Part 2: Class with Mercedes

“We alternate between concentrating on the steps and feeling mesmerized by Mercedes and her magnificence.”

We have class with Mercedes on most days.

We often have techique with her in the morning then choreography and castanets in the afternoon.

Some days we have one combined session.

Other days we take a break.

“Mercedes... Besides being a riveting, entrancing and amazing dancer, she is an excellent teacher as well. Everything we did in technique class was incorporated in choreography, everything. Lots of lightbulb moments. She’s an absolute gem in the realm of flamenco,”
— Becky Poynter, three time Flamenco Tour alum

Her studio is two minutes away from our apartments walking. 

(Everybody loves this.)

Time with Mercedes is muy especial.

This is our workshop.
 


It happens just for us.

We study technique.

We learn choreography.

We do castanets.

“Mercedes’ methodical and structured style is exactly what I needed for when I felt lost. It gave me predictability and a framework that I could build on and see progress as the weeks went on”
— Mariana, two time Flamenco Tour alum

Santiago Lara plays guitar for us when we run the choreography. Santi is Mercedes’s husband.  

Every now and then Bordón the dog comes along.

Sometimes someone even comes to sing.

For the most part it’s just us.

We dance and dance. And Mercedes keeps us working the whole time.  

 In a good way.

She explains things.

She corrects us.

She gives us tips and reminders.

“With Mercedes, it was absolutely amazing. She was able to adjust to everybody’s individual needs. I don’t think one of us really came out of that without feeling like each person really got something unique that we couldn’t experience anywhere else,”
— Jackie Villegas-Maclin, two time Flamenco Tour alum

She has us move across the floor.

We soak in her essence.

As serious as Mercedes is about dancing, she's basically a big goof-ball.

And she absolutely loves to teach!

“Mercedes is an awesome teacher in that she is demanding but she doesn’t crush your spirit. She encourages you, and she keeps working with you and showing you and doing it every day was a very intense time to absorb everything that she was trying to teach us. Not only the choreography but she worked a lot on technique and arms. Arms, arms, arms. Which was great because it was just refining everything about my dancing,”
— Amy Brownell, two time Flamenco Tour alum

More about Mercedes:

Interviews:

Video interview with Mercedes

Written Interview with Mercedes

Why the Flamenco Tour with Mercedes came about:

Click here to read more about why I decided to do this with her in the first place. 

Dance as if You Were in Class with Mercedes: 

Click here to dance as if you were in class with Mercedes from home.

See you in the next post for bulerías class!

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