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July 31, 2005
Taller Flamenco Seville, Day Two
With my nonexistent sense of direction it was lucky that all I had to do was follow a wall to get to Jerez Station. I didn’t risk it from the station in Seville to the hotel though. If I had not taken a taxi to the Hotel Alfonso XIII (where I’ll be staying for my first few days in Seville) I could still be walking the streets now!
The hotel is stunning; well appointed and luxurious and the staff are friendly, helpful and cheerful. I haven’t had time to look around properly yet but am looking forward to using the gym and the pool.
In talking to an old flamenco friend who lives in Seville I discovered that flamenco nicknames are given by others rather than selected by the performers themselves. It's apparently considered terribly bad form to select one's own...
Interesting, as I don't think this aspect of flamenco tradition has penetrated throughout all of the British flamenco community...
Photo log starts here: Seville August 2005 and ends here
perceptions
There are dancers who have obvious talent, discipline and grace and others whose performances just don’t come off. Good, bad or indifferent, it’s part of my job and my passion to write about them. At the same time that I'm struggling to find the right words, ones that exactly convey what I see, feel and think, I can't help observing myself.
There’s no doubt that the person I go with occasionally affects me. When I took my Mum, I had to fight the instinct to be super-critical on her behalf. The behaviour of one aquaintance during some stunning contemporary dance was so annoying that I struggled to enjoy it for what it was. Because he was bored one of my best friends decided to keep a running commentary for the duration of a flamenco performance at the Barbican. He kept it going because he was amused by my reaction to his announcement that the male lead had an erection (everyone near us heard him too). The announcement was unnecessary; it was difficult to miss, being the only notable aspect of the whole show! I’ve not invited either of them back.
Normally the reactions of my friends don’t change my feelings or prevent an appreciation of what I see. At “Apparition” by Klaus Obermaier with Rob Tannon and Desiree Kongerod one friend started yawning less than half way through but I still thought it was brilliant.
I enjoyed Flamenco Directo even though someone from my 'inner circle' announced that she believed flamenco would be much better if they didn’t stamp so much, and adored Rafaela Carrasco’s flamenco interpretations knowing that the flamenco dancer sitting beside me did not.
Despite protestations to the contrary, falling asleep did rather let me know what an old friend really thought of a contemporary version of the Four Seasons and I thought he was right. I spent ages wondering whether I'd have liked a Richard Alston production quite as much if I had watched it with a less attractive man, until recently when three quarters of a show left me completely cold despite the fact that I was with someone just as nice.
So having satisfied myself that I’m not unduly influenced by the people I go with with, I’m wondering about whether different seating might affect my perceptions. Should I perform some experiments? See the same performance several times, sitting centrally, left and right in Circle, Stalls and Gods?
Is such speculation pointless? Maybe; but it's fun, and if any of my favourites perform for a good run, I’ll be happy to try…..
July 30, 2005
Taller Flamenco Seville, Day One
With fantastic flamenco, open squares, tinkling fountains, stunning architecture, glorious hidden gardens, a huge variety of tapas and warm, friendly people, I take every opportunity I can to get to Seville, so I’m off again to cover Taller Flamenco's Estaciones Flamencas for Dance Today. It’s a really intensive flamenco course held just three times a year, comprised of thirty hours of dance, fifteen of Spanish, and four of Compás and Palmas (rhythms and clapping).
Monty; a fellow flamenco enthusiast who I first met about five years ago at an Escuela De Baile intensive flamenco event at the Latin Quarter in London, found me at the airport. He was on the way to Jerez for a short beginner’s course and it was good to catch up. Then, while queuing for the plane I met a couple of very interesting women and chatted to them throughout the flight. One turned out to be exactly the sort of person I write for! We got on really well and may even collaborate in the future. She gave me a lift from the airport to my hotel in Jerez and we went out for a snack and chat, which was a lovely, totally unexpected end to the day.
Photo log starts here: Seville August 2005 and ends here
Help 'Save the Children' and watch some great flamenco!
At the last meeting of Peña Flamenca de Londres, Walter Cruz was handing out leaflets for what promises to be a really spectacular event. We got talking about a flamenco show he is organising for Save the Children.
It’s going to be a real spectacular. Some well known and very respected flamenco stars have already volunteered, including (in no particular order) the guitarists Juan Carmona and Marcus Nand, Rupert Everett, Diego El Cigala and Joaquin Grilo as well as UK based groups. When I talked to Jo Lynn (she’s managing the PR) it sounded like the show was going critical, as more and more stars were contacting Walter to see if they could come over too.
They’ve promised to let me know more news as it happens. When they do I’ll blog it here. Meanwhile, there's information on some of the performers as well as the show at flamencouk.com.
!flamenco! in aid of Save the Children is at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 14th September. To book online go to the Royal Albert Hall website
or donate directly at Save the Children
July 03, 2005
Escuela de Baile School Show
I've just spent hours at the Escuela de Baile school show taking photos where I wasn't wanted and asking questions when people would have preferred to sit around and make themselves even more nervous... Will write more later..
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