados hanging out at this rustic spot. A hilly, cobblestoned floor lines two huge rooms. The back room is where the action happens, on a stage set in front of picnic tables! The flamenco show starts after 10:00 pm and it is a superb performance. This place is in a pedestrian-only street, at Calle Levíes 18. Shopping in Madrid and Sevilla - You will always find flamenco attire and shoes in Madrid. However, I felt that the farther South I went, the better the prices got. The department store, El Corte Inglés, had a department with everything flamenco - dresses, shoes, shawls, hair accessories, CD's. However, this was during the time of la Feria de Sevilla. This department is less stocked at other times of the year. Attire - In Sevilla, there are many stores with flamenco attire. The prices were a bit steep but it's said they are lower outside of Feria time. Shoes - In Madrid, Michelle and I visited the manufacturer of Gallardo shoes, which makes shoes for professional flamenco dancers. It is literally a "hole in the wall - a small space that only sits two people. If you have the time and money, this is where you want to have your flamenco shoes made. It takes about 30 days for your shoes to be made. I was very happy with my selection and glad that I spent the money to get the good quality shoes. In restrospect, my trip to Spain was a wonderful experience that I plan to repeat with my husband. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Spain, I suggest that you plan time for flamenco nights and classes. It's a very "do-able" trip if you plan ahead of time. Party TimeJuerga Atlanta is a time for flamenco friends to celebrate in their favorite fashion: music and dance!Flamencos are getting out and getting together once a month at Juerga Atlanta. The informal party replaced Flamenco Friday this summer, giving it the freedom to land on any night of the week and at any location. No matter the time or place, the party always draws a mix of guitarists, singers, percussionists and dancers. They connect, share and celebrate flamenco style.
Newcomers always ask, what is a juerga? It's not a show. So, don't expect to be captivated by a performance by a dance company. Do expect to participate in the fun! The intoxicating music and singing of Juerga Atlanta will pull you out of your chair and have you participating in no time. Can't dance? Can't sing? Can't play a musical instrument? Don't worry. All you have to do is tap your toe to the beat of the music, and flamenco will do the rest for you - the most important of which is to have fun meeting new friends who share a common love for flamenco. After a successful summer, Juerga Atlanta will continue through the fall. Ask your flamenco teachers or check the jaleolé calendar for details on the time and location of this now roving party. |
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After watching many of you struggle in La Meira's Workshop, I am convinced that I can help you
clear the debris from your path of Flamenco. Two years ago, when subbing for Ulrika, Rodrigo and
I had the Perlas effortlessly moving from bulerías to tangos and back again while maintaining
the "integrity" of compás! This, apparently, is a big deal to the international flamenco community,
as evidenced by the Gerado Nuñez workshop article I read today on Flamenco World! Child's play really!
You have already done it.
A master of shawl technique, Bretón has performed in flamenco shows throughout her native Mexico.
She received training at the renowned Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco, where she recently
completed her third year with the honor of Summa Cum Laude. Her instructors include Milagros
Mengibar, Carmen Ledesma, Manolo Soler, and Rafael Campallo. Bretón will return for a fourth year of
study at the foundation.
On my recent business trip to Spain I had an opportunity to see several flamenco shows. Because I've been studying
flamenco for the past two years, I thought I knew what to expect about the technical and emotional aspects of this dance.
However, nothing had prepared me for the excitement I experienced from seeing live shows by the locals, for the locals.
As a former co-worker used to say, "Now I know how much I don't know".
In late July, percussionist Jerry Fields opened his bag of drumming goodies. Flamencos played bells, frogs and,
yes, drums, to the beat of flamenco music, while Fields explained the connection between a hurt foot and music.
The rhythm changed later when party-goers exchanged drumsticks for dancing shoes. They challenged guitarists and singers
to a flamenco marathon of tangos and sevillanas until the party ended.