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Miguelito's Photo DiaryFebruary 25, 2005 - March 2, 2005
Typical Wednesday with Miguelito (including Cafe Bonaparte) March 2, 2005 
Reporting for a 9:35am class on the fifth floor of Phillips Hall at George Washington University. It's officially titled "Federico García Lorca: Poetry, Theater and Music." I'm early for a change, but I still don't have time to stop by Starbucks for my usual tall soy caramel macchiato. Oh well. March 2, 2005 9:25am 
None of the other students have arrived yet. I grabbed my usual corner seat. I left to go to the restroom and splash cold water on my face to wake up. March 2, 2005 9:26am Today we finished reading through Yerma. We listened to a related track from Enrique Morente's CD title Lorca. It was a bulerías titled Fragmentos la Romeria de Yerma (fourth track). The introduction opens with very intricate flamenco footwork--which transported me to last night's show. It was a good feeling and helped me wake up a little. It's not the class that makes me sleepy, far from it. It's the early hour and many of other students (15 in all) weren't quite awake either! We have a major test next week, so it looks like I'll be staying-in for the next few days to study. 
90 minutes later, I got out of class and caught the metro at Foggy Bottom. March 2, 2005 11:00am (I was on my way to visit my brother Kevin at Ispirato, a boutique where he sells his paintings. It's so cool to have a brother who's also a full-time artist! We're an artistic family. He takes after my father who's a industrial designer. I take after my mom, who was a vocal major at University of Southern California. While in college, she played guitar and piano and made money singing in clubs.) 
When I arrived at Courthouse stop and got on the escalator, I heard some soothing guitar music echoing through the metro station. March 2, 2005 11:06am 
It was Thomas! He lives in a local shelter and sometimes plays guitar during the day for tips. For about a year now, I'd occasionally stop by and show him some rasgueados and some cool flamenco chord progressions. Today we jammed on some rumba for about 15 minutes. I had a good time and helped him make a few extra bucks. March 2, 2005 11:07am 
Eight-and-a-half hours later, Behzad and I arrive at Cafe Bonaparte to setup the sound in time for the 8:00pm show. The bright street lights make this pic look like it was taken during the day. March 2, 2005 7:34pm 
It's a tiny place seating only about 40 people max, but they really go all out to set the mood from the elegant red drapes at the entrance to the choice of downtempo lounge music CD's. March 2, 2005 7:35pm 
Leah, Carlton, Ceci and Behzad. March 2, 2005 9:15pm The program at Bonaparte consists of three sets from 8:00pm-11:00pm. For the first two, Behzad and I improvise rumbas. Carlton joins us for the last set when we do everything from bulerias to tangos to alegrías. 
The first thing this girl (in blue) said when she first sat down to join her girlfriends after briefly glancing at us musicians: "This is cool!" Yeah, we know. :) March 2, 2005 9:59pm (photo by Ceci) 
One of my strings broke, so I switched to palmas. March 2, 2005 10:00pm (photo by Ceci) 
March 2, 2005 10:01pm (photo by Ceci) 
I can still get by with one string missing, so I went back to playing guitar together with Behzad to finish off the bulerías. That's our friend Olga, to the right, providing palmas. Several times during the last set, Carlton got up to dance a few compases por bulerías. We even played some Sevillanas and invited dancer Ceci Walcek to join in. I tried to encourage Olga and her girlfriends to get up and dance but I guess I wasn't convincing enough...this time around. :) March 2, 2005 10:08pm (photo by Ceci) 
Close-up from the previous pic. Carlton was really "on" tonight. Can you tell just by looking at him? March 2, 2005 10:08pm (photo by Ceci) 
This shot was taken without the flash to give you a better feel for the coziness of this place. March 2, 2005 10:21pm 
Yeah we packed the place! :) Kind of reminds me of the many memorable nights I had at the tiny Rincón Español in Adams-Morgan which we packed on Fridays and Saturdays when it was DC's flamenco main hangout in 1997. March 2, 2005 10:21pm 
This shot is all the way from the back...which is really not that far anyway. Goes to show you how small, um I mean intimate, this place is. March 2, 2005 10:23pm 
March 2, 2005 10:24pm 
Lot of couples here. Georgetown University's The Hoya includes Bonaparte in its list of top ten Valentine's Day eats. "This hot spot is most appealing in the evenings when mood lighting and soft music set a romantic tone." March 2, 2005 10:25pm 
Carlton, Behzad and cafe manager Omar Shariff. Omar is a cool guy being a fellow artist himself. He's an actor--but remember his last name is spelled with two F's! March 2, 2005 10:26pm Cafe Bonaparte has their flamenco night usually (but not always) every two weeks. Call 202-333-8830 to make reservations and ask about show schedule. Las Tapas March 1, 2005 My show at Cafe Citron was cancelled last night (due to snow). So I was dying for my flamenco fix. 
I arrived early, so after setting up the sound, I had plenty of time to warm up. I'm sitting at the end of an empty bar. There are a few people in the main dining room. March 1, 2005 6:50pm 
March 1, 2005 6:51pm 
This is view from the bar, through the portal to the stage. Five minutes ago, I just found out who's performing tonight: Edwin Aparicio, Anna Menendez and...[dramatic pause]...Norberto Chamizo! March 1, 2005 6:52pm 
Anna Menendez performing alegrías. March 1, 2005 7:49pm 
Miguelito playing an introduction for Sevillanas. March 1, 2005 8:47pm 
Anna and Norberto dancing Sevillanas. March 1, 2005 8:49pm 
Norberto dancing soleá por bulerías. March 1, 2005 9:02pm I was really "on" tonight. Even the dancers commented how "fun" it was--their way of saying I did good. There was a point during Norberto's solo de pies when I was apparently doing something really cool with the rhythm because both Edwin and Anna both looked at me simultaneously and said something like "¡Olé Miguel!" Anyway, it was like last Saturday night when I was having so much fun, I forgot I was sick. We all had a great time and the audience noticed. My mom along with my aunt, a bunch of my mom's friend's and another relative were in the audience too. Mom was especially proud of me tonight. :) More photos from the show are coming! Stay tuned. International Student House February 27, 2005 I had planned to stay-in all day and get some rest to get over the flu, but I couldn't take it anymore so I decided to escape into the cold and check out a concert at the International Student House near Dupont Circle. My friend Aru invited me--she's the program director there. It was a balalaika concert and they were serving hot tea and some alcoholic-concoction they called "balalaika punch." I figured that two hours of Russian/Ukrainian folk music, warm drinks and good company would help me feel better and it worked! This isn't about flamenco or is it? The point I want to make here is: when what you do for a living is the same as your passion (as in my case), you have to a break every now and then and enjoy other art forms so you can come back to flamenco (or whatever your real passion is) with a fresh perspective. But don't just do it for the sake of getting away. There really is so much beautiful art out there waiting for you to enjoy. It's 12:21pm on Monday as I type these words and I'm supposed to check with Cafe Citron around 4:00pm to find out if tonight's show is on or not. I hope it's on. I've been performing in DC tablaos longer than just about anyone and what I do know is that you can never predict how these nights will go. Perhaps all the local Dupont Circle residents are stuck at home too and will want to go out tonight anyway despite the snow. Or maybe not. 
Dupont Circle. February 27, 2005 3:55pm Private gig February 26, 2005 This was an exciting evening for me: I did a private gig with a couple of good friends: Steve and Ginette. Steve Svoboda has done performances in the past with other groups but this was the first time that he and I worked together in a professional capacity. (I don't think he's ever had to play rumbas for almost two hours straight--his hands were fatigued!) And of course, having one of my favorite dancers, Ginette Perea, performing with us was an added bonus! Thank you Ginette and Steve--it was a blast! This was an engagement party that took place in the party room on the 16th floor of a luxury apartment complex in Alexandria. The main party area has a panoramic view of the Washington DC skyline--yet another inspiring setting for a flamenco show! 
Steve strumming a few chords during soundcheck. Show starts at 8:30pm sharp. The client was kind enough to spring for a eight-by-four sheet of birchwood for our "tablao." February 26, 2005 8:06pm 
I intentionally didn't use the flash here so you could see a glimpse of the skyline. If it was focused, you could make out the Capitol dome. February 26, 2005 9:22pm 
Steve and Ginette during a break between sets. (Notice the camera in her hand.) February 26, 2005 9:29pm 
One minute later...as you know I've taken a LOT of pics of Ginette over the past two years. Well, she finally got herself a digital camera and this is the first time she took a pic of me with her own camera. Welcome to the world of digital photography Ginette! February 26, 2005 9:30pm 
Sevillanas. February 26, 2005 10:00pm (photo courtesy of J. Kenny) 
February 26, 2005 10:04pm (photo courtesy of J. Kenny) 
All packed up and ready to go to another party. I know this picture is blurry but I wanted to remember the first time that all three of us did a professional gig together. There will be more gigs for the three of us I promise! February 26, 2005 10:54pm 
Steve, Ginette and I with one of the guests in one last pic before heading out the door. February 26, 2005 11:00pm (photo courtesy of J. Kenny) Next, we picked up Steve's girlfriend and ended up at a private party someplace else...  Steve and Courtney. February 27, 2005 1:01am 
They didn't have any flamenco music, but Ginette and I did a little Sevillanas anyway. February 27, 2005 1:46am It's like 4:00am now and just realized that while I was enjoying myself so much, I totally forgot that I was sick. So my flu got worse--I can feel it now. Oh well, you only live once, right? [Cough, cough!] I could've played it safe and stayed home and gotten better but that would've been boring. :) The flu is just a minor setback. Anyway, goodnight! PS Just a reminder: this Monday February 28th at Cafe Citron, both Sara Candela and Sara Jerez will be performing together with yours truly. It's going to be a great show. Life is good! :) American Dance Institute February 26, 2005 As much as I love playing for dance classes, I always dread having to go all the way up to the American Dance Institute in Rockville, carrying my sound equipment and guitar and playing for three-and-a-half hours straight. But once my grogginess wears away (from having to get up so early) and I start to get into the groove, my attitude changes and I almost always have a great time. Unfortunately, today I had to drag myself out here despite having the flu. Suck it up! This still beats a day job anyday. And the pay is good! Dancer Tamara Sol Flys was subbing for Anna Menendez today. 
Tamara demonsrating a leg-strengthening exercise that doesn't require music. (And no, she's not pregnant--it's just the way she's holding her skirt!) I got out of my chair to stretch my legs and wandered off for awhile to checkout the jazz dance class/rehearsal in progress directly across from the flamenco studio. Looks like fun! February 26, 2005 1:37pm 
Here I am accompanying the class as they learn an alegrías choreography. February 26, 2005 2:13pm To take this picture, I placed the camera on the piano and set the automatic timer. The reflection on the keyboard cover has an interesting effect. In the poetic sense, the dance is reflected in the music and the music is reflected in the dance. This would make more sense if I could capture the dancers' reflection against my guitar. But you get the idea. I can't help myself--my mind is on poetry. Professor Echeverria, the one who is conducting the course on the poetry of Lorca at GWU (that I'm taking), takes the flamenco dance class before this one. Unfortunately, I missed class this week and I felt compelled to explain myself. I was sick on Wednesday (still am sick now) and I had a noon-time gig on Friday. Valid excuses but I'm still two days behind in class. Gotta read and analyze Yerma! 
It was fun, but it's time for lunch! February 26, 2005 2:29pm Backstage at Strathmore February 25, 2005 Uh-oh...I feel a rant coming. Someone sent me a email yesterday criticizing me for not promoting the Strathmore Hall performance of El Amor Brujo. But I did promote it--a little bit. I'm not going to dig-up the proof. People who visit my website regularly know that I did at least mention it in briefly. I just didn't categorize it as flamenco or classical Spanish dance. It was one of those borderline decisions taking into consideration that the tickets were kind of pricey. In the past, I've had a few of my readers write me angry emails about concerts that I promoted as "flamenco" but were more along the lines of classical Spanish dance, like last year's Leyenda: Tribute to Carmen Amaya at Lisner. I like to think that most of my readers are intelligent adults capable of distinguishing between flamenco and classical but I didn't want to risk having someone blindly assume El Amor Brujo was flamenco, spend $78 on a primo seat and be disappointed. In this performance of El Amor Brujo, they used real flamenco dancers, real flamenco techniques and choreography with some artistic license taken to tell a story, but it was accompanied by classical (perhaps flamenco-influenced) music. My editorial policy is to avoid categorizing shows like these and leave it up to you my readers to decide.
"I went to the concert because I saw your photo essay on their rehearsal. Prior to that I didn't even consider going. The rehearsal looked really interesting and that is the only reason I decided I really would like to go. Additional input from you about Norberto's dancing also added to my decision, because I was not able to catch any of his tablao shows." "And last but not least - it was only because of your website that I even knew anything about the Strathmore show at all." "So if it wasn't for Miguelito I would not have gone - tell that to your critics." "And one more thought - the BSO and the Strathmore have plenty of money for advertising, the flamenco artists were not spending their own cash to get people to come - as some of us (ahem) have had to do over and over again. That's the type of thing that [we] really need...promotion wherever we can get it, and we need to use that promotional service wisely." OK...now that I got that off my chest. Let's celebrate the success of Friday night's performance of El Amor Brujo at the recently opened state-of-the-art major performing arts venue Strathmore Hall. I wasn't able to go. (In fact, I was subbing at the Friday night gig where they would be if they weren't doing this concert.) I used my connections to get official backstage access for my photographer Ginette Perea. (My thanks to BSO Public Relations Person Christy Crytzer) 
Dancer (and choreographer for this show) Anna Menendez enters the Green room for an impromptu after-concert party with close friends. Accompanying her are her husband Tom McManus and friend Roya Bahrami. February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) 
Richard Marlow gets the party going with some Sevillanas (I think). February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) 
Richard and Anna. February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) 
Dancers Norberto Chamizo, Edwin Aparicio, Sara Jerez-Marlow, guitarist Richard Marlow, dancer Kyoko Terada and costume designer Stewart. February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) 
Off to the right is flamenco guitarist/videographer John Boulet recording this special moment. February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) 
Edwin, Norberto (thank you for looking this way), Sara, Dana (thanks to you too) and her husband and Richard. February 25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Ginette Perea) Congrats to Anna Menendez and the whole cast! In case you didn't make it to the concert, here are some pics from one of the rehearsals at ADI. Las Tapas February 25, 2005 We finished up our second set at Casablanca much later than usual. Since it was packed with customers, it would've taken forever to get our usual free meal. So as soon as I received my paycheck, I said goodnight to the dancer and headed over to Las Tapas (a mere eight blocks away) to hang out for short while--to make up for not going out the night before due to being sick! 
Armand, Jose Oretea and Cesar Oretea. February 25, 2005 10:46pm I went to the bar and ordered a drink. You absolutely must do this when you see fellow performers to support their show. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating excessive drinking here. Order a soda if you must (and if you're under 21). Just order something! Regardless of the size of the crowd, if the business at the end of the night is bad, the show could get cancelled. As for myself, I should've ordered a red wine, for its antioxidant content (I need some for my flu), but I was in the mood for a beer. With all the walking I do, I'll burn all the beer calories anyway. Yeah, hanging out with dancers all the time does make me conscious of my figure--it's mostly for my health, really. I'm not that vain! :) Another friend of mine, swears by margaritas for preventing the flu, but you gotta drink just when you feel the flu coming on. Once the flu is at full-force, it's pointless. I'll give that remedy a try next time around. OK, enough about "healthy" drinking. Back to the show! 
February 25, 2005 10:57pm There was one couple that had a little too much to drink. At first they almost knocked over Cesar's microphone. But then they bumped into the pole speaker and almost knocked it over. Yeah, I said pole speaker (not speaker pole). It was one of those high-tech Bose Personal Amplification Sytem speakers. The pole speaker rocked back and forth in its base but didn't lose its connection. The verdict: it passed the drunk audience member test! 
This place was filled-up to capacity. I saw a few familiar faces, but mostly kept to myself. Didn't want to be persuaded into staying until closing time. February 25, 2005 10:58pm 
February 25, 2005 10:59pm 
February 25, 2005 11:00pm 
February 25, 2005 11:09pm 
February 25, 2005 11:10pm 
Just behind Armand, you can see Indira Terraza, a good friend of the band. She's a singer as well as a DJ for Radio Amor. February 25, 2005 11:15pm 
As the set came to a close, I took one last shot of the crowd. I said goodbye to Jose, Cesar, Armand and Indira before calling it a night. February 25, 2005 11:27pm Casablanca February 25, 2005 The place was packed tonight but unfortunately I didn't see any of my friends the audience and I wasn't in the mood to ask a stranger to takes pics for me during the flamenco show. So you'll have to settle for the following shots which give you an idea of what it's like to visit Casablanca. 
This is the entrance to the dining room. February 25, 2005 8:09pm 
These are the prime seats for the show. Don't get too comfortable, you just might relax too much and fall asleep! :) February 25, 2005 10:30pm 
This is the floor where the belly dance show takes place. Towards the end of the set, the dancer makes her rounds to all the tables. While the floor is aesthetically pleasing it's not good for flamenco. Chances are that it's slippery and it produces very little sound during the footwork. The flamenco show here takes place on a wooden stage that's hollow underneath--better for the sound. February 25, 2005 10:31pm 
Don't these pillows look so inviting right now? February 25, 2005 10:35pm Casablanca 1504 King St in Old Town Alexandria has flamenco shows every Friday at around 8:00pm (depending on the crowd they sometimes start as early as 7:30pm). Call 703-549-6464 to confirm time. Las Tapas in the morning February 25, 2005 I got a last-minute call for a school show at Las Tapas. So I called the regular Las Tapas dancers to see if they were available for a noon-time gig for Friday. But it turned out that they were all busy, so next on my list: up-and-coming student dancers. When the pros need student dancers for substitutes, they always call me because I have just about all the students' telephone numbers. It's true. Why? Because I'm always keeping an eye out for new talent and giving the more promising ones performance opportunities to help them develop the skills only gained from onstage experience. Interestingly, just about all the dancers you most frequently see performing at the DC tablaos today made their debut as student dancers with yours truly as the guitarist! 
Stage is all set. The tables are all set for the school group. February 25, 2005 11:31am 
Mariya Kostytska warming up in the upstairs dining room. February 25, 2005 11:41am 
Cecilia Terrasa practicing her vueltas. This would've been Cecilia's Las Tapas debut--she made her tablao debut at Andalucía Restaurant last year--which reminds me, Ginette Perea made her tablao debut a little more than a year ago on February 19, 2004 at the Andalucía too. Congrats Ginette! Both of these lovely ladies will be performing at the Crystal City Jaleo this Sunday February 27th. February 25, 2005 11:51am Bad news: due to the "snow," the school group called and cancelled at the last-minute. Ugh! We still got paid just for showing up. It's the professional way to do business. But we were all disappointed mostly by not getting to put on the show. The school group is going to reschedule, hopefully for next week! The least I could do is promise Mariya and Cecilia they will be the first dancers I call next time. Thanks ladies! NOTE: this was just a one-time special show. There are NO regularly-scheduled Friday noon-time flamenco at Las Tapas. But daytime shows can be scheduled for school groups, corporate events etc. Call 703-836-4000.  Photos taken with the Olympus Stylus 300 Digital Camera Text and original images ©1996-2013 by . Please do not republish content from this website, including text and photos, in whole or part without prior written permission. |
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Someone responded to my above comments: