Two weeks of almost non-stop flamenco. Lessons. Practice. Shows. Shopping. Shoes. (Did I mention the shoes?)
Tonight we watch our last show (Eva la Yerbabuena... I have great hopes it'll be a good one), then set our alarms for really friggin' early in the morning, and hope to god the cab our landlord has arranged for us actually picks us up at 7 in the morning. Then, the Great Airport Saga will play out again. The running. The waiting. The chasing of luggage. Fun times. (Not)
Part of me is happy to go home. Part of me isn't ready to leave. And all of me is NOT ready for the vacation to be over. Oh well. I will still have an extra couple of days to recover. (HA! The way we've been going non-stop, recovery might take more like a couple of weeks!)
The blog's not going dark yet. I'll find an excuse to keep it up. After all, this is the year Alma de España celebrates 20 years of flamenco in Victoria. Visit www.recuerdos.ca to learn more.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
There's cheese. And then there's CHEESE.
Okay. Flamenco is anything but demure. And, here, in The Land Of, they definitely have some feria dresses that are so over the top for North American eyes, one might be tempted to call them borderline cheesy. Or without the borderline, in some cases.
But last night's show... Now that's CHEESE. Like that. Italics and capitals. It was the kind of "flamenco" you'd probably see at a Vegas show, prompting well-meaning North American talk of "flamingo dancing." I'm not saying the quality of the dancing was terrible. I'm sure those folks have spent hours and hours working on their... dancing (I wouldn't call it "art." Not the way it was presented).
Carolyn actually didn't mind one of the guys' dancing. I, on the other hand, did not like a single bit of the whole show. Well, maybe the colour of the mantones was alright. But other than that. I was mostly bored, and when I wasn't, it was because I was trying to keep from laughing because of the smell of well-aged Gruyere wafting to my seat.
I wish I could have snapped a contraband photo of the last outfit those poor dancers had to wear... The tiered skirts with each tier in a different bright colour were fine--showy and loud and flamencoey. But then. The poor girls were wearing little tight vests open just above the waist showing (no joke) the dancers' black bras. Then, white, fluffy mock sleeves protruding from the "vests."
Oh, I neglected to say this company is run by two men... Big shock, huh?
But last night's show... Now that's CHEESE. Like that. Italics and capitals. It was the kind of "flamenco" you'd probably see at a Vegas show, prompting well-meaning North American talk of "flamingo dancing." I'm not saying the quality of the dancing was terrible. I'm sure those folks have spent hours and hours working on their... dancing (I wouldn't call it "art." Not the way it was presented).
Carolyn actually didn't mind one of the guys' dancing. I, on the other hand, did not like a single bit of the whole show. Well, maybe the colour of the mantones was alright. But other than that. I was mostly bored, and when I wasn't, it was because I was trying to keep from laughing because of the smell of well-aged Gruyere wafting to my seat.
I wish I could have snapped a contraband photo of the last outfit those poor dancers had to wear... The tiered skirts with each tier in a different bright colour were fine--showy and loud and flamencoey. But then. The poor girls were wearing little tight vests open just above the waist showing (no joke) the dancers' black bras. Then, white, fluffy mock sleeves protruding from the "vests."
Oh, I neglected to say this company is run by two men... Big shock, huh?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The best show so far!
We've seen a lot of very strange (some might say, very original) shows over the past couple of weeks, ranging from the traditional flamenco cuadro (i.e., not strange at all), to some multimedia, conceptual-fusion-modern-artsy-shock-valuey concoctions that seemed to have no other purpose than to serve as conversation starters over beer and tapas.
Overall, even the weirdest of them all has had at least one redeeming quality, at least one little element that said, "yes, this is flamenco and this is why this show made the cut for this festival."
But tonight's show was... Wow. Tonight's show was modern and cheeky and playful and, still, it was traditional and elegant and classy. It was the most tangible proof that you don't need to do anything weird or completely off the cuff to modernize something traditional. And you don't need to modernize for the sake of modernizing.
Jerez-born Mercedes Ruiz is my idol. I got to see her perform when I was here last, four years ago, and it was a fabulous show. Very traditional, though. Her show tonight was also very traditional, but it had touches, elements of modernity that complemented it, enriched it, without being jarring at all. They were just there, and you didn't even notice them after a while.
Anyway, should head off to bed now. I still have classes tomorrow and the day after (and, yay, the choreography's taking shape!). Anyone curious about flamenco and/or about the Festival de Jerez should check out www.flamenco-world.com for reviews and photos and clips.
Overall, even the weirdest of them all has had at least one redeeming quality, at least one little element that said, "yes, this is flamenco and this is why this show made the cut for this festival."
But tonight's show was... Wow. Tonight's show was modern and cheeky and playful and, still, it was traditional and elegant and classy. It was the most tangible proof that you don't need to do anything weird or completely off the cuff to modernize something traditional. And you don't need to modernize for the sake of modernizing.
Jerez-born Mercedes Ruiz is my idol. I got to see her perform when I was here last, four years ago, and it was a fabulous show. Very traditional, though. Her show tonight was also very traditional, but it had touches, elements of modernity that complemented it, enriched it, without being jarring at all. They were just there, and you didn't even notice them after a while.
Anyway, should head off to bed now. I still have classes tomorrow and the day after (and, yay, the choreography's taking shape!). Anyone curious about flamenco and/or about the Festival de Jerez should check out www.flamenco-world.com for reviews and photos and clips.
Really, I'm NOT a shoe person. Really.
Those who know me, know it's true: I don't usually go out of my way to get cute shoes. For the most part, I wear simple, comfy shoes, even (or especially?) for work. Seriously, I own two pairs of heels. Well, three, if you count my chunky-heeled boots.
But when it comes to flamenco shoes... Well, it would appear all bets are off. Sadly, flamenco shoes are considerably more expensive than [some] regular shoes. And, happily, they're a lot more more useful to me, more comfortable and bring a greater amount of joy and hours of wear than a regular cutesy pair of heels will never bring [to me].
Three pairs. I've bought three pairs of flamenco shoes. I didn't need three. I needed one. One basic, goes-with-everything, black pair. Well, I got that alright. Then there were the dark blue suede with the hourglass heel and the double straps (see picture below). And the secret longing for a pair with crossed straps. Well, the longing has been satisfied. I am now the proud owner of a pair of burgundy leather cross-strap, extra high heel flamenco shoes (regular heel = 5 cm; extra high = 7 cm). They're so comfy (seriously)! Because of the higher heel, I was a bit shocked at how comfortable they were when I tried them on. Anyway, they're lovely, they're mine and they're my first ever non-suede flamenco shoes. (I'd post a picture, but my camera battery is charging).
I'm shopped out now. (But never flamencoed-out! Or at least, not yet). I might still get myself some funky material to make a new dress, but other than that, I'm cut off. Otherwise, my credit card is going to self-destruct.
But when it comes to flamenco shoes... Well, it would appear all bets are off. Sadly, flamenco shoes are considerably more expensive than [some] regular shoes. And, happily, they're a lot more more useful to me, more comfortable and bring a greater amount of joy and hours of wear than a regular cutesy pair of heels will never bring [to me].
Three pairs. I've bought three pairs of flamenco shoes. I didn't need three. I needed one. One basic, goes-with-everything, black pair. Well, I got that alright. Then there were the dark blue suede with the hourglass heel and the double straps (see picture below). And the secret longing for a pair with crossed straps. Well, the longing has been satisfied. I am now the proud owner of a pair of burgundy leather cross-strap, extra high heel flamenco shoes (regular heel = 5 cm; extra high = 7 cm). They're so comfy (seriously)! Because of the higher heel, I was a bit shocked at how comfortable they were when I tried them on. Anyway, they're lovely, they're mine and they're my first ever non-suede flamenco shoes. (I'd post a picture, but my camera battery is charging).
I'm shopped out now. (But never flamencoed-out! Or at least, not yet). I might still get myself some funky material to make a new dress, but other than that, I'm cut off. Otherwise, my credit card is going to self-destruct.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Gathering two of each animal species
Who made the brilliant assertion that "the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain"? 'Cause, unless Jerez de la Frontera is on a plain, that's a whole lot of bullpoop (sorry, Mom). I'm not an expert on Spanish topography, but I do think plains are flat, and the stone-paved streets of Jerez are a bit too slopey to be considered "flat."
Ramble ramble ramble... Yes, it's raining again. Hard. And I mean West Coast-hard. Worse, because there's no grass around here to absorb the water, so those lovely, quaint, stone-paved streets become veritable rivers (waterfalls in parts). But that's ok. It's still mild, it's still picturesque, it's still full of flamenco. And I'm still on vacation. So, who needs dry feet?
A happy knee, on the other hand...
Ramble ramble ramble... Yes, it's raining again. Hard. And I mean West Coast-hard. Worse, because there's no grass around here to absorb the water, so those lovely, quaint, stone-paved streets become veritable rivers (waterfalls in parts). But that's ok. It's still mild, it's still picturesque, it's still full of flamenco. And I'm still on vacation. So, who needs dry feet?
A happy knee, on the other hand...
Monday, March 7, 2011
Another good one!
Okay, the show on Saturday night was pretty good. Isabel Bayón is, in my opinion, a very elegant bailaora and her show seemed to have just the right balance of traditional flamenco and modern artistic touches.
In sharp contrast, the show last night was just plain weird. The only good thing about it--mind you, it was a very good thing!--was Joaquín Grilo's guest appearance... Man, can that guy dance! As far as I'm concerned, and Carolyn emphatically agrees, he stole the show. (Plus, bonus points for sexiness--Carolyn also emphatically agrees)
It's just such a rare, fantastic treat to see such good talented male flamenco dancers! It's a pity you hardly ever get to see that in Canada.
Anyways, on to tonight's show, which turned out to be my second favourite so far (the first was La Farruca, the second, Isabel Bayón)...
To think I hadn't even heard of the dancer, Olga Pericet. She's a tiny bit of a thing, clearly classically trained, but can she ever flamenco! It's not that the dancing in Saturday's show, for example, was not technically good... It's just... it didn't do anything for me. In the meantime, tonight's show just touched me, made me feel something inside. And that's what I love about flamenco... The way it can move me, stir something within... I suppose it's really the same with all types of art... But for some reason, flamenco somehow makes this more tangible.
Looking forward to tomorrow's show. Manuela Carrasco. One of my absolute favourite bailaoras. Can't wait! (I've been counting the days since I saw she was in the festival's program.)
In sharp contrast, the show last night was just plain weird. The only good thing about it--mind you, it was a very good thing!--was Joaquín Grilo's guest appearance... Man, can that guy dance! As far as I'm concerned, and Carolyn emphatically agrees, he stole the show. (Plus, bonus points for sexiness--Carolyn also emphatically agrees)
It's just such a rare, fantastic treat to see such good talented male flamenco dancers! It's a pity you hardly ever get to see that in Canada.
Anyways, on to tonight's show, which turned out to be my second favourite so far (the first was La Farruca, the second, Isabel Bayón)...
To think I hadn't even heard of the dancer, Olga Pericet. She's a tiny bit of a thing, clearly classically trained, but can she ever flamenco! It's not that the dancing in Saturday's show, for example, was not technically good... It's just... it didn't do anything for me. In the meantime, tonight's show just touched me, made me feel something inside. And that's what I love about flamenco... The way it can move me, stir something within... I suppose it's really the same with all types of art... But for some reason, flamenco somehow makes this more tangible.
Looking forward to tomorrow's show. Manuela Carrasco. One of my absolute favourite bailaoras. Can't wait! (I've been counting the days since I saw she was in the festival's program.)
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