• June 24, 2001 Practice, practice, practice
• June 23, 2001 Carmen de Vicente's "Los Jardines de Aranjuez," a Spring recital
• June 22, 2001 The new Friday night hangout
• June 19, 2001 Report from Columbia, Maryland
• June 14, 2001 Feria photos por fin!

Why outdoors? Good question. First of all none of us could practice in our apartments because of neighbors complaining about the noise. Secondly, most of the dance studios don't seem to like having flamenco dancers "beat up" their beautiful floor. Besides it was such a beautiful day.

What do you need? Flamenco shoes, small piece of wood, practice skirt (if you're female) and a guitarist (optional). I would recommend placing the wood on top of grass instead of a hard surface--your back will thank you for it.

If people stop to watch, this is a good chance to get used to performing in front of people.

Over the past ten years, I've played for hundreds of flamenco dance classes. The students who make the most progress are the ones who regularly practice outside of class. I know we all lead busy lives, but a little bit of practice everyday is usually better than a marathon practice session once a week.

Carmen de Vicente's Los Jardines de Aranjuez, a Spring Recital
(Saturday June 23, 2001) Last Saturday June 16th, yours truly had the pleasure of performing with Carmen de Vicente's Requiebros Spanish dance group at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, Virginia.

An audience member writes:

"I thought you might be interested in my comments about the Carmen de Vicente and Requirebros Dance Group's show last Saturday. It turned out to be somewhat different then we expected , but we enjoyed it very much anyway.

The best thing that the show did, I think, was to demonstrate that the culture of Spain is very multifaceted. (I know there were a few pieces that weren't Spanish, but they went very well with the rest of the show). We thought all dancing pieces were very cute, very well-rehearsed, and choreographed. My favourite was, of course, Sevillana. Not just because I know it, but they managed to create the spirit of feria; and also the choice of music was excellent.

We were very impressed by Duende Camarón, and thought that they deserve to be much better known as local musicians, particularly because gypsy music is becoming more and more known to the mainstream audience. I must say that even though I am a bit tired of the 'Bamboleo' song, their own version of it made me sit and listen. Very good.

It was also the first time we heard you perform solo, and also thought you were great. The third piece was just sooooo wonderful -- something I'd like to listen to over and over again.

Of course, Carmen's castanet performance was quite unbelievable. I've been trying to get a roll out of my castanets for a few months and it barely gets out. Can't imagine how one can reach such a level.

I went to the show to see flamenco, I didn't see it, but me and my friend had a great time nonetheless! Thank you."

Carmen de Vicente replies:

"Thanks for your input. I just wanted to let you know that the show did include flamenco dances in the second part, which were Soleá and Alegrías. Miguelito played flamenco guitar. We're glad you enjoyed the show and appreciated the richness of Spanish music! We hope to see you again at future performances.

r, Carmen de Vicente"

Of course, we're normal human beings with multi-faceted lives. But when:

1. the time is right (usually late night),
2. location is convenient (in downtown DC) and
3. the ambience is just right (relaxed and unpretentious)

On a typical Friday night, dancers Micaela Moreno and Marta Chico Martín dance at Catalan West restaurant. Guitarists Richard Marlow and yours truly, Miguelito, play at Bambulé.

Around 11:00pm we finish up our performances and rendezvous at Taberna del Alabardero where on Fridays, guitarists Ramin el Perso and Amilcar Cruz give a show playing rumbas from around 9:30pm until midnight-ish. Dancer-musician Jason Vera y Aragón usually shows up and plays cajón and everyone does palmas.

After the show, we'll usually do Sevillanas, bulerías, alegrías and tangos until the maitre d' politely reminds us that it's time to close.

"Last night I attended a concert of a company entitled 'Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba,' in Columbia, MD at the Jim Rouse Theater, which I would like to comment on for your readers.

I was initially not even interested in going, as the promotional material indicated this was fusion flamenco and Cuban music. The photos were of beautiful ballet-trained dancers: not my cup of tea.

When one of my students brought it to my attention, I responded with cynicism and disdain, and replied that I doubted this was really flamenco, and that if you like orchestrated dances, with beautiful chorus girls, that's what you'll see.

On second thought, and reading that the group was accompanied by an ensemble of Cuban musicians who incorporated Afro-cuban rhytms and Cuban son into their music, I thought - well this could be a pleasant evening for my husband and I to enjoy together.

What a surprise! I am now sorry, that more people in the DC community did not know about this sold-out event.

Once I suspended any thougths of Flamenco (for it certainly was not), I was prepared to enjoy a concert of excellent dancing and staging, beautiful costumes, incredibly hot Cuban music, presented by highly-trained dancers and musicians.

The dances were a bit "Broadway" and glitzy - somewhat bringing Riverdance to mind however, the exuberance and high skill of both dancers and musicians, made for a spectacular presentation, of dance infused with African, Cuban, and Spanish styles and elements. Flamenco - no, but good entertainement - yes. The further the choreographies were from Flamenco - the more I enjoyed it it was only when they attempted to steal from Flamenco, that they got it so wrong, that I get angry thinking the public is being fooled.

Well - I suppose the moral of the story is - keep an open mind."

[Editor's note: there was also an article about Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba in Sunday's Baltimore Sun. Also visit the Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba website at www.worldartsinc.com/cubahome.html]

Feria Fotos por fin!
(Thursday June 14, 2001) Yeah, I know I promised new pics a week ago, but it's only now that I've had the time. These are photos from Centro Español de Washington's Feria de Sevilla from May 20, 2001.

You can either view just the new ones or start from the beginning and see all of them.

A huge thank you to Steve Svoboda, who has kindly donated webspace for the photo gallery. Thanks Steve!

Pictured above is Javier Bustamante (aficionado and publisher/editor-in-chief of Coloquio cultural magazine) with Puri (left) and Micaela Moreno. Photo by Yours Truly.

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