Get Your Guapa (or Guapo) On: A Performance Workshop!
FIFTH SESSION: April 13, 20, May 4, 11, 18 [ No class April 27]
New Choreography this Session. We’re perfecting & polishing our first ensemble dance piece, continuing to work on our palmas piece and adding layers to our new choreography
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.
Some tips for being a good performer
~ Practice correctly & with intention
~ Refine your skills
~ Be willing to receive feedback
~ Be willing to address – Ay! – emotional issues regarding yourself as a performer
~ Learn from someone with experience who is willing to share
~ Perform!
This workshop, which I am very excited about, offers all of this…and even more. I look forward to seeing the growth of each participant, to helping students reach their individual goals, and to the possibilities and development of the group as a whole.
The idea is this:
A workshop to help students develop and polish their skills, learn new choreographies, experience dancing in a group and solo (if desired), connect and dance with confidence, receive individualized feedback (along the lines of what one gets in a private session). Participants get to decide to be a part of a regular performance group or not during their time here. Either way, students come out as stronger dancers and performers!
So, wait what is this anyway?
A set group of dancers interested in:
~ Becoming more comfortable performing & dancing
~ Bringing their skills to a higher level & becoming more “polished”
~ Advancing their repertoire
~ Learning how to support others more strongly with palmas and jaleos
~ Having a good time doing something they love in a constructive environment
~ Opportunities (beginning in the fall!) to perform voluntarily [for now as we do not know what future opportunities will arise] in the community.
Who will it be?
Open to all interested & all levels (limited number of spaces available)
What if I don’t really want to perform? [Or I want to, but I don't feel like I could possibly be ready any time in the next century]
This group might still be for you! Even if you don’t perform, you will be preparing as if you were going to perform and therefore getting much better whether you like it or not. You will be able to participate fully in the class and reap all of the other benefits. One may even chose to “sort-of” perform by just doing palmas and jaleos at an actual performance…Your goal might be to perfect a particular snippet of what you learn and try it out at a juerga and get to feel really good about getting up in front of fellow flamencos, ay! So anyway, the idea of this goes beyond just certain set performances…
What kinds of shows will we get to do?
Dancers may want to start with the lower stress opportunities to give to the community (independent living/retirement communities) while gaining confidence and practicing performance skills. Serious students willing to put in the work may participate in select professional events with Laura and others.
Would I have to come to all of the shows?
No. I know this will be hard for schedules. Especially with the retirement community ones as they often want them during the daytime or early evening. Once the group is formed, we will talk about this; Saturdays and Sundays are possibilities if people want.
What happens during the class?
The class would be a special one (not open to drop-ins). In it I will set dance and palmas pieces for the group to practice and perfect, with flexibility to account for the number of people available for a given show. To start, group pieces will be the focus, with opportunities for solo moments within the set dances. Later, we can progress to longer solos. (Once we get a couple of solid group pieces down students will have the opportunity to work on solo pieces) From the very first session, dancers will receive personal feedback from me (as my private students do.) Dancers will benefit from their own critiques as well as hearing others’. Eventually we might move to critiquing each other, but we won’t go to this until an agreement is reached and the group feels comfortable with this idea. We will work on how to accompany fellow dancers with palmas and jaleos, perfecting technique within each piece, how to really “perform,” and how to meet individual goals.
What do you mean it’s like having a weekly private class?
Focused individualized feedback will be given to you to help you reach your goal(s). In class, I will give general feedback and those interested in/comfortable with public mentorship will have the opportunity to receive individual feedback. In addition I will work with each person to develop/discuss a goal(s) either prior to or soon after the first session. Maybe you already have a goal in mind, maybe you have several, maybe you have no idea. During a personal consult with me, either by phone or email, we will discuss this. I will help you formulate if need be, clarify, form, etc. a main goal to work toward throughout the workshop. Then I will work to help you get there through personal feedback and class design. One big bonus to group learning is that every critique an individual receives usually pertains to everyone or can remind us of what we do well and want to maintain. During the first class, I would like for us to share why we are here and our goals so that we can build trust within the group.
Will I have to get up by myself and perform for the class on the fly?
Noooooooooooo. As classes progress you will be given opportunities to dance by yourself for the others but this is only if you want to and this will not happen before I have taught a choreography so you will have material.
Would I get to have a say in what we learn/cover in class?
Yes! I do have particular goals for us, so you may need to be patient with your ideas, but I am truly open to this.
What kind of time commitment would it be?
We meet 1.5 hrs per week. In succeeding workshops we will continue to build upon what we’ve started, and who knows what direction the group will take. If you chose not to continue with the group, that’s ok! You will have learned A LOT during these two focused months that you can take with you and apply to your dancing and life in general.
What will the cost be?
$105* for the full 5-week workshop
* Participants of The Original Get Your Guapa On Group from Aug/Sept still receive the discounted price of $98
Can I take this class only and no others?
I strongly suggest and desire you take regular classes. A strong performer has as much exposure as possible, as much strength as possible, and is able to be confident with the group through repetitive exposure. With that said, if you can only take one class, which I understand is the reality for many, yes, this can be your only class.
Can I not take the class and still do some of the shows when I feel like performing?
Not through Portland Flamenco Events. This is because we must play as a group in order to become strong enough to perform well. It is our obligation as performers to be prepared and do our best.
When will it be?
April 13, 20, May 4, 11, 18 & 25 [No class April 27]
Fridays from 6:15-7:45
If you cannot make a class you may take one 30-minute “En condición” Class during the time period of the workshop
Will everything be exactly as you have described above always?
Almost definitely not as this is a new concept. Adjustments will be made along the way as the group evolves.
So really, what all do I get?
- Individualized feedback to help with your personal advancement
- Guidance in setting goals (and reaching them)
- Personal development within the realm of flamenco and personal expression
- Support in addressing your fears (and using them to your advantage!)
- To be part of a group of fellow flamencos that will support and honor your arte
- An incentive, motivation to practice, something to work toward
- Concrete performance experience … if you choose
- Refined skills and technique
- New dance moves!
- Stronger jaleos & palmas
- To learn from someone with experience who is excited to share all of her knowledge and skills
- And, finally, a LOT of fun.
Anything else?
Oh yeah: You will also get secret performance tricks and strategies for possible awkward performance situations (i.e. It is broad daylight and I am looking out at a bunch of blank faces waiting for me to do something entertaining; how am I supposed to get into that flamenco place?) and other things that might come up…
What if I feel like performing right NOW?
Ya lo sé, some of you don’t want to wait until the fall! Opportunities coming soon!
Why do you, Laura, want to do this?
For oh so many reasons, MUCHAS razones which you can read about here.
Hint: I am excited to use my experiences growing up combined with my study of flamenco over the years and my study and experience teaching to help you reach your goals, whatever they may be.