Flamenco dancer, singer and cajón player, Manuel Gutierrez’s positivity is infectious.
(Tell me you don’t feel it when you watch and listen to him speak in the interview below…)
What’s his ritual is before he goes on stage to perform?
At what level can you begin improvising?
What are his thoughts on dealing with fear?
How does teaching flamenco serve him?
These are some of the many things you’ll hear Manuel touch on in the following live Q & A where he shares all about his love of collaboration, performing, improvising, and teaching.
(This interview is in English.)
Here’s just some of what Manuel touches on in the video:
- How he’s been influenced by art forms and cultures beyond flamenco from an early age and how he continues to be to this day
- How living in Los Angeles serves him as an artist
- Some current exciting collaborations
- The value in taking risks
- Why he loves improvisation and how he was “forced” into it from an early age
- Advice for students who are afraid to improvise and how you don’t need to be at a high level to do it*
- What performing means to him and his ritual before he goes on stage
- Learning from his students
- Thoughts for students who might feel scared to take flamenco class
- The importance of enjoying dancing now rather than waiting until you “get it”
- The importance of making the learning process FUN
- The importance of being present
- Writing letras (Did you know he’s been writing letras from the time he was little?!)
- His excitement about coming back to Portland this week to teach tangos and bulerías workshops and perform (in a sold out show) with Seffarine.
*You can hear Manuel’s advice for those of us who feel fear around improvisation about 15:15 in video.
Have a question for this amazing guy?
Leave it in the comments below!
And join us for his workshops in person or online this Thursday, April 20th.
