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 Miguelito's Photo DiaryJuly 12, 2004 - August 12, 2004
Guarapo August 12, 2004 
Armand, Jose Oretea and his brother Cesar. August 12, 2004 11:10pm 
August 12, 2004 11:17pm 
Miguelito, Jose, Madiha and Brian. August 13, 2004 1:34am Andalucia August 12, 2004  Miguelito setting the mood with a guitar solo. August 12, 2004 (photo by Kevin Sloan) 
Fandangos de Huelva accompanied on castanets by Cecilia Terrasa. This is her DC area tablao debut. Congrats Cecilia! August 12, 2004 (photo by Kevin Sloan) (Cecilia filled-in for the regular dancer, Ginette Perea, who travelled this week to Maine where she was invited to perform.)  August 12, 2004 (photo by Kevin Sloan)  August 12, 2004 (photo by Kevin Sloan) Cafe Bonaparte August 11, 2004 Like I said before, this place has the perfect intimate ambience for flamenco...in other words, it's tiny! :) The response from the crowd was very enthusiastic and it's very likely this may become a regularly scheduled gig. Next show is on August 25, 2004. 
Miguelito, Gerard Moreno and Behzad Habibzai on cajon. August 11, 2004 10:34pm (photo by Juan Martin) 
August 11, 2004 10:55pm (photo by Juan Martin)  Behzad, Gerard and Juan Martin. August 11, 2004 11:54pm 
View of the cafe from the performers' stage. August 12, 2004 12:05am 
Exterior view of Cafe Bonaparte. August 12, 2004 12:20am Mario's Pizza August 10, 2004 Where to go out on a late Monday night (early Tuesday morning)? I had finished up my gig at Cafe Citron for the night. Although the party was still going strong at Citron, my friends Madiha Tariq and Jose Oretea still wanted to go someplace more quiet for a little flamenco fiesta. So we ended up in Arlington at a late night pizza place called Mario's. The other "night owls" quietly enjoying their pizzas nearby didn't seem to mind when we did a solea--in fact they applauded! 
August 10, 2004 1:10am 
August 10, 2004 1:24am Mt Vernon College (Georgetown) August 1, 2004 As part of George Washington University's Summer Scholars program, dancer Ginette Perea and yours truly gave a 45-minute lecture/demonstration on flamenco at the Mt Vernon College campus on Sunday afternoon. The lecture took place in the Hand Chapel, where I have previously performed with Ziva's Spanish Dance Ensemble, the Spanish Dance Society and Carmen de Vicente. This was Ginette's first time to perform in this venue.  August 1, 2004 (photo by Tim Soldani)  August 1, 2004 (photo by Tim Soldani)  August 1, 2004 (photo by Tim Soldani) Juerga at Julia's Empanadas (Adams Morgan) July 30, 2004 Yeah it's true. I didn't make it to the Sala Rociera flamenco party on Friday. Truth is that I had been playing flamenco gigs from 5pm until about 11pm so I had my fill of flamenco for the night. I decided to take a break from flamenco and hang out instead at Rumba Cafe in Adams-Morgan to enjoy some Brazilian music. We later went to Julia's Empanadas to get a late night snack before going home. Next thing I know guitarist Steve Svoboda and I are taking turns playing for our new friends and the party started. It's funny when you think about it. I tried to get away from the Sala Rociera but ended up creating my own little party. :) One of my new friends wrote: "Keep [up] the great work and this bohemian lifestyle. These kind of cultural expressions keeps DC soo unique and international!!!"  July 31, 2004 3:51am Andalucia July 29, 2004 
Miguelito starting the show with a guitar solo. Boots courtesy of Menkes, New York. July 29, 2004 8:24pm (photo by Matty) 
Fandangos de Huelva accompanied on castanets by Ginette. July 29, 2004 8:35pm (photo by Matty) 
Very impressive quebrada which Ginette seems to execute with little effort! July 29, 2004 8:40pm (photo by Matty)  Just for fun, I turned this photo 90 degrees clockwise. July 29, 2004 
July 29, 2004 8:42pm (photo by Matty) 
Carlton joins in for Sevillanas. July 29, 2004 8:54pm (photo by Cecilia) 
Mica joins in for the last copla. July 29, 2004 8:55pm (photo by Cecilia) 
July 29, 2004 8:58pm (photo by Matty) 
A very well-dressed guitarist: RJ. July 29, 2004 9:36pm (photo by Ginette) 
Carlton and Mica. July 29, 2004 9:37pm (photo by Ginette) 
Carlton singing a few letras por bulerias. July 29, 2004 9:38pm (photo by Ginette) Also present but not pictured in today's photo diary was Gina Perea, Cecilia Valverde and her son Matty. Latino Entertainment Night in Georgetown, Delaware July 28, 2004 Yeah, I was "working" on my birthday, but I was doing a show with one of my favorite dancers and longtime friend, Micaela Moreno, so I didn't mind at all. :) 
Emcee Kevin Andrade announces the evening's program. It was raining hard just a few hours earlier, but stopped in time for Latino Entertainment Night. July 28, 2004 7:23pm 
The performers before us featured young dancers from Guatemala accompanied on marimba. July 28, 2004 8:01pm 
You probably can't tell, but the wooden stage was wet and in some places very slippery. July 28, 2004 8:02pm 
Micaela and Miguelito. July 28, 2004 8:20pm 
July 28, 2004 8:21pm 
Kevin Andrade (radio host at WGMD and festival organizer) with Micaela. July 28, 2004 8:37pm  July 28, 2004 (photo by Jose Somalo)  July 28, 2004 (photo by Jose Somalo) Agua Ardiente July 28, 2004  After the gig at Las Tapas, Edwin, Mica and I went to Agua Ardiente in DC to hear Duende Camaron perform. July 28, 2004 12:55am Cafe Citron July 26, 2004 
Sara Candela with Miguelito and Gerard. July 26, 2004 8:22pm (photo by Kevin Perez) 
Miguelito and Gerard. July 26, 2004 8:26pm (photo by Kevin Perez) Usually I publish more performance photos, but you've seen Citron in the past. So instead here are photos of my friends--they inspire me. [Photo removed for privacy]
[Name removed for privacy], Miguelito and Juan Delgado. July 26, 2004 8:53pm (photo by Kevin Perez) 
My birthday cake (tres dulces). Yummy! July 26, 2004 8:54pm (photo by Kevin Perez) 
Jose Oretea, Juan, Anna Menendez, Roya Bahrami, Hiätte. July 26, 2004 11:08pm 
Time for my friends to put on a show. Zoya (pictured left) and Hiätte get inspired by some Bhangra-style club music: Mundian to Bach Ke by Panjabi. July 26, 2004 11:31pm 
I already introduced Zoya a few weeks ago. Hiätte is from Morroco. She's an amateur belly dancer who wants to learn flamenco. July 26, 2004 11:33pm 
July 26, 2004 11:35pm [Photo removed for privacy]
July 26, 2004 (photo by [Name removed for privacy])  July 26, 2004 (photo by [Name removed for privacy])  July 26, 2004 (photo by [Name removed for privacy])  July 26, 2004 (photo by [Name removed for privacy])  July 26, 2004 (photo by [Name removed for privacy]) Georgetown Harbour July 25, 2004 Finally, my childhood friend from Los Angeles, [Name removed for privacy], was able to enjoy some cooler weather here in DC. So I decided to show [Name removed for privacy] one of my favorite DC area hangouts: the Harbour. I also managed to squeeze in a little flamenco too! [Photo removed for privacy]
[Name removed for privacy] and Zita at Georgetown Harbour. July 25, 2004 10:22pm [Photo removed for privacy]
Enjoying ice cream and a little solea. July 25, 2004 10:41pm (photo by Kevin Perez) [Photo removed for privacy]
As we were growing up, both [Name removed for privacy] and I studied piano and accordion. She was better than me on both, but finally I can say I play better than [Name removed for privacy] on something: the guitar. Hehe! :) 10:51pm July 25, 2004 Cafe Ole July 23, 2004 Since the Cafe Ole gig is an outdoor show, it gets cancelled when it rains like it did last night. Not content to just turn around and go home, Behzad, Gerard and I got some dinner at Cafe Ole and played guitar for awhile anyway. 
Behzad and Gerard. July 23, 2004 8:38pm 
July 23, 2004 8:40pm 
July 23, 2004 8:42pm 
July 23, 2004 8:43pm 
July 23, 2004 8:45pm Woodrow Wilson Plaza July 23, 2004 I couldn't resist attending an outdoor flamenco show on beautiful day like today. Unfortunately, I was too busy enjoying the show to remember to take pics. So all I have are after-show pics where I'm hanging out with the performers. Oh well. :)  Behzad, Fernando, Juan and Steve. July 23, 2004 1:28pm  Steve, Behzad, Cecilia and Miguelito. July 23, 2004 1:29pm Las Tapas July 20, 2004 Today's diary entry is more personal: My birthday is not until next week (July 28), but I already received one of the best presents I could ever get: a visit from a childhood friend! I first met [Name removed for privacy] when we were classmates in the third grade growing up in Los Angeles--and, no, I will not publish my elementary school pics. :) We graduated together from Richard Gahr High School in Artesia, California but went on to separate universities. [Photo removed for privacy]
BACK THEN: [Name removed for privacy] attended my graduation ceremony at California State University Fullerton where I received a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance. Seems like I had that cocky know-it-all look on my face typical of recent college graduates. :) Well I did know a lot anyway--I took a lot of extra classes beyond the general education requirements for my degree: mostly geography courses and Russian language for two years. Seems I had a thirst for knowledge of other cultures which still continues to this day. May 31, 1991 4:31pm By this time I had already been playing for flamenco dance classes for a year at the Blanca Luz Dance Academy in Buena Park. Although, [Name removed for privacy] wasn't into flamenco like I was, notice in the above pic that she wore a flamenco-ish polka dot dress that day. Coincidence? The day after my graduation, I flew out to Washington DC to accept a real paying job accompanying flamenco dance classes at George Washington University taught by Marina Keet of the Spanish Dance Society. It was pretty exciting for me as a college graduate to have a music job waiting! [Photo removed for privacy]
NOW: [Name removed for privacy], myself and her brother Randy after my show at Las Tapas. I've known [Name removed for privacy]! July 20, 2004 10:07pm TIP: thanks to my website, [Name removed for privacy] was able to easily track me down. Another way to re-establish contact with childhood friends is to register at Classmates.com. Cafe Citron July 19, 2004 
This is just a test shot so that my new friend, Amy, could get used to quirks of my camera. Nice portrait! Shirt by Perry Ellis. Drink by Bacardi. :) July 19, 2004 9:17pm (photo by Amy) 
Guitarist Omar with Fatima. July 19, 2004 9:19pm 
Sara Candela with a surprisingly good dancer from the audience named Marina. I got to practice my Russian language skills with Marina before the show. You knew I speak Russian didn't you? Yeah, I'm a worldly kind of guy. :) July 19, 2004 9:27pm (photo by Amy) 
July 19, 2004 9:41pm (photo by Amy) 
Singer Gerard Moreno with yours truly and Sara Candela as we perform a Solea. One of the things that makes Citron cool for the flamenco experience is that the audience is right there in front of you participating with jaleos and palmas (usually out of sync though). July 19, 2004 9:45pm (photo by Amy) 
No matter what's on my mind before the first number, I almost always manage to get "in the zone" during the show and devote my full concentration to accompanying the dancer. July 19, 2004 9:46pm (photo by Amy) 
At the front row booth--the best for viewing the show: that's the photographer, Amy, on the left engaged in a conversation with a friend. Thanks Amy! July 19, 2004 9:54pm Arte Flamenco backstage at Baltimore's ArtScape July 18, 2004 It was one of those days where I didn't get around to taking too many pics. I didn't have the time to find a friend in the audience to recruit as my photographer for the day. This are the only decent ones that came out. 
Dancers Pam, Natalia and Alex in their Farruca costumes with Arte Flamenco director Natalia Monteleon. Not pictured, but also performing at ArtScape were dancers Erika Olander and Edwin Aparicio. July 18, 2004 1:59pm 
Guitarists Miguelito, Henry Jova and Kike (pronounced KEE-kay). That thing hanging around my neck is an MP3 player. The performers right before us were using recordings of classical music--beautiful selections by J.S. Bach including Air on a G string and one of the Brandenberg Concertos. But I had to listen to some flamenco to keep me in right frame of mind for the performance. July 18, 2004 2:00pm We gave a half-hour show that included Farruca, Solea performed by Natalia Monteleon, Tanguillos, Alegrias performed by Edwin Aparicio and Bulerias. It took place at the Langsdale Auditorium at the University of Baltimore. We had a decent-size audience considering the rainy weather. Arte Flamenco class and rehearsal July 17, 2004 
During class, guitarist Ralph Pemberton carefully observes the steps of the dance students to determine the proper accompaniment. July 17, 2004 12:15pm 
Natalia Monteleon's classes are packed for a very good reason: a good number of local performers started out in her studio! July 17, 2004 12:36pm 
Guitarist Juan Delgado. Did you know that he works as an astro-physicist at NASA? OK, it's not relevant to flamenco, but still very cool. :) He frequently joins in the rumba show on the weekends at Bambule. Another thing, it's his birthday this coming Monday. Happy birthday Juan! July 17, 2004 12:44pm 
Dancer Pam rehearsing for tomorrow's Artscape show. Like myself, she is of filipino heritage. Can you name another DC area dancer who is also filipino? Answer July 17, 2004 1:10pm 
Dancers Erika, Natalia, Alexandra and Pam discussing choreographic details for tomorrow's show. July 17, 2004 2:50pm 
Guitarists Henry Jova and Juan. Henry and I were the guitarists asked to perform for the ArtScape show, but occasionally we let local guitar students such as Juan and Kike (pronounced KEE-kay) join us in the rehearsals to learn about accompanying dancers and rehearsing for shows. July 17, 2004 1:10pm IMPORTANT TIP: Playing virtuosic solo flamenco guitar pieces is nice, but it means nothing to dancers until you learn a thing or two about dance accompaniment, a completely separate skill. If you intend to accompany dancers someday, the only way to get there is to spend time "learning by doing" in the dance classes. 
Talking through the show with lighting designer Lorna. If you're going to be performing in theatres occasionally or on a regular basis, you might as well make the most of it and learn a thing or two about stage lighting. It can make a huge difference in the impact of your performance. You don't have to become an expert: just become familiar with the technology and the associated terminology so you can communicate more effectively with the lighting designer. . July 17, 2004 3:14pm 
Despite the long afternoon, Juan and Henry each manage a smile as we wrap things up for the day. Time for a well-deserved BBQ lunch at the Red Hot and Blue restaurant nearby. Yummy! July 17, 2004 3:51pm Juerga in the Tenleytown metro July 17, 2004 After hanging out at Cafe Ole on Friday night, Ana, Tyler, Carlton and I headed to the metro. With about 15 minutes to kill before our train arrived, we did what comes natural with a group of dancers and a guitarist...juerga! 
Ana and Carlton dancing as I accompany them in Sevillanas. July 17, 2004 12:09am (photo by Tyler) 
Warning: by law, you're not supposed to play musical instruments while on the train platform or inside the trains. Just don't get caught. :) A friend of mine used to practice her castanets while waiting for the metro, and practically filled the station with echoes of clickety clack, until a very annoyed train station manager loudly broadcast on the station speakers: "PLEASE STOP THAT!" Yeah it was a little embarrassing but it was still better than paying a fine. July 17, 2004 12:10am (photo by Tyler) 
While we're at it, I should also warn you dancers against practicing footwork inside metro stations. The hardness of the floor can do you some harm, if you stomp a little too hard. Please be careful! July 17, 2004 12:12am (photo by Tyler) Changes in my performance schedule: normally, I perform every Friday and Saturday 8:00-11:00pm at the outdoor patio of Cafe Ole (weather permitting) with guitarists Gerard Moreno and Behzad Habibzai. But for the next couple of weekends, I'll be subbing at Thyme Square Cafe 4735 Bethesda Ave in Bethesda (301-657-9077) playing solo guitar on Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm-9:30pm. It's a cool summertime gig because I sit outside facing the Barnes and Noble bookstore across the street and the movie theatres on my right and basically give an outdoor flamenco concert in a busy area of Bethesda while passersby occasionally crowd around and listen. OK, I admit it: part of me sometimes likes to be the center of attention. :) Dancers: if you happen to be in Bethesda on a Friday or Saturday evening, feel free to stop by while I'm playing, and I'll be glad to accompany you by playing a Sevillanas, bulerias or whatever. Cafe Citron July 12, 2004 
Edwin, Amanda, Zoya and Miguelito. July 12, 2004 Zoya, of Indian heritage, has studied various dance forms since childhood, including the rhythmically sophisticated art of Indian dance, and plans to take up flamenco soon. I made her promise me she'll perform onstage at Cafe Citron by Summer 2005. Well, OK, at the very least, we can get her to do Sevillanas. Time will tell. (photo by Carlton) 
Barry, Edwin and Carlton. Notice the casually loosened ties. July 12, 2004 Edwin was kind enough to fill-in at the last minute when the regular dancer had to cancel. Thank you Edwin! 
Miguelito and Nora. July 12, 2004 (photo by Carlton) 
Ever since Cafe Citron hired DJ Helio for Monday nights, the whole crowd gets inspired to get up to dance non-stop. He evens squeezes in a few flamenco tracks by Paco de Lucia, Remedios Amaya among others. This is the same DJ that was at Bambule two or three years ago, when Bambule was a hot night spot. We're happy to have DJ Helio here now! July 12, 2004 
Not a bad crowd for a Monday night. July 12, 2004 Answer to question about filipino dancer: Dancer Marta Chico Martin, a member of the Arte Flamenco dance company, is half Spanish and half Filipino.  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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