Profile of a home practice studio

Whether you have professional aspirations or are just learning flamenco for the fun of it, there's one thing you can't avoid: practicing.

I know we all lead busy lives, but when it comes time to practicing, you need to be focused. And one of the best ways to accomplish this is to create a private practice space.

It can be as simple as piece of wood in the living room. Or if you're fortunate to have a spare room in your home, you can create something extra special.

Local flamenco dance student Kyoko was kind enough to allow me to take a peek at her personal home studio.

Come in! This is the view as we enter the studio.

She's got the essential wood practice floor. Her choice: birch wood from Home Depot (about $20).

Notice the skirts and hat hanging on the window. Great idea. Always keep frequently used items within easy reach.

Another essential item: a full-length mirror. A friend of Kyoko's had an extra mirror collecting dust in his house and just gave it to her. This probably would've been the most expensive purchase. Price is probably $100 or more.

If you're also lucky to have friend donate a mirror for your own studio, I would recommend serving a delicious paella lunch as token of appreciation. :)

The mirror is against the wall at a slight angle. It's supported by the wood floor. Considering how much the room vibrates from the footwork, I would prefer to have it secured to the wall for safety. But the mirror glass itself is heavy and seems to have remained in place.

Continuing clockwise around the studio, we come to the closet. In addition to the rod for hanging costumes, Kyoko has baskets for holding accessories such as castanets, earrings, etc. Baskets from the Container Store (about $10 each).

Also notice the use of hanger hooks on the window.