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Hispanic Heritage Month has officially begun (Wednesday September 19, 2001) Last Sunday, Ena Camargo's Viva Flamenco dance school performed at the Fifth Annual Latino Festival of Maryland.  This was timed no doubt to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month (officially from September 15th through October 15th). Read the article in the Washington Post.Pictured here is dancer Micaela Moreno giving the young dance students a few tips just moments before the Latino Festival parade began. Despite the beautiful weather, the attendance at the Festival was less than expected--a trend that is likely occuring at other festivals in the DC area. At one point during the opening ceremony, the crowd was asked to take a moment of silence to remember those that died in last week's tragedy. Later Viva Flamenco gave two performances accompanied by guitarists Lee Aube, Mijntje Aarts and yours truly. This weekend's upcoming Fiesta Musical at the National Zoo has been postponed. Viva Flamenco was scheduled to perform.
So where was everybody? We decided to have a little get together Saturday night at a new Mediterranean-themed restaurant called Canvas Tapas Café where we hung out and relaxed. Later in the evening, guitarist Richard Marlow pulled out his guitar and the fiesta flamenca began. Pictured are dancers Jason Vera y Aragon, Marta Chico Martin and Aleksey Kulikov. (Thanks to Soheila la Persa for the photos) Good news is that we have two new shows starting this week: Mondays at Cafe Citron 1343 Connecticut Ave NW DC. (202)530-8844. Guitarist Miguelito accompanies dancer Micaela Moreno and singer Gerárd Moreno. Thursdays at Bambule 5225 Wisconsin Ave NW DC. (202)966-0300. Guitarist Ramin el Persa* accompanies dancers Shahram and Anna Menendez. Please call ahead to confirm and be sure to mention that you heard about this through my website. Thanks!
*A local linguist informs me that in proper Spanish, the feminine and masculine forms of the word for 'persian' are the same. Hence Ramin el Persa and Soheila la Persa.
 (Monday September 10, 2001) Some would argue that without cante (flamenco singing) it's not really flamenco. I'll leave that for the aficionados to discuss. But for those of you new to flamenco here's what I have to say: if you're already enchanted by flamenco with only guitarists and dancers, you've only seen the tip of the iceberg. Add a very inspiring flamenco singer and you'll really see what the dancers and guitarists are capable of. Yesterday, yours truly had the pleasure of performing with singer Jorge Porta and his favorite guitarist Guillermo Christie (many of you know Guillermo as the owner of Flamenco Connection). Pictured from the right are Miguelito, Guillermo, Jorge, Jason Vera y Aragon on cajón and dancer Sara Jerez as she performed a Guajiras. Behind Sara you can barely see Arte Flamenco company director Natalia Monteleón. The performance took place at the Takoma Park Folk Festival in Takoma Park, Maryland. For more information about Arte Flamenco visit their website at www.geocities.com/jasdance (Thanks to Mijntje Aarts for the photo)
Las Flores de Virginia Beach
Did you know that many performers in the USA have either studied with Mariquita or with one of her students? In a quick search on the web, I found a few who happen to have their own webpage: There was an article titled "Fanning flamenco's fire: 85-year-old still passing on her passion for dance by teaching and performing" on page E1 of the August 7, 2001 issue of The Virginian Pilot. At the newspaper's website, click on "Archives" and do a search for "Mariquita." You'll have to pay $1.00 to read the complete article online. I'll be carrying the newspaper clipping in my guitar case, so if you see me in person, just ask. For more info, the phone numbers for Vicky and Mariquita can be found on my teacher page.
Flamenco geeks
It's no different from learning to dance flamenco or to play the guitar. If you analyze it enough, the mechanical side of flamenco can be boiled down to mathematical permutations. I see it all the time: dancers and guitarists practicing and adjusting rhythmic combinations to make them fit into the compás. The point is that people fussing over how to make the steps or falsetas fit into compás are just like people fussing over webpage code. In the end, we all create something wonderful. Admit it. You are a geek. A flamenco geek. Welcome to the club. Be proud! ;)
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In the photo she is joined by her mother, the legendary Mariquita Flores, 85 (right) with students Juana and Meghan Freeney providing palmas for an alegrías escobilla.
Dancing Sevillanas: (from the left) Meghan Freeney, Vicky, guitarist Andy Blackard, Mariquita; La Nicole, Monique Bermudez and Adrienne Freeney providing palmas. Behind Vicky is Juana.
See the code to the left? That's what's behind the webpage you're looking at right now. It looks cryptic, but believe me, anyone can learn it.
There are many different ways to write the code for this webpage. I have to write it in such a way that it displays nicely but also loads quickly. OK, so it doesn't always load quickly but that's because I usually have to lot to write about.