 
|
The DC Feria is Sunday May 22nd from noon to 5pm! Monday May 16, 2005 This is the DC area's biggest flamenco event involving the local dance companies. Performances by Danzamarina, Natalia Monteleon's Arte Flamenco, Ana Martinez y Paco de Malaga and Furia Flamenca. The event will be inaugurated by the Ambassador of Spain followed by a crowning of the Queen and Princesses of the Feria and singing of the Salve Rociera. IMPORTANT: Please note the new location at Strathmore at 5301 Tuckerman Lane (corner of Rockville Pike) in North Bethesda, MD 20852. Accessible at the Grosvenor/Strathmore metro on the Red Line. Free Parking at the Metro Garage. There will be six casetas featuring foods from different regions of Spain. In front of the Gazebo will be a tablao for the public. Paco de Malaga and friends will also have a caseta with shows. Checkout the pics from last year's Feria. Print out the official flyer (578K in PDF format). Photos by Gina/Ginette. While many people may go to enjoy the free performances by several of the local flamenco groups, I just want to alert you to other things worth checking out: 1. SPANISH FOOD!There will be several kiosks representing several regions of Spain with their most well-known dishes. The portions are usually small and you'll have to purchase tickets to get some food, but it's for a good cause. The DC Feria is organized by the Centro Español de Washington.
2. SHOPPING! Usually there are several vendors selling flamenco and Spanish-related products. TIP: bring sufficient cash because there are no ATM's nearby. Practice your bargaining skills.
3. PARTIES! So what to do flamencos do for fun when they're not performing? Between shows, head to the casetas (tents) and see for yourself. There will be a dance floor and live music (or a boombox). TIP: don't be afraid to get up on the dance floor and join in. Additional tips:  Every year, There's always the slight possibility of rain--the ground may be muddy--so wear shoes that you can throw out. (Soheila la Persa) No need to park in the streets. Strathmore is located next to a very large parking garage. If you don't feel like dealing with the traffic, it's also next to the metro. Bring your camera. Lots of great photo opportunities CULTURAL AWARENESS Anytime you have the urge to go and experience a new cultural event, it is important that you keep one thing in mind: try to step outside of the box and learn new things. Obviously this is your goal if you are attending a cultural event, but there seems to be a trend which I most certainly would recommend against. DON'T JUST WATCH! Gather the most you can from everything you do and don't be afraid to ask questions. Some things, and I say this from personal experience, are quite confusing in foreign cultures. The Flamenco community, like many other heritage-rich communities, is most commonly very welcoming and willing to guide the new learner in their discovery. So, take it from me, the questions can only add to your experience...it's okay to be curious! (Anonymous Anthropologist) Be sure to thank Centro Espanol de Washington for organizing the event. If you have another tip to add, just email me Address is 5301 Tuckerman Lane (off Rockville Pike) in Bethesda, Maryland 20852.  Philadelphia Feria de Sevilla coming May 7-8, 2005Wednesday April 27, 2005 After sold out success with its debut in Philadelphia last year, Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas and International House Philadelphia will bring the colors, sounds and flavors of the Feria de Sevilla en Philadelphia to the Delaware Valley for the second time, this year extended to two days, encouraging revelers to "make it a weekend!" on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8, 2005. Saturday evening will feature performances by Philadelphia’s own Flamenco del Encuentro and Pasión y Arte who will explore where the art of flamenco has been and where it is going from 8-10pm, followed by Sunday’s 3-8pm re-creation of the traditional Spanish fair, Feria de Sevilla, with a traditional horse-lead parade down Chestnut Street to kick things off, flamenco dance, castanet and guitar workshops with local troupes, arts and crafts for kids, tapas, Iberian fixed price menu by Café Habana, flamenco photo exhibit, and a special performance at 7pm by Edwin Aparicio and Company with guest artist Carmela Greco. Saturday’s performances take place at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street. Sunday’s event takes place at International House, 3701 Chestnut Street.  Saturday, May 7 performances details: One major added component to this year’s Feria will be a second evening of performances by Philadelphia’s own Flamenco del Encuentro, with guest artist Antonio Hidalgo, and Pasión y Arte on Saturday, May 7. The night will be an innovative, passionate exploration of the “past, present and future of flamenco” held in the Zellerbach Theatre of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The evening kicks off with a complimentary pre-show on the plaza’s outdoor stage by Philadelphia’s Fiesta Flamenco Dancers from 6-7pm, complete with live guitar and traditional costumes, followed by the performance from 8-10pm. The night of performances is certain to delight all with a passion for the arts, dance, and flamenco, as it will be an exploration of where flamenco came from and where it is going. Lead by Tito and Anna Rubio, with guest artist Antonio Hidalgo, Flamenco del Encuentro will present The Herencia Arabe Project. Combining traditional Flamenco and Middle Eastern rhythms, modern compositions and choreography that highlights and celebrates Southern Spain’s shared routes with the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, the troupe will represent the past and present of the flamenco art form. Pasión y Arte, lead by artistic director Elba Hevia y Vaca, will delve into the present and future of the craft with the premiere of La Luna de Par en Par (The Moon Wide Open) Part II by exploring the female psyche through the experience of dance and pushing the boundaries of traditional flamenco tradition by incorporating different musical genres, cross disciplinary choreography, non-traditional costumes and visual landscape elements. Both groups will perform with live musical accompaniment. From 6-7pm Philadelphia's Fiesta Flamenco Dancers will delight audiences of all ages with a pre-show performance on the outdoor plaza stage. The full company will perform, complete with live guitar and traditional costumes. The group aims not only to entertain, but also to shed light on the depth and range of their craft. The choreography will illustrate flamenco in its purest form, as well as demonstrate recent innovations. As a special feature, a group of school children from Pottstown will dance a Passodoble, created through a 3-month workshop with the troupe. Sunday, May 8 Feria de Sevilla details: This year, Philadelphians and people from New York City to Washington, D.C. can "make it a flamenco weekend!" as Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas and International House Philadelphia present a second day of festivities on Sunday, May 8 from 3pm – 8pm! International House will recreate a Spanish public square, by adorning its outdoor terrace and indoor galleria with authentic and colorful décor, where a myriad of activities for the entire family will be presented in unison. Adding to the festive mood, attendees are invited to wear Spanish style costumes, perhaps with combs and mantillas on their heads, colorful vests, Cordobés hats and high-heeled boots as they participate in the afternoon and evening’s activities (costumes are optional).  To kick things off, the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, a volunteer cavalry troop and the oldest mounted military unit in the U.S., will lead a parade of horses down Chestnut Street from 38th Street to International House. Troop members will carry flamenco dancers on the backs of their horses while over 100 other women, men and children in costume walk in toe to make a traditional entrance to the Feria. All are invited to join in the parade, which will end at International House with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3pm, indicating the official start of the festival. Throughout the evening, flamenco dance, guitar and castanet workshops and fun children’s activities, including arts and crafts workshops, will be presented in traditional casetas (Spanish style tents) by Philadelphia’s own Flamenco Olé, Fiesta Flamenco, Flamenco del Encuentro, and Pasión y Arte. These will emphasize International House’s dedication to what it likes to call “education through interaction.” In casetas festival-goers can also sample delicious tapas and traditional drinks like sangria provided by Casa de Madrid, Café de Natali, and Isla Verde restaurants. A special fixed price Iberian menu will be provided by Café Habana, featuring such mouth-watering options as Sopa de Gazpacho, Ensalada a la Malagueña, Paella Valenciana, Pierna de Cordero and Tarta de Satiago. This is in addition to a vending area where traditional Spanish crafts like hand-made guitars and other musical instruments will be available, as well as the opportunity to view OLE 2005: Fotos Aflamencao, a special flamenco exhibit from Sevilla, Spain by photographer Karen Santiago. At 7pm attendees can attend a special performance titled Intimo – An evening of Flamenco with Edwin Aparicio and Company with guest artist Carmela Greco in International House’s 500-seat theater. TICKETS: [Editor's Note: my thanks to Karen Santiago for the above press release info.] Introducing Estela Velez Thursday March 3, 2005 The new state-of-the-art performing arts center known as Strathmore re-opened last month. As you know, the Baltimore Symphony performed El Amor Brujo there this past weekend with local and visiting flamenco dancers featuring the choreography of Anna Menendez. And now Strathmore is also starting to offer flamenco dance classes this weekend by local teacher Estela Velez (pictured here with Sara Baras). Although, she's been teaching in the DC area for a few years now, not too many people know very much about her, so I took the liberty of interviewing her this week: Miguelito: You recently started teaching at the Joy of Motion Dance Center and now I hear you will be starting a flamenco class at the Strathmore, how did you get these opportunities? Estela Velez: Well, my first teaching opportunity in the area was at the Center for Ballet Arts in Fairfax, Virginia in November 2003. There, I happened to have rented the studio to rehearse and the owner stayed to watch what I was doing. After the rehearsal, he approached me and asked if I would be interested in teaching flamenco at the Center. The opportunity at Joy of Motion came as a total surprise. I had occasionally taught there as a substitute teacher for some years and then last August, out of the blue, I received a call from them asking if I would be interested in teaching there permanently. My only response was "When do you need me to start?" Their answer: "Tomorrow." The Strathmore opportunity was presented to me while they were still just building the facilities. After substituting a class at Joy of Motion one of the students approached me and asked where I taught. At the time I was not teaching regularly, so she said "We need to find you a studio where you can teach." Little did I know that this was someone who was very involved in the DC dance community. Then one day she called to tell me she had spoken with CityDance and that they were interested in having me teach flamenco when the Strathmore opened. A few phone calls later, some recommendations and a meeting, and I was hired. M: There are lots of flamenco dance teachers in the DC area. What do you offer that's unique or that most teachers around here don't focus on? What is your teaching philosophy?  [pictured: Basic class students at the Joy of Motion Dance Center] E: That's a tough question because I have not been to everyone's class. I can tell you how my classes differ from what I have experienced. First, all my classes, even the basic classes, are technique intensive; I am a stickler for technique. My focus is to teach you to understand and to be in control of your body and understand the movements, not just to follow me. What I have found is that a lot of times students don't necessarily understand which muscles to use for certain movements. An example is keeping the shoulders down. That is a bit more complicated than what it seems like because for it to look right you have to use your back muscles, your shoulder blades. This is not something that everyone does instinctively, for many years I did not even know. At the same time, I teach muscle isolations. It is the tiny subtleties that make a difference. I also focus on muscle strengthening and stamina. So every class starts with floor exercises, crunches, lower ab work, and yes, even push ups in some of the higher levels. I have jokingly been referred to as the "flamenco drill sergeant" and my classes as "flamenco boot camp." I think that was after a non-stop 15 minute footwork drill in my intermediate class. So if you come to my class you have to expect to work hard. I also make sure that I give a lot of individual attention. I go to everyone and put their arms in the right position, lift and bend their feet if I see that someone does not understand what I want them to do, and if someone is having difficulty with a step and wants the help, I stand right next to them and do it side by side to help them get it. I don't think I ever teach a class just from the front of the classroom. Upper body work is extremely important to me and I dedicate a LOT of time to it. After all, your footwork needs to be strong and clear, but the reality is that most often people will just hear your feet, but they will ALWAYS see your upper body. So it needs to be equally strong. Finally, I want to say that I gear my classes towards making you the best performer you can be. Reality is [that] we all want to perform because performing is not exclusive of a tablao, or a theatre, at some point we all want to show our friends or relatives what we are learning or doing, that's performing too. Or maybe you just want to perform for yourself in front of a mirror. Regardless of where you want to "perform" one thing is true: you want to look your best. My goal is to make you the best performer you can be. M: Your class at the Strathmore starts this Saturday, March 5th. How are the studios? What can students realistically expect to accomplish in this eight week program? E: The studio is beautiful! It is huge with an entire wall of glass windows. The room has great acoustics. The studio is Metro accessible. It is right off the Grosvenor Stop on the Red Line. I teach my students from day one that to be a flamenco dancer, you have to be not only a dancer, but also a musician, and an actor/actress. So, by the end of the eight weeks, students will have a solid foundation of flamenco dance technique, footwork, upper body, marking steps, etc. In addition they will work with the basic 12 and 4-beat compases which I always include as part of my beginner class and will work on learning to hear the compás on their own from the very first class. As part of the "acting" portion, they will learn some flamenco history/theory so they understand the passion in flamenco. They will also be introduced to a number of different compases so they start hearing and feeling the different emotions involved in the different dances. And, of course, they will also be a little stronger, and maybe a little sore [Estela smiles].  [pictured: Low Intermediate class at Joy of Motion Dance Center] M: Where do you draw your inspiration as a teacher and performer? E: Well, my first inspiration is life itself. Flamenco is more than just dancing, it's a way of expressing life experiences and emotions, that's how it was born. I am very passionate about life, as a result, I am passionate about flamenco. My inspiration for the way I teach comes from Maestro Antonio Santaella. I was very lucky to have had the opportunity to have him as a teacher. Here was this amazing flamenco dancer who grew up in Garcia Lorca's parents house in Granada, who not only can teach you how to dance, but who can teach you flamenco's history, because he lived it, and he was willing to give me five hours of his day, every day for four months. I still remember my first class with him, in the indoor patio of this beautiful Spanish house in Puerto Rico and asking him "I am supposed to dance on this concrete floor?" His answer: "where do you think the gypsies danced? They did not have beautiful wooden floors. Don't worry, with the right technique, you won't injure yourself, you will only get stronger." He was right. He is selfless and very giving, passionate and has only one goal in mind, to make you the best dancer you can be. There is so much more I can say about him. I want to give to my students as much as he has given me. M: Tell me about your performing group Furia Flamenca. E: First I want to say that Furia Flamenca is comprised of a very special group of ladies who I feel very blessed to know. They have been encouraging and inspiring. Furia Flamenca is not MY group, it's OUR group. Our friendship and trust in one another is our strongest bond. Although we have been performing locally for almost two years now, our debut in front of the DC dance community was at the Metro DC Dance Awards reception last year. It was a little nerve wracking because our audience was comprised of knowledgeable dancers, choreographers and people of the DC dance community. To our delight we were well received and even got a standing ovation, an incredible compliment from such an audience. Right now, we are focusing on developing new choreographies with the goal of a full-length show. So, stay tuned! M: How can someone register for your upcoming class at the Strathmore? E: People can register by calling CityDance Center at (301) 581-5204, or in person the first day of class. For the first class the only requirement is that you come with a hard-soled shoe with a chunky heel and comfortable clothes to move. No baggie clothes, though. M: Anything else you'd like to add? E: For those who are currently studying flamenco, one advice: don't just move when you dance, but LIVE it. It's a lot more fun that way. For those who have not tried it but who have been curious about it, give it a try! After 15 years of ballet and several other dance forms, I tried a flamenco class, fell in love with it and it changed my life. Flamenco is so much more than just a dance form. Come give it a try! [Editor's note: my thanks to Estela Velez for taking the time to let me interview her. For more information about her classes and upcoming performances, visit her website www.furia-flamenca.com] Students' comments: "Estela wants you to learn, and will never forget whatever may be your
difficulty and will figure out the way to make you understand it. So
long as you do not give up, she will never give up on you either. Once
she was teaching an arm movement and I was not getting it right, my
hands looked weak, without life. My mind was understanding it, but it did
not translate properly with my body. In the next class she brought a
volley ball and made me do the movement with it in my hands and asked me
to let go of the ball at the end and make it go high and over the
imaginary net. It worked!!! I got the movement." "Estela's passion for flamenco is evident when she stands in front of a
class and clearly communicates what flamenco is and how to dance it.
She breaks it down so that her students understand what they are trying
to do, and she takes the time to pay attention to each individual and
how they are progressing while learning one of the most complex dance
styles in the world. She makes it educational, fun, and exciting and
whatever your abilities, she supports and encourages and cajoles and
laughs with you all the while being very clear in her intent to explain why
the arms are important, why posture is important, what abs and
different muscles contribute to how one dances, reminding us not to look at the
floor, shoulders down, stand tall. Her classes are an experience in
dance, technique, confidence building, performing, and being all that you
can be - a student can't ask for more because Estela gives it her all -
every time she comes to class." "I have been taking various types of dance lessons for 18 years, and I
have never had an instructor who has a passion for teaching and a
genuine vested interest in her students' learning like Estela does. She
takes the time to individually observe and correct her students, never
making them feel incapable. She adapts her classes to her students'
abilities, and her intense focus on technique lays the critical groundwork
for learning flamenco." "It's energizing to be in Estela's classroom. Her love for flamenco
shines through in the way she dances and the way she teaches. She pushes
you hard and makes you want to push yourself harder by her example. She
is always improving her own dancing, and she passes down that
ever-expanding repertoire of steps and styles to you." "Estela takes a well-rounded approach to her teaching. Not only is she
very technical (getting down to the nitty gritty how and why of
movement execution), but she also emphasizes and works on musicality, physical
_expression of what the heart feels in the music, the combining of
power and sensuality, and aspects of performance. She cares very much for
the individual progress of her students and is committed to creating
stronger, better dancers; there's no coasting by in her classroom. She
gauges her success by the growth of her students. Her use of imagery
and incorporation of full body awareness and engagement reinforce the
lessons. Estela loves what she does, and her gusto and passion shine in
class and on stage. I enjoy that we get a complete flamenco package
over the course of the semester--technique, choreography, history,
exposure to different rhythmns, stage presence, and more--in a classroom
environment that feels like a curious cross between an afternoon out with
your best friend and boot camp." "I am actually very glad I get the opportunity to write something about
how much I enjoy and look forward to my Flamenco classes with Estela.
I was introduced to Flamenco at age 14 when I saw the Ballet
Hispanoamerico perform in my hometown at a large high school. The show
was
entertaining and dancers were excellent, but when I saw the flamenco
performance I was riveted to my seat. I was holding my breath, hairs
raised on my nape and arms. And I told myself, "If you can do that someday,
you will have accomplished something!". Over the years, I danced
ballet, jazz, and modern until college. Flamenco was always in the back of my
mind, something that " I would get to" eventually. I have watched
performances in NYC, amateurs as well as professional. I have seen belly
dancing in all walks of life. I have travelled extensively in Spain, in
particular to Granada, Valencia, and Sevilla. I have seen flamenco
dancers perform in all of those places. I have seen the gypsies in the
barrios of Granada get up and sing their souls out while their dancers
interpreted their emotion and their passion. And the thing about Estela is
that she could actually BE one of them. Her dancing is as if she were
born to do it and she was raised there watching it all her life. When I
got back from Spain, I promised myself "soon, soon". And this past year I
got the opportunity to do it. Estela was subbing for a class at the
studio I chose at random, and when I saw her dance and teach, I knew that
I had gotten lucky indeed. And maybe it wasn't just luck. I have seen
other teachers perform and dance in Atlanta and in this area. None of
them made me want to devote the time it takes out of my life just to
come to lessons. I was not feeling passionate about wanting to be able to
do what they did. But, every time I watch Estela dance, I think - "Yes,
Lord, I want to DO that!". And I try. I drive about an hour one night
of the week and another night of the week I brave beltway traffic
sometimes for an hour and forty-five minutes to go to her classes. And I
never regret it. I look back at how far I have come in just 7 months, and I
am THRILLED. Estela has a way of injecting lyricism with raw passion
and a flirtatiousness into the dance that absolutely makes you want to
watch her every last step. She executes every movement with strength and
precision, but also with a level of artistry and passion that do not
come by technique alone. And every single class, she is doing the steps
with us with as much intensity every night as if she had not taught
another class before mine and had another one to go. She out-endures all of
us and makes it look easy. But, the best part of all - she "sees" every
student. She can gauge quickly every student's level of ability and she
slightly tailors each night's lesson to the overall level of enthusiasm
and skill in the class. And I never feel cheated. In fact, the classes
are getting overwhelmingly crowded. We will be lucky to keep her on
this level for long." "As a flamenco student, have you ever learned a choreography or
footwork, where you know you've got the steps and the choreography but somehow
you still say, "What am I doing wrong?" or "How come when I do it, it
doesn't look or sound the way the teacher or other people does it?" or
"How come I can't do it as fast or faster?" and then ultimately, you ask
yourself, "What do I need to do to do it the right way?" I've been in
this situation many times as a student. I think a good flamenco
dancer, most of the time, learned the technique of dancing flamenco because
they've been dancing for a long time or they practice dancing flamenco
so much that eventually they start figuring out for themselves how it is
done and done the right way. So you ask, what's different about
Estela's classes? Estela is the only teacher I've encountered so far that
explained from the very beginning the technique of what the body goes
through to execute flamenco movements by doing muscle isolations and
muscle strengthening, not just show you flamenco steps and choreographies.
I had the opportunity to take Estela's first flamenco classes for a
month before leaving to study flamenco in Spain in 2002. She was the one
that finally explained, after a year of taking flamenco classes from
other instructors, how to keep your arms back and what muscles are
involved in doing it; the importance of having strong abdominal muscles in
executing strong footwork and how important this is in preventing
injuries; how walking is as important as doing footwork; how to listen to
footwork without looking and figure what that footwork is just by
listening; etc. When I left to start the intensive program with the Fundacion
de Cristina Heeren in Sevilla, I kept saying to myself "I wish that my
first year of flamenco studies was spent with Estela because if I did, I
would have had the necessary foundation I needed to take full advantage
of the classes I was taking in Spain, because then, I could have spent
more of my time and energy learning the new moves and new
choreographies instead of spending this time and energy learning how to dance
flamenco." As I continue to dance with Estela's group Furia Flamenca and take
her classes, she continues to challenge not only me, her dance group,
and her students, but most importantly she continues to challenge
herself, taking her dancing and her teaching to a higher level." "I have found Estela Velez to be skilled instructor who takes no
shortcuts when teaching. She is rigorous about technique and moves forward
only when she is sure you really "have it". These qualities, combined
with her kind and patient demeanor yield a positive and educational
flamenco experience." |
TIP: get to the Feria early and do a quick reconaissance of the kiosks
to see what dishes are being prepared. Locate the kiosks that will be
serving what you want and as soon as the food is ready, get in line
quickly!