Flamenco Fundraiser at HR-57
October 17, 2010 by Miguelito
Pam de Ocampo dancing seguiriyas. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
It's 11:49am on Monday as I type these words. Got up early this morning to practice guitar but had to get out for some fresh air. Seems like I've doing my blogging at a certain Starbucks lately. In fact I'm sitting at the same window-side table where I always sit—kinda like it's "my office."
So yesterday (Sunday), I attended Pam de Ocampo's flamenco fundraiser benefitting the Lorraine Technical School. It was held at a venue called HR-57 which is normally a jazz club. But for a few hours, from the inspiring performances and the supportive spirit of the audience us DC flamencos took it over and transformed it into a tablao.
HR-57 is an intimate venue well-suited for the flamenco ambiente. When I last checked the Facebook invite there were 54 confirmed. But that number is never accurate. There are some who say they are coming but don't. Some who don't even reply but show up anyway. I didn't do a head count but we packed the place to capacity and it was much more than 50!
The performers included guitarist Richard Marlow, singer José Oretea, percussionist Behzad Habibzai, dancers Pam de Ocampo, Yolit Yospe, Jen Graham, Sara Jerez, Anna Menéndez and Edwin Aparicio.
Pam de Ocampo. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Kudos to the performers and most especially to Pam for organizing this event to raise money for a good cause.
I'm trying out publishing larger size pics since this is more of a photo blog than a regular blog with lots of text. I have to admit that I would have had more pics but a lot of shots were blocked by heads of people sitting in front of me. Yeah I'm saving up for a digital SLR with a zoom! For now, enjoy the pics!
Richard Marlow. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Yolit, Pam and Jen in Martinete. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Yolit Yospe dancing tangos. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Yolit Yospe. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Yolit Yospe. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Jen Graham dancing tientos. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Jen Graham. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Jen Graham. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Jen Graham. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Jen Graham. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Sara Jerez dancing Guajiras. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Sara Jerez. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Sara Jerez. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Anna Menéndez dancing soleá. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Anna Menéndez. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Edwin Aparicio dancing alegrías. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Edwin Aparicio. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Denise, Antonia, Allahi and Natalia Monteleón. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Katie, Yolit, Edwin Aparicio, Jen and Kyoko. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Did you know that Pam de Ocampo made her tablao debut at Gonzalo’s Jalapeños Restaurant? October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
Checkout Patrick Ryan’s photos of the Flamenco Fundraiser at HR-57. Gorgeous stuff!
El Bodegón. October 17, 2010 (photo by Miguelito)
On my way home after the concert I passed by a historic landmark for flamencos in DC at 16th & R St NW: the former location of El Bodegón which reminded me that I have some interviews to publish. With the 15th anniversary of my website coming up it’s about time the younger generation DC flamencos of today get know more about the DC flamencos who paved the way back in the early 1990’s!