Thoughts from the Community

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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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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There Were Things Learned in 2011

Ok, so, I put this question up on the white board in the studio in mid-December… What can you do now that you couldn’t do at the beginning of the year?  [little or BIG] And someone said this, “I can’t even remember the beginning of the year.” So I reworded the question: “What can you [...]

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Guest Post – Embracing Bulerías: Challenge and Progress in Andalucía

Below Diana Welch, Oregon photographer, writer, videographer and flamenca shares one of her experiences with bulerías last Spring during her time in Jerez.  Reading her story brought back memories of practicing with her in the living room, kitchen, wherever we could make it work.  I also remember that she took a bus for about an [...]

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You – Sí, Tú – And Why You Do This Flamenco Thing

I was a junior in college.  I was studying Spanish.  Class was a struggle for me to say the least. The professor spoke only in Spanish, and I usually felt like a Charlie Brown adult was mwoah mwoah mwoahing at me all of the time.  I can’t even remember her name, the teacher’s.  I just [...]

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Guest Post: Community – Passion or Technique?

GUEST POST: Below is an article written earlier this year by Diana Bright,  flamenco cantaora (and singer of many genres) and long-time member of the Portland arts community: February 5, 2011 I recently received a letter from a friend of mine that I have known in the arts world for about 8 or so years. [...]

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Ricardo López – An Interview

This interview took place in the fall of 2010 when Ricardo was here in Portland with us. October 31, 2010 Ricardo, why did you begin dancing flamenco? Because I enjoyed it and had a good time doing it. From the time I was little I was interested in dancing, anything and everything. It’s not so [...]

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Guest Post – The Mystique of Jerez

GUEST POST This article comes to you from Diana Welch, Oregon photographer, writer, videographer and flamenca. Reflections on her time in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain in April.   May 31, 2011 When I first heard that Laura was going to be in Spain for a few months, I wanted to be there, too. Images [...]

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Guest Post: Jerez Flamenco Festival – A Great Time in a Sweet Town

GUEST POST: Reflections from the experiences of Portland flamenco dancer Jackie Howard Kraybill, “La Juanita,” at the Festival de Jerez in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. April 1, 2011 Reflecting back on our time in Jerez for the 2011 Flamenco Festival, it is hard to decide what was most important in making it such a [...]

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Sin Miedo

GUEST POST:  Below read reflections from a flamenco workshop with Manuel Liñan at the 2011 Festival de Jerez from Heather Williams, flamenca from Portland: March 1, 2011  I’m writing this from Jerez, Spain, where I’m making my first important flamenco pilgrimage: the annual Festival Flamenco de Jerez; an opportunity to study baile with the best

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