PUBLISHED AUGUST, 2009

AUGUST 2009 articles | Learn | They're Back | Vacation Reflections | Sevilla Memories |

Atlanta teen reflects on a "flamenco connection" found during her summer vacation overseas. By Akahne Menosky

Pictures tell the rest of Akahne's story. Reunion with Joy de la Cruz in Barcelona. Bored out of my mind while waiting for my mom to finish her class with Juana Amaya. Moron de la Fronteras. Concha Vargas and Juana Amaya. Diego del Gastor is celebrated through the town of Moron de la Fronteras. Practicing in the "alley." An impromptu guitar lesson. Art lesson with Juan del Gastor. - visualizing "duende." A little break from flamenco - on the way to Marrakech on train. Flamenco is following me. An iron sculpture of flamenco dancer in Avignon. "Toma que toma!" French soup ad with flamenco concept in Lyon!

Is it possible to visit four countries in less than two months? I say, "Yes." And is it possible for flamenco to be present in all four countries? I also believe this statement to be true. For the duration of my summer travels to Spain, Morocco, France, and Monaco, I experienced the real culture of flamenco --- which seemed to be found everywhere. Most of these instances were unintentional and surprising, which is proof that flamenco is alive and exists in places other than where it originated. Though we would like to see a larger flamenco community in Atlanta, flamenco is definitely making its way around the world.

Seville is a city in southern Spain where there is a high demand for flamenco and the art is extremely popular. While in Seville, I can recall walking down a narrow street, interrupted by the thrumming of a guitar, or going to hard-core flamenco singing performances that never ended before 2:30 in the morning. This was the month-long routine followed until we took a boat and a train to Marrakech, Morocco.

My family and I made the journey by truck and on camelback into the Sahara Desert for one night. In our travel group, we met a young girl named Maria, who was from Mallorca, Spain. She was also a flamenco fanatic. My mother and Maria chatted endlessly in Spanish about known and unknown flamencos, and I tried to contribute some of my broken Spanish to the conversation. Sooner or later, a brief round of palmas broke out among us in the middle of the Sahara --- camels were stationed barely 50 feet away from where we were sitting and clapping.

After spending four days in Morocco, we took a plane to the south of France. Our apartment was located in the heart of a town named Avignon. There is an event in this town called Festival d'Avignon which occurs annually in July and is a month-long festival that generally consists of parades, shows, and good food. The advertisements for this festival are printed in poster or flier format --- and I was shocked when I was handed a flier advertising a flamenco show taking place during the festival. I also saw flamenco in the tourist information office, in magazines, and even in a soup ad! Of course, none of it was the "real thing," but the fact that flamenco was present in all of these places surprised me all the same.

The next and final country we visited was Monaco. After a long day of touring Monte-Carlo, I was starving. We walked past a McDonald's, though I thought a happy meal could have easily satisfied my abandoned stomach. Instead, we climbed a huge hill to get to a local Italian family- style restaurant. After I had just polished off my last ravioli, I heard the familiar sound of flamenco guitar. When my mother and I went to investigate, we found a man in his seventies sitting in the back corner of the restaurant playing bulerías and seguiriyas as a warm-up. We discovered that he was from Barcelona and was working at the restaurant as a guitarist/singer playing Italian tunes. We had a pleasant conversation (in Spanish, of course), and later found ourselves singing and playing palmas once again until it was time to catch a train back to Menton, France.

The six weeks I spent away from home were incredible --- although it was mostly flamenco-oriented. I am definitely more educated and aware of our world's culture as well as flamenco culture. This trip was a great experience for me and my family, and I look forward to going to Spain again next summer (my mom doesn't have to beg me to come with her anymore). More importantly, I look forward to seeing the presence of flamenco grow in more countries as I travel the globe.

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Reap the benefits of learning how you learn. By Rina Menosky

Have you ever tried to figure out how you process information or concentrate to acquire a skill? There are three main learning styles commonly known in all fields such as academics, art, music, sports, even dance. So, which one fits to your learning style the best?

Visual learning: Guitarists were challenged to read the visual cues of dancers at 2008 A Little Piece of Spain. Photo by Ruth Pettit Audio learning: Dance students intently listening to the instructing artist during the cante class at 2008 A Little Piece of Spain. Kinetic learning: Doing it. Feeling it. the impromptu singing and dancing breaking out. Some watched and some jumped in at the fiesta - a part of the prgram - of 2008 A Little Piece of Spain. Photo by Ruth Hrubala

1. Visual learners: As the word indicates, naturally, these are people who learn the very best from seeing, picturing, reading, watching, etc. Visual stimuli most help these people when it comes to concentrating to acquire skills and information.

2. Audial learners: Those are who can process information through hearing, verbalizing, and listening.

3. Kinetic learners: This group is also known as tactual or hands-on learners. They gain knowledge by touching, feeling, and of course, as in the dance world, just by simply doing.

	Learn How You Learn
	Figure out your learning style. Check out an easy, online three-minute exercise.

Whatever the style you may be, there's one thing we all have in common: we have the ability to learn. The good news is that we never have to stop learning if we choose to. The bad news is just like our aging, the learning curve will at one point slow its pace, especially in physical fields, such as sports and dance. But again, we can slow down the declining curve, maybe even reverse it with the knowledge of these learning styles that match you.

In the world of flamenco, one has to rely on all senses to learn complicated rhythms, compás, melismas, pasos, chords, falseta and movements. Yes, it's not all about dance as one may think, but this relates to all participants of flamenco - cantaores, guitaristas, percusionistas, palmeros and bailaores (even aficionados). Good flamencos must use all senses to embrace and enjoy what's happening around them and what they are doing in the moment. So, what if you are visual learner? Have you considered to stop and observe, draw a diagram of compás or even movements? Audial learners, have you just stopped and listened to the rhythm, music, and letras to see what you have been missing? Kinetic learners, just doing it is great, but do you stop to feel, touch and taste (that's right!) flamenco sometimes?

2009 A Little Piece of Spain August 8 – 10, 2009.

This weekend, you have a chance to explore all of your senses - Stop by and check out "A Little Piece of Spain," the workshop organized by Ethan Margolis, the director of Arte y Pureza, which starts on Saturday, August 8. This three-day workshop provides dance technique and choreography, cante knowledge for all flamencos, guitar accompaniment to all aspects of the program, and the fiesta to really get all learners to their feet. This program is designed for all flamencos, with an audit option available for musicians and brand new beginners or aficionados. It promises to challenge and entice all kinds of learners to become educated about flamenco in a wholesome way. Polish your senses and never stop learning!

For more information on A Little Piece of Spain, visit www.artelavida.com, e-mail Rina Menosky at bailerina@artelavida.com or call 404.457.3775.

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Atlanta welcomes back two former residents to the teaching and performing scene. By Julie Baggenstoss

John Jaramillo, professional flamenco dancer, returns to Atlanta to teach and perform. Flamenco dancer Gloriela Rosas is back in Atlanta teaching, performing and organizing flamenco events for the community.

Two beloved faces are back in Atlanta, putting energy and talent into flamenco.

John Jaramillo, a professional flamenco dancer originally from Albuquerque, N.M., returns to the city after 4 years of working travel with his wife, Therra. John was a principal performer with Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco/Segundo Compania, Ritmo Flamenco, Dance España, Danzantes, and Pueblo Flamenco de Santa Fe, among others. He's also performed as a principal dancer at the American Dance Festival, the Dance Theatre Workshop in New York City, Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors in New York City, Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and multiple performances with the Dallas Opera including "El Amor Brujo" with opera sensation Denyce Graves. John is also a teaching artist, visual artist, actor and choreographer.

"I enjoy flamenco in Atlanta," John said. "I enjoy the dancers and performers, musicians, the students and the aficionados. Atlanta is a great city and it's been a joy to watch flamenco take root here and grow in the last decade."

John will offer private lessons, workshops and his patented Flamenco Dance Workout class, a strength and endurance workout that focuses on technique and compas and caters to all skill levels.

Also back is Gloriela Rosas, who has been dancing flamenco for almost a decade. After nearly three years in Miami, Gloriela returns to Atlanta, where she got her start in flamenco as a member of the Perla Flamenca Dance Company. While in Miami, Gloriela danced in "Witches of Salem" with flamenco star Manolete and Ballet Flamenco La Rosa.

Gloriela is happy to return to the flamenco family that grew around her when she lived in Atlanta previously. She daid, "Those I started with, worked with, shared special times with and continued to work with from afar became very dear to me. And, that's the power of flamenco, that it unconsciously unites people."

Now back in Atlanta, Gloriela continues the Saturday night flamenco dance performances at Ibiza Restaurant and Lounge, as the organizer for the shows. She is teaching flamenco dance classes at Athletic Club Northeast and hosting visiting artists for workshops. "I lost some flamenco time while gone. I plan to recuperate that time. Get back on the stage and perform; achieve the goal I had when I left; teach what I know to the community; bring talent from outside to help the art grow; continue to bring the community closer and together," said Gloriela.

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Atlanta flamenca shares her travel memoir of Sevilla, España By Erica Poole

Preface

My initial email contact with Atlanta-based flamenco instructor Julie Baggenstoss in 2007 made me realize that my part-time evening teaching hours conflicted with one of her beginners' flamenco class schedules. I thanked her for informing me of the dates at the time and said that I would be in her class "one day."

After completing Maestro Antonio Vargas' garrotín workshop later that year, he stated to me, "You need to get to Spain." I smiled and replied, "...one day".

In 2009, when Aire Flamenco was performing at Cuerno before it had officially closed, I saw how flamenca Rina Menosky never had the opportunity to dance sevillanas because she supplied all the cante to "Sevillanas Para Conquistar." I told her, "One day, I'll sing it for you so that you can dance instead." I am elated to say, that all of these statements were realized with time, patience, and perseverance.

View of Sevilla from the tower of the Giralda at the city's cathedral.

Given how international our community is, a lot of Atlanta flamencos are avid travelers who have been to many corners of the globe multiple times. The intention of my memoir is to celebrate anyone that has ever visited Sevilla, and more importantly, to encourage those that still wish to go. Never covet anyone else's travel frequency, because when your unique experience arrives, you'll KNOW that the trip was tailor-made, timed, and customized for YOU. While anyone can go online at any given time of the day or night and book a trip, I feel that as you read through the chapters of this candid memoir, there are elements of the divine in each occurrence that supersede anything I could have crafted for myself by simply clicking on a keyboard.

Chapter 1: Purpose

Sevilla Airport

Travel and flamenco both have intention. As I sat in Atlanta's, Chicago's, Madrid's, and Sevilla's airports, I wondered what travelers wished to accomplish as they scurried to their gates --- passport control windows probably wish to know the same. My mission was clearly defined: to find out the latest teaching strategies in Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish instruction that can help my students achieve at least a 3 out of 5 on the difficult exam in hopes of receiving college credit while still in high school. The search of all things flamenco would be the icing on this delectable, flour-less chocolate cake (dark chocolate, of course!).

Chapter 2: In Good Company

Erica and former student, Amanda, at the airport (above) and at the first day of school (below).

Centro Mundo Lengua, based out of Sevilla, currently offers the only College Board approved AP Spanish Language program, which awards 35 contact hours towards re-certification, as well as pre-college and pre-AP Spanish language programs for high school students both in Cádiz and Sevilla. My former student, Amanda Williamson, graduated from high school this past May and attended the pre-AP program in Sevilla with the intention of carrying what she learned off to college in order to become a high school Spanish teacher. Our program dates were exactly the same, so we decided to book our flights together and share the journey side by side. Amanda and I had missed our connecting flight from Madrid to Sevilla because we had not landed in enough time to go through security and passport control. We re-booked, giving us plenty of time to demystify how to use the pay phones and inform the school-provided airport transportation of our 3 hour arrival delay. We synchronized our watches 6 hours ahead as our bodies quickly adapted as well.

My teacher program consisted of a group of 18 from across the United States and abroad, representing Florida, Tennessee, South Korea, Switzerland, Spain, Oklahoma, Maine, Virginia, Texas, Vermont, Nebraska, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and California. I was the only "Georgia Peach." There was a cultural mix of a Colombians, Mexicans, Jamaicans, Cubans, Peruvians, and Spaniards... and of course, Americans! We were all dedicated Spanish instructors, filling our class time, afternoon and evening excursions with inquisitiveness, conversation, humor, song, dance, and food. Teachers had the option of hotel lodging or housing with a "familia sevillana." If we chose housing, Centro Mundo Lengua selected our teacher roommates as well as families. I wanted to live with a sevillana who was crazy about flamenco, so I was housed with Mamá Reyes, a retired, but very active, divorced, meticulous senior with a youthful spirit who used to work in talk radio and studied flamenco. She resides with her talking parrot, Coco, who can sing a fandango like you wouldn't believe!

Above, Erica with roommate, Kirsten, on the first day of school. Above, teachers attend school in Sevilla. Above, Erica, Mamá Reyes, and Kristen. Above, Coco.

I also had the great fortune of sharing the living space with roommate, Kirsten from Nebraska, a genuine, thoughtful, easy-going, and kind-hearted person. We hit it off instantly. She was also awarded a scholarship to attend this program from her professional, regional foreign language association. My flight delay worked out for the best, because Kirsten and I actually wound up meeting on the bus that transported us from the airport and allowed our house mother to pick us up both at the same time in spite of our travel itineraries being vastly different. Once acclimated to the routine, Kirsten and I enjoyed the casual, 45 minute walk one-way to school together from Mamá Reyes' downtown apartment. Our daily stroll took us through Alameda de Hercules, past the department store, El Corte Inglés, down Calle Sierpes, around La Giralda, and finally headed toward our school location, Ribamar, on Calle Fabiola.

Kirsten and I sat next to each other in class, got lost together, found places together, and shopped together. When we went in separate directions, she made sure I knew how to get where I wanted to go. I'd like to interject that just as learning Spanish and performing flamenco are exercises in sharpening skills, map reading is a skill where mine was highly underdeveloped! Sure, a GPS makes getting lost inexcusable nowadays, but I purposely left mine at home so that as I explored Sevilla on foot, I'd pay more attention to my surroundings rather than a machine. Street signs are comprised of tiles affixed to the sides of buildings which meant having to turn a corner to be reassured that I was on the desired street…and as a result, I literally exhaled a sigh of relief whenever I found the streets I was seeking.

Chapter 3: "No Pasa Nada" & Gone Green

The plaza where Erica met her "family" in Sevilla. An unused air conditioner hangs on the wall near the ceiling in Erica's room. Above, Erica's home for two weeks.

"No pasa nada" is an expression that I often heard sevillanos use. Loosely translated, it means, "Don't worry…make nothing of it." This would imply that there is a very laid- back approach to life...to a degree! While Kirsten and I resided with Mamá Reyes, we learned to adapt to the rules of the house (both implicit and explicit). Our apartment was the first floor of a four-story building. Without air conditioning in temperatures upwards of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) , everyone kept open windows for natural ventilation. In spite of the daytime heat, men and women in Sevilla dress very fashionably --- many women wear 3"- 4" skinny heels on uneven cobblestone roads! By nightfall, everyone is outside. Even children are on the playground at midnight and beyond, enjoying how "fresquita" and "agradable" the breeze is. Mosquitoes gave me a warm "bienvenida" with bites on my face, hand, and arms because window screens are not used --- just window blinds and awnings in conjunction with iron railings on the balcones or terrazas.

While I knew to be mindful of my water usage and energy consumption, I didn't quite realize to what extent. Initially, that translated into one shower a day and no showers after 10 p.m., because the running of the water could disturb residents (for my former student, Amanda, the cut-off time at her residence was 7 p.m.) and whispering at breakfast because others may still be asleep four stories up, even at 8:45 a.m., in spite of the built in siesta time that normally occurs anywhere between 2:00-5:30 p.m.. Kirsten and I also had better not leave a room without turning off the light switch --- no matter how soon we thought we would return! Public bathroom light switches are even on a timer. The United States has many campaigns for "going green," yet it seems to me that Sevilla has already been living this lifestyle of conservation for quite some time. You'll see pavement downtown before you see any blades of grass, but trust me when I say that Sevilla is a "green city"!

Although generally pleasant, some sevillanos can be very direct and frank as I found out all too well, having wiped off dog poop from my shoe onto the step outside of a restaurant. I got yelled at in good fashion for that one as I limped away. Or, how about when Mamá Reyes open-endedly asked me what I'd like to drink with my toast for breakfast? When I replied, "water," she reacted as if that were the most ridiculous answer on earth…I needed to choose milk, coffee with milk, or milk with cocoa. Only those were respectable breakfast beverages of choice in her kitchen. Try asking a baker if a pastry contains dark chocolate…the reply that I got was a shrug of the shoulder and the comment "Chocolate es chocolate." I guess the Corte Inglés' brand of dark chocolate, "Chocolate Negro," was flippantly named.

Visit jaleole.com again and see the next chapter of Erica's memoir: "Sevillanas en el Salón."

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