How to dance flamenco, flamenco travel in Spain, flamenco dance students and their experiences, interviews with flamenco artists, translations of flamenco letras (songs) from Spanish to English
"I want to be in class with Mercedes ALL of the time." That is what I wrote in my journal on April 13, 2011.
But let's go back in time.
I arrived in Jerez on Friday, March 25 and began investigating classes to take.
Though secretly, I did not want to go to any.
A week in Jerez by myself.
Bulerías
Si tú piensas que me caigo
con un pie yo me mantengo
si tú tienes quien te quiera
también tengo quien por mi pase duquelas.
Below is the verse.
Followed by a video - possibly my favorite sevillanas ever - of Camarón singing it, with Tomatito and Joaquín Amador on guitar and Manuela Carrasco dancing.
Sevillanas
Isidro Muñoz
Pa qué me llamas prima…
I actually did fall in love in Triana ...
... a long time ago.
But that's not what I'm talking to you about today.
I'm jut sharing this letra that Lamiae sang tonight.
Tangos
Triana, Triana
Qué bonita está Triana
Cuando le ponen al puente
Banderas republicanas
We've talked about how it is common to have different variations to the words of traditional flamenco letras.
People are feeling nervous.
Nervous and anxious about the Student Showcase on Saturday.
I know this feeling. Well.
So I thought I'd repost these tips today, performance tips.
Whether you're performing in front of your friends in class,
at a show in front of the public,
or even just in your own bedroom in front of your cat,
There are things we can do to ease our nerves ...
A letra for today
Si quieres venirte, vente,
si quieres estarte, estáte,
nos quedaremos a solas…
From Camarón
Una rosa pa tu pelo te voy a regalar
y cuando tú te vayas de mi vera
me tienes que recordar.
A rose for your hair I will give you
and when you leave my side
you will have to remember me.
Tientos
Yo no tenía puertecita en que llamar
yo no tenía ná más que la tuya
y me la encuentro claveteá
El limón con la canela
la rosita con el jazmín
así me huelen tus carnes
cuando yo me arrimo a ti.
I am in Córdoba. I like it here.
This evening we were taking a stroll, my nieces, my sister, and I.
That's something I like about Spain. Families and friends taking walks around the town together. It is normal. It happens every day. So many people out and about. Together.
Lots of jasmine hanging down the wall.
El olor.
The smell.
And so, one of my favorite tangos, from Camarón along with a video ...
When we're on the FlamencoTour, we hear Santi practicing. A lot.
Santiago Lara, that is.
We're in the studio dancing. He's either in the bathroom or upstairs practicing.
When it's time to play for us Mercedes calls for him,
"Santi!"
I can hear her saying it now.
Actually, if you listen carefully you can hear her saying it in the video below at about 1 minute 50 seconds...
I first interviewed him in the spring of 2013. Unfortunately, I lost all of that footage. I know, back up.
So, I interviewed him again last fall.
Bulerías de Jerez.
Relaxed y con mucho arte.
Olé.
Today a letra and a video of Luis El Zambo and Diego Amaya.
Bulerías
No sé porqué será
me daban a mi lo mismo,
la pena de los demás
Another letra and video of Luis de La Pica.
Bulerías
Luis de la Pica
Miro a la luna y veo que soy de ti
Miro mis manos y pienso que me voy a morir
A veces me paro,
y me da escalofríos en pensar en mí.
An estribillo, a letra and a video of Luis de La Pica.
I first heard this estribillo, his letras, and heard of Luis de la Pica, when listening to Marina Heredia. That whole song on as she does it still gets me.
These melodies will always get me ...
And these words ...
You've probably read the basics about sevillanas.
And you've probably seen my detailed explanation of the steps to the sevillanas I learned in Jerez, from Harumi who learned them from Ani.
But now,
The toque for the first sevillanas is here, along with the reason why I write them out in two different ways.
And you can find the toque for the second one here.
Today I post the third one ...
Tengo un secreto.
I’m
afraid
to go
to Spain.
But not for the usual reasons.
Nope.
I’m afraid to take people there. Even though this will be the fourth time I’ve taken a group there to study.
Seana was in Portland minding her own business. Studying flamenco and living her life.
In college she had spent a semester in Spain. She traveled around but never made it to Jerez.
Seana dreamed of returning to Spain.
To Dance.
And then one day she did just that
For thirty years Stella had been wanting to travel to Spain. In the fall of 2013, she finally decided to make the trip. And she did it by joining the FlamencoTour.
Stella says.
"Once you come back [home] then you realize what a precious jewel you had ... and I'm jealous of people who are going to go."
Watch the video below to hear Stella talk about her experiences in Jerez.
