Part 3: Bule-what?

Bulerías. Dancing stops, and visiting happens, and dancing starts again.  

Oh, and did I mention, you might be offered beer…

Bulerías is a dance for EVERYONE.  

Really.  

It is crazy and complex, and it is a dance of the pueblo.  

It is danced by people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and levels. It is danced by normal average every day people, and it is danced by professionals. 

It is a dance to have fun with. 

A disfrutar.  

It is from Jerez, and nowhere else will we find bulerías like we will in Jerez.  

Our bulerías class begins at 11:00 or 11:30am and ends around 1:30pm. 

It takes five minutes to get there walking. 

Once again, everybody loves this.

The class is taught in a flamenco peña (flamenco club) by Ana María López and her assistant. 

These is always live music.  

Cante and usually guitarra.  

Each day is different depending upon who comes to class.  

Sometimes we are the only students, but usually there are others. Some students stay for the whole class. Some students stay only for part. Some come late. Some leave early.  

In other words, bulerías class doesn't necessarily fit into our understanding of what a ‘class’ is.  

A typical bulerías class might go something like this: 

Ani and Esther a short piece to the students present.  

They go over it several times, giving feedback and addressing questions. 

Then Ani sends some people to the main room of the peña to practice the piece while others remain in the studio to dance with music.

Esther will usually come out to the main room to answer questions during this time. Then Ani will call the people who’ve been outside practicing into the studio to dance with the musicians.

People who want to dance by themselves can dance by themselves. People who don’t feel ready for that can dance with the group, another student, or with Ani or her assistant.  

Ani will provide feedback.

After dancing for Ani, people either leave to the main room to practice or stay to do palmas and watch the other dancers.

As the class progresses, more people might show up offering more opportunities to watch others dance.  

There is much to be learned in watching others and hearing Ani’s critiques.

The energy builds.

By the end of class there is less practicing and more watching, dancing for Ani, giving jaleos for friends, and doing palmas.

In bulerías class Ani and her crew meet students wherever they happen to be.

The goal is for the student to have fun while learning to dance bulerías with ease.

Students range in level from complete beginners to advanced dancers who perform. People come who just want to do it for fun and and who seek to be professional dancers. 

Different musicians pop in to sing or play guitar or palmas. 

Friends come in to say hello. 

Dancing stops and visiting happens. And dancing starts again. 

And did I mention you might be offered beer?

This is not your normal, average, every-day class.

It's quite hard to describe, but you can read more about it here.

Lessons from Ani

Ani offers up all kinds of wisdom in class. For lessons learned from her, click here.

See you next for siesta time!

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