Flamenco Dancers

Mercedes Ruíz ~ The Second Series: Part 1

In April I interviewed Mercedes for this second series. At the time of the interview she was finally feeling better after ten days of being sick, really sick. It’s been waiting to be published. And now that I’m here in Jerez, it feels like the right time. Especially after last night. When Mercedes danced in a [...]

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Ricardo López is a Regular Guy

Sometimes we joke around in class about Ricardo Not behind his back, don’t worry. We do it both when he’s here and when he’s not. We pretend we’re him, and we walk around with intense looks on our faces, vigilando. Other times we just pretend he’s there in the room with us, looking like he [...]

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I’ve Already Learned Something…and I wasn’t expecting this

Some good things have happened since my trip began. And I’ve already learned something very important. Os cuento… On Monday I went to the Portland airport. I befriended the woman standing behind me in the security line who, as it turns out, I already knew. We talked and I told her about my trip. She [...]

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Viernes con una Letra | Matilde Coral

I found this letra in the Antología del Baile Flamenco. Gracias, Angel por haberme regalado este libro. It was written for Matilde Coral. She was one of my first teachers. I really ought to tell you about my first encounter with her. In Triana, on La Calle Castilla, at her academy. I had no idea who [...]

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I am a Person Who Does Her Own Thing – Mercedes Ruíz | The Fifth Interview

Ok, so it’s the final interview with Mercedes…for now that is. And today we get into some of the nitty-gritty. Earlier Mercedes told me that she encountered a lot of problems on her way to becoming a flamenco dancer. This got me thinking. Wondering about those obstacles and what they were. But more importantly, wondering about [...]

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Your Questions Answered … Mercedes Ruíz | The Fourth Interview

This month I’ve been talking to Mercedes Ruíz. And asking her about lots of stuff. Today the questions came from you, the readers. Thanks for these. Getting Personal Mercedes had some beautiful things to say about how motherhood has affected her dancing. You can read about it here. This following series of questions came [...]

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Students, for you… Mercedes Ruíz | The Third Interview – La Tercera Entrevista

And the third installment of interviews with Mercedes. If you missed our previous conversations, you can find one here and the other one one here. Today we find out about her family’s response to her dancing. She comes from a non-flamenco family. And we learn why she loves to teach. Enjoy. A lone flamenca in the [...]

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It’s here… Mercedes Ruíz | The second interview – La segunda entrevista

Yesterday Mercedes Ruíz shared her thoughts on being a soloist, how her life and dancing after becoming a mother, and what it’s like for her to work with her husband. Today we learn a bit more. Oh, and that strange thing that absolutely must do each time before getting on stage that I promised to share [...]

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How to know what to dance and when to dance it

Many of us learn and study long choreographies. They are challenging and, as I said, long. Then we learn short snippets. Which, by the way, are also challenging. So, how to know when to dance what? I’ll get to this soon. But first… We’ve been doing a lot of tangos this year. Mostly in a [...]

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How to Survive a Flamenco Festival

As most of you know I went to Albuquerque earlier this month to Flamenco Festival Internacional. Festivals are intense. Intense can be good, but it can also be, well, fuerte. Preparation can help. So… 1. Choose a festival hosting artists you want to see and learn from. Artists I admire = inspiration and motivation. Sure, [...]

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