For Students

4 Simple Tips to Becoming Better at Flamenco

Ricardo was here this spring…in case you hadn’t heard.  He was constantly giving us tips during the workshops.  Many great tips.  I’ve shared some of them and I’ll surely share more. But perhaps just as helpful were the little phrases I heard him say over and over again. He didn’t really intend them as tips. [...]

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Before, During, and After

A lot of things go through my head around workshop time, which can drive me kind of crazy. So, to help deal with overwhelm that comes about before, during & after a workshop with a fabulously amazing artist I try to remember that there are certain things I can do to make it easier…   Antes [...]

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A Show That Isn’t a Show

As you know, one of my most favorite things when taking a workshop is the energy it provides.  It is what led me to start this business. But the watching is wonderful too. Because sure, as students we dance, (A LOT, I know, that’s what we’re there to do) but we are given little private performances [...]

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Viernes con una Letra | más fandangos

It’s another fandangos verse from Mayte Martín’s Conquero, which we are dancing to in Ricardo’s beginning workshop.   Here is Antonio Rengel singing it.  It seems he may have written it, but I am not sure.  If you know, please let me know! Olas de la mar el calma conchas llenas de lunares si me dieras tus amores [...]

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What do you want from it?

My friend Shyiang from Vancouver has taken LOTS of workshops (even some here in Portland, from Ricardo)  She told me once that she would usually just learn the choreographies and then let them go.  Her friends would wonder what was wrong with her.  They would ask her how she could justify spending the money without even bothering [...]

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Los nervios

Often times people tend to get a bit nervous around workshop time.  This is normal. Workshops can be quite scary.  (Especially if you’re anything like me.)  We are getting ready to study with a professional who tours the world dancing in the most prestigious flamenco festivals.  We are just normal people from the United States.  Problematic [...]

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Ricardo’s Take

As you know, Ricardo is coming, so I thought you might like to get his take on the student’s role in a workshop.  And, yes, he himself still enjoys taking workshops. And why wouldn’t he? They are incredibly fun They provide a chance to study with someone new And a format for learning new things [...]

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Listen

Lately lots of students have been asking for recommendations for music. I love this question. Because you CANNOT do flamenco without appreciating the music. No se puede.   Impossible. And listening.  Listening is so great.  Listening to wonderful songs over and over again Gives me inspiration. Puts the compás inside of me. Makes me feel. [...]

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Viernes con una Letra | No me pegues bocaítos…

So, the second time Ricardo came, back in 2007, he taught us some tangos.  And this was one of the letras he set our dance to… No me pegues bocaítos Que tú me haces cardenales Cuando yo voy a mi casa A mí me los nota mi madre Tradcional   Don’t bite me because you [...]

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What Three Dancers Had to Say

A couple of weeks ago we had a performance.  Abby, Julie, and Kikuyo, three members of the PFE Performance Group took part and danced fabulously, absolutely fabulously.  I was so happy to be on stage with them, dancing together, supporting one another.  I loved seeing how they each embraced their performance selves because they really [...]

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