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Ricardo López

Before, During, and After

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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

Think about what I want to get from it.

Remind myself that the teacher is just a regular person, and, if it's someone I'm bringing, that this person is nice. Being nice...a requirement for giving a workshop here. Phew.

Remind myself that this is an amazing and once in a lifetime experience.

Get in flamenco form. [Go to class, practice, stuff like that...]

Durante

Focus on what I'm doing, instead of on how fast others are getting it.

Be there, as fully as I possibly can.

Go through parts that I remember in some way after class. [In my mind, actually doing it, just marking the steps, going over it with a friend...]

Run the steps right before class begins with a friend of by myself.  [All, tricky ones, whichever ones I/we can recall]

Jot down notes to help me during the workshop or to serve as reminders afterit is over. [using words, pictures, numbers]

When I get frustrated, remind myself of why I am doing this.  And that it is about having fun.

Laugh.  

And Breathe.

Y Después

Reflect on what I learned & notice how I grew, what I got from it.

Hold on to what I want to... [The choreography, the essence, one specific move.]

Practice with a friend.

Practice on my own, perhaps with a video.

Palmas workshop with Ricardo López

Palmas workshop with Ricardo López

I don't necessarily do all of the above.  But I know that there are ways to ease the situation.  I know that I have options.  I know that I can pick and choose.

And you, how do you prepare for a workshop?  What do you do afterward?  Let's discuss this, leave a comment.

And, speaking of workshops, Emilio is on his way.  Oléeeee!  And there is still a spot for YOU!

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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 as well.  I used to consider these performances a bonus, but now I realize they are part of the deal.

Sometimes I space out.  I get caught up watching and forget that I am in class and am supposed to be participating.  Because there is this incredible dancer right in front of me doing the most amazing things.  Giving mini-performances.  Many of them.  Like these...

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Congelada

The following post is about fear, about overwhelm, perhaps about stage fright. About Ricardo López's dancing and reaching my lack of motivation.

We've had all week to work on the show.

But I've felt FROZEN.

Congelada.  I've found any excuse not to practice, not to get the help I wanted from Ricardo…  At first I didn't know why.  I just decided I was lazy.

I only went through things in my head.  I know, I know, that's an important way of practicing.

Ricardo is sharp.  He is fast.  He is precise.  He is intense.   He sweats.  He puts it all out there.  I don't understand how he does this.  I don't do this.

And I feel lazy.

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Viernes con una Letra | fandangos...again

Today, fandangos de Huelva and a video of Mayte Martín singing.

Here is the first copla Mayte Martín sings in Conquero. You might have seen the second one here last week, and the final one the week before. It's all a bit mixed up but, then, so am I. Hmm, though upon second thought, that's how flamenco is normally sung. The singer mixes and matches verses in the moment, so this makes perfect sense! 

Fandangos de Huelva
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Y los dientes de marfíl
los ojos como las moras
y tu boca es una fuente
donde una noche bebí 
agua con ansias de muerte

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Dancing with a Star

Ricardo is the star. I am still just me.

Ok, so I realized something this morning.

This might be my Dancing with the Stars...

I remember seeing that show and thinking how lucky those celebrities are to get to have their own personal, amazingly talented dance coach for an intensive period. There was some envy and jealousy. Then, as I mentioned, this morning I thought

Wait, isn't' that similar to what I have going on right now?

Ok, so let's look at this.

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What do you want from it?

Today's post is about flamenco workshops, the different types and the different skills you can gain from different types.

My friend Shyiang from Vancouver has taken LOTS of workshops (even some here in Portland, from Ricardo López)  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 to remember the choreography, without actually using it later.

The thing is, the experience itself was enough for her.

The experience itself made it worth it.

When attending a workshop, you, the student, get to choose.  You may choose to go home with a funky new piece, or you may just focus on being there, on the dancing and the learning and the soaking up of that flamenco essence in the moment.

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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 thoughts start going through our minds.  Thoughts like

How will I possibly keep up?

What if the teacher gets completely frustrated with me?

What if he gets mad at me when I mess up?

I'm not dedicated enough to do this.

How will I get by not being able to speak any Spanish?

Thoughts like that.

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Viernes con una Letra | Ten Cuidao

"Déjame saber tu letra favorita, Tell me your favorite letra," I begged Ricardo. He gave me this one, from Ten Cuidao, a bulerías by Mayte Martín.  Perhaps next week I'll post the first letra.

Anyway, here you'll see a video of Mayte Martín performing the whole thing live, and below that you'll find Ricardo's favorite part.

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Viernes con una Letra | Sol

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Viernes con una Letra | Sol

Ok, in honor of the beautiful sun we've been seeing here in Portland this week, here's the little fandangos coletilla. I taught it to my nieces in December. They were the cutest singing it, and Margot danced to it with a fan.

Quítate de sol que te quema
quítate del sol que te pone
la carita morena
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Get out of the sun that burns you
Get out of the sun
that turns your little face brown
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Ricardo, by the way, loves fandangos. Here is a falseta he set for me a couple of years ago...  He'll be here in less than two weeks! Como siempre, comments are invited and welcomed.  You may leave one below.

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Ricardo's Take

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Ricardo's Take

Today, find out how Ricardo López approaches a flamenco workshop.

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

No matter your level.

I know that workshops can seem overwhelming at times...

and hard, difícil!  

He knows this too.

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Some things About Ricardo

I want to tell you a good story about Ricardo, in honor of the fact that the schedule for the Immersion is up.  , it's up!

There are many stories running through my brain

But I don't feel like writing any of them right now.

So, I'll just tell you some of the things I enjoy about him being here:

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Viernes con una Letra | A La Puerta de Toledo

A La Puerta de Toledo
Tradicional

A la Puerta de Toledo, madre, le tengo celos
Le tengo celos
A la Puerta de Toledo, madre, le tengo celos
Le tengo celos
Porque se cita con otro 
La mujer que yo más quiero

En el mismo sitio 
A la misma hora 
Se estaba besando 
Con otra persona 

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It Just Kind of Happened

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It Just Kind of Happened

This is a tale of how certain events lead to subsequent events allowing for a vision in spite of skepticism and self-doubt.  Basically, Portland Flamenco Events began without a whole lot of planning.  It was one small idea for one small event that turned into a whole flamenco business! Ok, so allow me to begin this story with Ricardo López, for this guy is a big part of the reason I am pursuing this work right now.  I met him in 2006 when he was in Portland touring as a soloist with the Nuevo Ballet Español as a part of the White Bird Dance Series.  He inspired me from the moment I met him and saw him perform.

He did this smokin' bulerías surrounded by a group of dancers doing palmas and jaleos.

It reminded me of why I loved flamenco

And made me want to do flamenco

And be around flamenco

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Ricardo López - An Interview

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Ricardo López - An Interview

My interview with Ricardo López along with a video interview of Ricardo López for Univision.

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 much that I chose to dance as dancing chose me. I danced at all of the fiestas at school. Then I started dancing sevillanas, and I met someone who danced flamenco; he introduced me to Paco Romero, and I began studying with him. One thing just lead to another. What motivates you to dance? It's not what motivates me to dance, it is that dancing motivates me.

Why do you like teaching? I like teaching people who enjoy learning

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