Not much to say today. It being Sunday, the town was a bit on the Victoriaesque side (i.e., deadish) for the first half of the day, with most businesses (even grocery stores and markets) closed for the day.
The class I'm taking this week is getting pretty good, with lots of cool little footworky things and nifty moves. I may steal some of them--if by some miracle I'm able to remember them. Fortunately, Carolyn heeded the advice of our Victoria teacher, Veronica, and rented out some studio space here so we can both over what we learn in our classes. I'm guessing that won't help with sore toes... but it might help with choreography retention!
The show tonight was a flamenco ballet rendition of La Celestina, conceived by a Japanese dancer whose name escapes me right now, and choreographed by Joaquin Grilo. I found it... interesting. More balletic than flamenco, though. The live music and song stole the show, as far as I'm concerned. Big production, great costumes and scenery, technically impeccable dancing... And yet, other than a huge ole for the musicians and singers, I've got nothing more to say about the show...
Probably a matter of personal taste, but I like my flamenco... well... flamenco.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Return to Jerez
The bad part about travelling, is travelling itself. There's the airports (five to get to Jerez), the airplanes (four), the hours in transit (countless). And the sense of doubt and anticipation of whether or not you'll get to see your luggage again.
Take my experience just last night, in Madrid: my travel buddy, Carolyn, and I both checked in at the same time in Victoria. We were both assured our bags (one small suitcase each) would be checked through to Madrid. So, three airplanes (Air Canada, British Airways, Iberia) and four airports (Victoria, Vancouver, London, Madrid) later, we're waiting at conveyor belt #10 at the Madrid airport. We wait. And wait. And wait. No suitcases showed up--except for a lone black hard-case that's going round and round and round... Then suitcases start to pop up. In threes and fours, with looong intervals in between. The last batch sees Carolyn's green suitcase materialize, so naturally, you'd imagine, mine should be close behind. Well. No.
Turns out Iberia (or the Madrid airport authority) sent some suitcases from our flight to conveyor belt #8. So, off we go, looking for my bag. No luck. I go to the Iberia customer service desk and they check my luggage bag... Only to let me know that, yes, it's in Madrid, and yes, it's been unloaded from the right plane... And sent to conveyor belt #6.
Go figure.
At least my poor little blue bag made it after all.
Anyway...
So, I'm back in Jerez. My friend Carolyn and me. We're staying at a tiny apartment on Calle Palma, just around the corner from the Centro Andaluz del Flamenco, and walking distance to pretty much everywhere we need to go for the Festival de Jerez. I'll take some photos and upload them later.
It's so nice to be back in Jerez! Still having a little trouble getting back my bearings, but it's only been a day. Most of the places and streets around the Teatro Villamarta are super clear in my memory. (For those of you who don't know, the Teatro Villamarta is the main sponsor of the Festival de Jerez [or a major one, anyway]. It has a studio, where some of the classes and workshops take place, and, if you're taking classes during the festival, you have a free pass to all the shows taking place in the evening at the Villamarta.)
Not much to say about classes just yet, as we only had our first today. My feet already hurt, but I'm pleased to say I already seem to be getting more out of it than I did last time. More on this as the classes progress...
The show tonight was La Farruca's Homenaje a los Grandes. What an amazing dancer. And her little son, "El Carpeta," is just... So ridiculously talented! Dunno whether to feel inspired or depressed when I see the way these people dance. Talent, energy, feeling... Sigh.
Other than that, we walked a lot, shopped for groceries (inexplicably fun when you're "living" far from home for a bit) and walked some more. To sign off for today, here's a picture of the Jerez Cathedral and bell tower.
Until next time!
Take my experience just last night, in Madrid: my travel buddy, Carolyn, and I both checked in at the same time in Victoria. We were both assured our bags (one small suitcase each) would be checked through to Madrid. So, three airplanes (Air Canada, British Airways, Iberia) and four airports (Victoria, Vancouver, London, Madrid) later, we're waiting at conveyor belt #10 at the Madrid airport. We wait. And wait. And wait. No suitcases showed up--except for a lone black hard-case that's going round and round and round... Then suitcases start to pop up. In threes and fours, with looong intervals in between. The last batch sees Carolyn's green suitcase materialize, so naturally, you'd imagine, mine should be close behind. Well. No.
Turns out Iberia (or the Madrid airport authority) sent some suitcases from our flight to conveyor belt #8. So, off we go, looking for my bag. No luck. I go to the Iberia customer service desk and they check my luggage bag... Only to let me know that, yes, it's in Madrid, and yes, it's been unloaded from the right plane... And sent to conveyor belt #6.
Go figure.
At least my poor little blue bag made it after all.
Anyway...
So, I'm back in Jerez. My friend Carolyn and me. We're staying at a tiny apartment on Calle Palma, just around the corner from the Centro Andaluz del Flamenco, and walking distance to pretty much everywhere we need to go for the Festival de Jerez. I'll take some photos and upload them later.
It's so nice to be back in Jerez! Still having a little trouble getting back my bearings, but it's only been a day. Most of the places and streets around the Teatro Villamarta are super clear in my memory. (For those of you who don't know, the Teatro Villamarta is the main sponsor of the Festival de Jerez [or a major one, anyway]. It has a studio, where some of the classes and workshops take place, and, if you're taking classes during the festival, you have a free pass to all the shows taking place in the evening at the Villamarta.)
Not much to say about classes just yet, as we only had our first today. My feet already hurt, but I'm pleased to say I already seem to be getting more out of it than I did last time. More on this as the classes progress...
The show tonight was La Farruca's Homenaje a los Grandes. What an amazing dancer. And her little son, "El Carpeta," is just... So ridiculously talented! Dunno whether to feel inspired or depressed when I see the way these people dance. Talent, energy, feeling... Sigh.
Other than that, we walked a lot, shopped for groceries (inexplicably fun when you're "living" far from home for a bit) and walked some more. To sign off for today, here's a picture of the Jerez Cathedral and bell tower.
Until next time!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Festival de Jerez... Here I go!
It's been four years, almost to the date, since I was last in Spain. Four years and a week, actually. And four years and two weeks since I was in flamenco Mecca, Jerez de la Frontera, for the annual Festival de Jerez, a two-week flamenco extravaganza for the hard-core flamenco addict...uhm... fan.
I always figured I'd go back... I just didn't know when. But the stars seemed to align so that I could make the pilgrimage again in 2011. Sure, I technically can't afford it, but... what the heck? Right?
In any case, the plane ticket and my dance courses have been paid for since last fall, as well as half of my accommodations. So, I suppose the bulk of the expense has already been done and I shouldn't stress out about it!
Now, in a little over a week, my flamenco buddy Carolyn and I will be on a plane to cross the Atlantic. We'll be sharing an apartment, which is a huge plus! I'm so looking forward to having an actual fridge and kitchen, so I don't have to live on tortilla every day for two friggin' weeks... 'Cause, southern Spain? Not so friendly for the veggie-headed folk...
Anyway... Keeping a blog will be an experiment, and I can't even promise regular updates, as I'll be pretty much steeping in flamenco classes, shows and peñas for the bulk of my trip... But I figured I'd give it a shot. It will keep me writing throughout my flamenco adventure, and keep my peeps in the loop!
The countdown's on, then!
I always figured I'd go back... I just didn't know when. But the stars seemed to align so that I could make the pilgrimage again in 2011. Sure, I technically can't afford it, but... what the heck? Right?
In any case, the plane ticket and my dance courses have been paid for since last fall, as well as half of my accommodations. So, I suppose the bulk of the expense has already been done and I shouldn't stress out about it!
Now, in a little over a week, my flamenco buddy Carolyn and I will be on a plane to cross the Atlantic. We'll be sharing an apartment, which is a huge plus! I'm so looking forward to having an actual fridge and kitchen, so I don't have to live on tortilla every day for two friggin' weeks... 'Cause, southern Spain? Not so friendly for the veggie-headed folk...
Anyway... Keeping a blog will be an experiment, and I can't even promise regular updates, as I'll be pretty much steeping in flamenco classes, shows and peñas for the bulk of my trip... But I figured I'd give it a shot. It will keep me writing throughout my flamenco adventure, and keep my peeps in the loop!
The countdown's on, then!
10 days till we land in Jerez.
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