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Miguelito's Photo Diary/BlogJune 24, 2005 - June 30, 2005
Las Tapas June 30, 2005 Normally I'm at Andalucía on Thursdays but Richard asked me to sub for him at Las Tapas. The crowd was on the noisy side--there were loud conversations going on throughout the show but they made up for it by showing their appreciation through lots and lots of applause. I didn't get around to asking someone to take pics of the show. But this one girl from Paraguay had a special request for a guitar solo, but I wasn't going to do it for free. ;-) In exchange, I had her take a pic of me with Nora and Guillermo (see photo below). Afterwards, I went to her table and in front of all her friends serenaded her with that anonymous piece that every knows as "Romance." 
June 30, 2005 9:55pm (photo by Paraguayan girl) It was a good night. I had a good time. The dancers were Debra Belo and Edwin. I know Edwin's material although he's known to try out new variations on the spot---I consider that a compliment that he has enough confidence in me to experiment with new rhythmic patterns without warning me ahead of time. I've accompanied Debra enough times to become familiar with her style, but not enough to memorize her choreography. So I had no other choice but to really focus and try to catch on the subtle nuances in the dancing to come up with musical ideas that complement her choreography. It's more flamenco to do it this way, because when I don't know what's coming next, I have no other choice but to really focus and "be" in the moment. Technically speaking it's not that hard to accompany a dancer unrehearsed. It's mostly a matter of confidence--the kind from years of experience. I don't know it all. I've just done this enough times that I know I can handle just about anything that comes my way. Debra mentioned to me afterwards that it was easy for her to dance to my music because she knew I would follow her no matter what. It's 11:57pm on Thursday as I type these words. I'm still wide awake and I might as well go out somewhere in Georgetown. I should enjoy it while I'm still living here in Rosslyn. Sometime next week I'll be moving to a new place---you've heard about it before...it's called the Pink Flamenco (in Chevy Chase). Cool thing is that my room is connected directly to the dance studio in this house. Plus I'll be walking distance from Bambule, Joy of Motion, DC Dance Collective. I'm sure I'll discover other cool places in my new neigborhood over the next couple of weeks. It looks like I'll have my first Friday night off since I got back from Spain. Yay! Ciao for now. El Manantial June 29, 2005 It's been four weeks since I last performed here. The last show (two weeks ago) I couldn't make because I was in Spain. Anyway, it was good to be back. Besides the beautiful ambience this restaurant has, the staff treats really well and the food and desserts that they feed us are heavenly! 
Mariya and Shahram warming up "backstage" while we wait for the maitre d' to tell us when to start the show. June 29, 2005 7:48pm Sometimes this part of the gig is the most tiresome. Even though I perform almost everyday, I stil get a feeling of excitement each time I'm about to go onstage (performing flamenco is fun!!!). But when you keep this feeling going without knowing when you'll go, it kind of wears you out. Y'know what I mean? 
RJ Uebersezig tuning up. June 29, 2005 7:52pm 
June 29, 2005 8:09pm Can't be sure, but I think we started the show around 8:15pm and finished around 8:45pm. I opened up with a guitar solo, followed by sevillanas, alegrías (by Mariya), garrotín (by Shahram) then a group bulerías to close. (Sorry no pics) Afterwards, we looked forward to one of the perquisites of being a performer in a restaurant: free dinner! 
June 29, 2005 9:14pm Later, RJ and I headed to Aguardiente near Georgetown to hang out with fellow musicians José and Cesar Oretea before calling it a night. As we were driving into DC, I got a phone call and found out that the dancers at Las Tapas tonight (Thursday) will be Debra Belo and Edwin Aparicio with yours truly on guitar. Behzad's covering for me at the Andalucía. Tuesday with Miguelito June 28, 2005 It's about 12:31am on Wednesday morning as I type these words. I just got back from Las Tapas. 
At home: relaxing for a minute before checking email and writing this blog entry. June 29, 2005 12:24am Yesterday (Tuesday) I gave a guitar lesson. My student is a former athlete which is a big plus. He already knows about the repetition, concentration and discipline necessary to train muscles for high performance. That's the cool thing about students: I can pick up on their enthusiasm and even learn something from them at the same time. I had my camera with me all day, but I didn't take any pics. But you've seen lots of photos from the show at Las Tapas anyway. The dancers this evening were Anna Menéndez and Edwin Aparicio. We had a great audience...some of them came up to us afterwards and paid us some nice compliments--one of them even bought me a drink! In the audience was my friend Greg, who studies guitar with Behzad. Greg brought along a couple of friends, one of whom also plays flamenco guitar. There was also a large group of filipinos coming out to support a fellow filipino: me! Salamat! (thank you in Tagalog) Let's see who else was there? Oh yeah, there was a young woman taking photos during the show for a project she's working on. I got her contact info and hopefully she'll have some nice pics that she'll let me publish here. We'll see. 
Squeezing in some late night practice. June 29, 2005 1:05am I left my sound system at Las Tapas cuz I'll be back there again this Thursday (subbing for Richard Marlow). I think the dancers will be Anna Menéndez and Tamara Sol Flys. Behzad will be subbing for me at Andalucía Restaurant. The only pieces of equipment I took home were my microphones and stage lights cuz I'll need them for my show tonight (Wednesday) at El Manantial in Reston with guitarist RJ Uebersezig and dancers Mariya and Shahram Tehranian. I like it at El Manantial. It's the only place I know of that stops the food service during the show. Now that's class! Allright, it's 1:18am as I type these words: time for me to read a few more chapters of The Da Vinci Code Estela Velez's Performance Class at Karma June 27, 2005 Estela writes: 
Mandy, Katherine, Sonia, Karina and Ogei June 27, 2005 (photo by Maria) 
Sonia, Mandy, Ogei, Katherine, and Karina June 27, 2005 (photo by Maria) 
Sonia, Mandy Ogei, Katherine and Karina June 27, 2005 (photo by Maria) 
Karina, Katherine, Sonia, Maria, Estela, Ogei and Mandy June 27, 2005 (photo courtesy of Sonia) 
Sevillanas dancing, Estela, Mandy and Sonia June 27, 2005 (photo courtesy of Sonia) For more info about Estela's classes visit her website. Cafe Citron June 27, 2005 This week, Mariya is the in-demand flamenco dancer in DC. Last Wednesday she was at Tutto Bene. Then Cafe Citron and this coming Wednesday at El Manantial in Reston. As I went out to meet people in the audience, I discovered there were quite a few students of Estela Velez! 
Miguelito, Gerard and Mariya. June 27, 2005 8:15pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 8:16pm (photo by Keith) 
One of my strings broke, so I quickly grabbed Gerard's guitar. June 27, 2005 8:18pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 8:19pm (photo by Keith) 
Miguelito with the girls at the front row table: María (from Perú), Rosario and Romina (both from Argentina), Carolina and Veronica (both from Colombia). June 27, 2005 9:05pm (photo by Keith) Rosario is taking flamenco classes with Estela Velez at Joy of Motion. 
Mariya's boyfriend Keith and Jenifer Jaketic. June 27, 2005 9:09pm 
Jenifer and Miguelito. June 27, 2005 9:10pm (photo by Keith) Jenifer studies with Carmen de Vicente and performed this past weekend at the Gunston Theater in Arlington. Pics coming soon! 
Jenifer gladly joined Mariya onstage for some Sevillanas. June 27, 2005 9:16pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:17pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:20pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:27pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:28pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:28pm (photo by Keith) 
June 27, 2005 9:35pm (photo by Keith) 
Miguelito and Gisele Fernández (from Perú). June 27, 2005 9:39pm (photo by Keith) It had been long time since I last saw Gisele here. Last summer, she and her girlfriends Madiha, Lilian and Ivana came to Citron almost every Monday to see my show. 
Elizabeth (from England), Anca (from Romania), Christina (from Greece) and Miguelito. June 27, 2005 10:49pm (photo by Keith) Elizabeth is also studying with Estela Velez. While I'm at it, I might as well mention that my friend Sarika was here too. She's also another one of Estela's students. 
Gerard with his parents. June 27, 2005 10:55pm 
Gerard and friends. June 27, 2005 10:56pm 
This is so cool: they have a limousine for the evening--one of the perks at the condo community where Gerard's parents live. June 27, 2005 11:01pm The flamenco show at Cafe Citron is every Monday at around 8pm and 9pm. Call (202)530-8844. Sunday with Miguelito June 26, 2005 I spent the afternoon rehearsing with dancer Ginette Perea. It was hard to find some studio space at the last minute, but some friends of ours were kind enough to let us use their home studio for a few hours today.  It was first time that I touched the guitar all day and I was surprised how warmed-up I was already. Then again I've been playing guitar a lot--I've been performing and rehearsing every single day since I got back from Spain ten days ago! The studio mirror was kind of dusty, but I didn't mind. It kind of reminded me of Fazil's in New York. When you think about it, you have to realize that well-used flamenco studios are supposed to be dusty anyway--all that foot-stomping propels the dirt and dust on the floor up in the air. Since I was playing guitar especially well, I was really inspired. Also we were rehearsing just for fun--no pressure. Our next performance together isn't coming up until late July so we had a good time just experimenting with different rhythmic patterns to come up with some new escobilla choreography and music. Afterwards we grabbed a late lunch and I went back home to work on my photo diary. A lot of people sent me photos the past few days, some of which I published below. I'm still reviewing my photos from Spain (I took more than 900!) and trying to select more to publish for my vacation diary, plus I have to think of stuff to write which I better do soon--the longer I wait, the harder it will be for me to remember the interesting details. I added some of the Spain photos for my front page which randomly displays a different photo each time. Here are some them: pic 1, pic 2 , pic 3 , pic 4 , pic 5 , pic 6 and pic 7. Anyway, it's about 10:30pm on Sunday as I type these words. I'm going to watch one of the DVD's I bought while I was in Spain and practice a little before going to bed early for a change...I'm so fortunate to be performing almost everyday (knock on wood), so I can't afford to get sick! Sara Olivar Dance Group in San Diego by Omid June 12, 2005  Click on picture to enter special feature photo gallery. Edwin Aparicio at La Nacional (New York) June 24-25, 2005 You may remember the pics from my last flamenco trip to New York in January when my friend Jenifer Jaketic and I went to La Nacional for the first time to check out the tablao show. Edwin Aparicio performed there the past two weekends as a guest artist of Andrea del Conte. Congrats Edwin! 
Karen Araujo, Anna Menendez and Edwin Aparicio. June 24-25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Paul Fradin) You might recognize Karen because she used to perform in the DC area before moving to New York City. 
Karen, Anna, Edwin and Paul Fradin. June 24-25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Paul Fradin) Of course, we can never forget Paul. Besides being a great friend, he is known for hosting some of the best flamenco parties I've been to when he used to live in DC.  Ricky Santiago and Shivahn. June 24-25, 2005 (photo courtesy of Paul Fradin) Ricky is a dancer who has performed everywhere! I know he's been in shows in New York, DC and Miami but I'm pretty sure he's been in many other places. For more information about shows at La Nacional (in New York), visit their website. Wedding gig with Furia Flamenca June 25, 2005 This was my first gig with Furia Flamenca--it was a wedding reception in Potomac, Maryland. As is typical, we quickly rehearsed in the dressing room just before we went "onstage." I'm accustomed to last-minute rehearsals, so I was focused and alert enough to improvise on-the-spot and help put on a good show and have a great time. The audience picked up on our energy and responded with enthusiastic applause. 
Estela Velez and Sylvia Melecio. June 25, 2005 7:33pm (photo by Aref) 
June 25, 2005 7:37pm (photo by Aref) 
June 25, 2005 7:38pm (photo by Aref) 
Time for audience participation. June 25, 2005 7:41pm (photo by Aref) Usually at wedding receptions the client offers us some food, but unfortunately we arrived in time just for the cake, which was delicious, but we were starving and needed something more...so after the show, we headed out to Virginia and got some dinner at a vegetarian Indian restaurant--all the other customers were Indian so it must've been authentic. I prefer meat but the food was spicy and my friends know I like spicy so it was good! Summer festival in Delaware June 24, 2005 I love the summer: sunny days, warm nights, friends and flamenco. My dancer friend Micaela Moreno invited Carlton Ashton and yours truly to perform with her at a festival in Millsboro, Delaware. It was a long drive but it was worth it--Mica is such a fun person to be around, you can't help but smile and have a good time. Anyway, Carlton and I planned on arriving early but didn't expect to encounter beach-bound traffic around noon on a Friday so we arrived a little late. 
Carlton and Mica. June 24, 2005 2:56pm 
Mica practicing her footwork. June 24, 2005 2:58pm 
This is the view from behind the stage as the performer before us was finishing up. June 24, 2005 3:00pm 
Yeah it's impressive looking equipment, but what's more impressive is engineer workin' the console. Within a few seconds of me playing the guitar, he turned a few knobs and made me sound so beautiful that I couldn't help but have a great time! June 24, 2005 3:01pm Believe it or not, Carlton actually put a hole in the plywood floor during the fin de fiesta bulerias. It was just large enough to get his heel stuck for a moment, but like a pro he was able to free himself, quickly focus back on the show and finish the dance. I was especially impressed by the professionalism of the festival staff. They were friendly and helpful, were strict about the performance schedule (and they should be), had cold water ready (it was a hot day) and an air-conditioned trailer for our dressing room. In my years of experience, I've come to expect chaos and sub-standard performance conditions at festivals, so I was very pleasantly surprised! The real pros are the ones who can put on a consistently good show no matter what the conditions. Of course, if we're in Delaware and it's summertime we had to go the beach, so afterwards we headed over to Rehoboth got some dinner and partied as usual at Club Jewell until 3am. :-) The following day, Carlton and I had to get back to DC early for some weddings. Oh well, the next time we have a gig in Delaware we'll have to stay the whole weekend and spend the day at the beach and bring a bunch of friends. Who wants to come?
Photos taken with the Olympus Stylus 300 Digital Camera
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(yeah I'm finally getting around to reading it) and practice a little before going to bed. Goodnight!
