Class Descriptions
Current Offerings: (View Calendar Here)
Flamenco Para Todos
All skill levels. Get ready to exercise your body and your brain. This class will introduce you to or remind you of flamenco technique then give you a chance to get into the dance as we move, move, and move some more. We’ll look at some flamenco basics: primary dance steps, body and hand positions and palmas (clapping) then put them together to form simple movement patterns while listening to great music. If you’ve had NO flamenco, this is a great class for you as we’ll go over the very basics and if you’ve BEEN DOING it for years, this class is for you as well as you will have a chance to reexamine your technique. We’ll start slowly with the technical focus then you’ll be given a chance to let loose a bit following along (i.e. dance even if you don’t really think you can or realize that you are) thinking about and applying as little or as much the technique as you wish.
Beginning Baile
Beginning level. Develops the skills and processes of flamenco then applies them to the dance. Incorporates both upper body technique, footwork, combinations and choreography. Pace is a bit faster than Flamenco Fundamentals.
Palmas Multi-Level
All skill levels. Palmas to accompany dance, cante, guitarra. Work with different accents, compás, and contratiempo and LOTS of fun playing with patterns. In other words, this is a time to both learn and practice funky patterns and groove with them as well as to learn how through different patterns and dynamics we can accompany and enhance the dance, singing and guitar.
Advanced/Intermediate Comprehensive Baile
Advanced/Intermediate level: instructor permission required. Contact me if interested. More demanding movement and rhythm patterns. Combination of body technique, turns, footwork combinations with more complex patterns, greater speed and choreography. Learn and perfect a dance to later use for a solo! Understand the different parts of the dance and learn how to adapt it to different situations and how to communicate to the musicians what you need.
Sevillanas
All skill levels. Sevillanas al estilo de Jerez. You may have learned them all before, but probably not this way. This multi-level series of classes is ideal for both those who know sevillanas and are interested in learning a new (and muy flamenca) variation and for those who are brand new! A class that is perfect for beginning students or flamenco dancers who never learned or want to brush up on their sevillanas. A slower pace helps build a strong flamenco foundation and prepare students for the regular flamenco courses. Many of the sevillanas steps are commonly used as marking steps in flamenco dances such as bulerias and even tangos. And, without a doubt, the study of arms and upper body through sevillanas can be transferred to flamenco dancing. In addition, many people enjoy learning sevillanas as there is a clear formula for the dance, no guessing about what to do when. (Of course, there is always room for creativity later on!) It is also fun learning to dance with a partner, and this helps the dancer become comfortable changing directions and turning (no partner necessary for class). The repetition of movement tends to deliver quite a nice workout as well!
En Condición
All skill levels. Finally a flamenco class that doesn’t break your brain! Don’t worry, we still get to do the moves, we just don’t worry really about how they turn out. Our main concerns here are having fun and exercising. Repeated routines, upper-body conditioning, non-stop movement, and no thinking necessary! Here you get a good aerobic workout and strength training incorporating flamenco movements in quick succession. This is a follow-along class, no need to worry about technique or choreography, only having a good time listening to great music and burning calories, ahhhhhh! (That being said, you do develop technique without really realizing it, learn simple choreographies, again, without really realizing it or meaning to…) We also dance to a variety of palos (styles), expanding your flamenco knowledge and understanding of the different compáses just by being present. No flamenco shoes in this class. Bring your sneakers!
Footwork
All skill levels. Footwork technique exercises – necessary and applicable to ALL levels. (this class is embedded into the Beginning Baile classes.
Get Your Guapa On: A Performance Workshop
Instructor Permission Required. Contact me if interested. You want to be a good PERFORMER?! Perhaps you DON’T want to perform but want to reap the benefits of learning to do so. This workshop is for YOU. It will equip you with the tools to perform flamenco and actual performance opportunities.
Castanets
Exercises to strengthen & train fingers, learning to play castañuelas while moving the arms through basic postions followed by choreography. A fabulous opportunity to work the brain and body.
Bulerias Solidification Sessions
Intermediate level. Play with the concepts studied in the Ins & Outs of Bulerias, continue practicing hearing what you need to hear in the cante – in cante that varies – and responding as you need to respond. The study of bulerías is an ongoing process, think of these sessions as a time to become more comfortable responding to the cante and as a time to allow things to happen more automatically.
Private & Semi-Private Sessions
All skill levels. Targeted sessions focusing on the student’s individual needs, wants, and abilities. For the student who is looking for rapid-growth, in-depth instruction feedback, advanced level focus, or who just enjoys working in a 1-1 format. Students may use private sessions to go more deeply into the material from a group class, to look at technical details or individual habits that require additional attention, to learn their own choreography, etc.
Other Classes Not Currently In Session/Contact us if interested
Flamenco Fundamentals
Introductory level. The basics! Learn primary dance steps, body positions, palmas. For new students to either prepare you for Beginning Baile or beginning students who want to review. We cover footwork and upper body technique focusing on correct use of core and supporting muscles and posture and positioning necessary to successfully execute movements. Repetitive, slow movements support dancers as they learn to combine steps in succession. We learn basic palmas (rhythmic hand-clapping) and how the baile (dance) relates to the cante (singing). This is the class for you if you are brand new or if you just want to slowly work on basic skills & principles.
The Ins & Outs of Bulerias de Jerez
Intermediate level. Workshop Format. To TRULY understand the structure of bulerías and how to respond to the cante. Leave this workshop confident in performing a bulerías by yourself, in compás, and with the cante
Bulerias sin Cante
Intermediate level. Workshop Format. How to dance and more importantly how to give incredible jaleos so the cante is not missed. If bulerías is all about the cante, what happens when there is no singing? You’ll leave this workshop ready to do bulerías anywhere, even if there is no singer, no guitarist, no music
Bulerías Solidification of it All
Intermediate level. This FINAL workshop of the Understanding Bulerías Series is about taking all of the material and concepts studied thus far and sinking it deeply into our brains. Here we’ll further enhance our understanding of it all. In other words, it’s about serious solidification so that we’re ready for the next series of bulerías workshops. [New concepts, new challenges, the fun never ends...really, it doesn't.]
Flamenco for Kids: Un Cursillo Para Niños
Kids and parents, all levels. Students will have fun learning basic rhythms, palmas (hand-clapping), counting, even some singing and Spanish, and, of course, the dance steps! While actively moving and developing coordination skills and playing around with rhythms, students will learn about the structure of the dance and how it relates to the singing. They will learn to support each other as dancers using palmas and jaleos. And, I usually manage to sneak in a bit of reading and writing to help them get there.
Create Your Own Baile: A Choreography Workshop
Advanced level. Coming Soon
Intermediate Bulerías de Jerez
Intermediate level. Unlock the mysteries of Bulerías de Jerez, and have fun doing so. Dancers will learn pequeñas coreografías as well as various markings, remates, and salidas and how to combine and use them in an improvisational setting in relation to the cante.
Multi-Level Por Fiesta Baile and Palmas
All skill levels. Some prior experience necessary. Bulerías de Jerez &/or Tangos. The goal is for the student to become more comfortable with rhythm and improvisation and learn how to dance with cante (singing) and how to accompany dance and singing with palmas. Dancers will learn markings, remates, and salidas and how to combine and use them in an improvisational setting in relation to the cante. Practice accompanying other dancers with palmas as well. Expect to be well supported as you become more comfortable in an improvisational setting, dancing on your own, and keeping the rhythm with palmas. Lots of laughter guaranteed!
Upper Body Technique Multi-Level
All skill levels. Polish and enhance your upper body technique while strengthening your core and arm muscles. Learn to better execute body movements you are learning in other classes focusing on correct posture and body/arm positioning. Repetitive, slow movements support dancers of all levels.
Flamenco Practice Session
All skill levels. This is a chance for students to practice choreographies learned in class with live accompaniment. It’s one-on-one time between you and the musicians with guidance, a time to take what you’ve been learning in class a step further. Dancers will take turns running pieces of their choosing (pieces learned in class.) When not dancing you will practice accompanying fellow dancers with palmas and jaleos. I invite flamencos of all skill levels to participate; it should be lots of fun, and, with regular participation , you are bound to see improvement in your compás, comfort level, conocimiento of the different dances, and improvisational skills!