• Dec 9, 2001 The REAL flamenco guitar
• Dec 3, 2001 Just get up there and do it!
• Nov 30, 2001 Imágenes de España

Sunday afternoon, instructor Lourdes Elias was teaching the basic choreography for the fourth copla of Sevillanas as guitarists Michael Blalock and Marty Dow (pictured above) provided a slow steady compás. They are both students of flamenco guitar teacher Marija Temo

Meanwhile, guitarist Steve Svoboda (also a student of Marija) accompanied the more advanced class taught by Jaime Coronado. In the foreground is dancer Annette Hertwig.

I don't care how good your technique is or how "Spanish" you sound on the guitar, if you can't accompany flamenco dancers (and singers), you're NOT a flamenco guitarist. You have to put in the time playing for dancers (and singers), there's no other way around it.

I've been accompanying dancers for ten years now and have come a long way, but there's so much more to learn--enough to keep me busy the rest of my life! Watching Michael, Marty and Steve this afternoon reminded me of when I started accompanying dancers*.

During the class, Marty jokingly mentioned to me "This must be boring for you."

Far from it! Nothing pleases me more than to see others discovering the joys of the flamenco guitar, the REAL flamenco guitar. Welcome to the club gentlemen (and ladies)!

Later that evening, I stopped by Edwin Aparicio's class at the DC Dance Collective. Guitarist Richard Marlow brought along his student Carlos Roca (pictured above) for his first experience accompanying dancers. Welcome Carlos!

Local dance teacher Natalia Monteleón adds:

"Regarding student level guitarists, who are interested in accompanying dance, I am always looking for accompanists for my classes in Laurel.

As I'm not on a metro route (as you well know!), it is not easy to get people to my studio. However, it may be worth their while, if they make the trip. I would be willing to work with people who already have a basic knowledge of compas, and the major palos for my beginner and intermediate level classes. For the advanced classes, it is better to have an experienced guitarist, but student level guitarists, should know that the best way to learn to accompany is to play second guitar alongside an experienced person..."

If you have any comments about this topic, please post them on the message board.

[*Editor's note: yours truly started playing for dancers in Spring 1990 at the Blanca Luz Dance Academy in Buena Park, California. Thanks to Isabel Montes, my first flamenco guitar teacher.]

Just get up there and do it!
(Monday December 3, 2001) So you've just learned all four coplas of Sevillanas. Are you just going to wait for your teacher make you perform in a student recital?

Some dances, Sevillanas for example, work especialy well in a festive, informal setting such as last night's crowd at Café Citrón (202-530-8844).

Pictured clockwise starting from upper right are Florencia Pettigrew, Victoria Odinotska, Veronika Amaya, Janna Lipman, Marcela Salazar, Alexa Miranda and Jamie.

It took some cheering from a very enthusiastic crowd, but eventually some of them gave in and joined dancer Mica Moreno onstage. Pictured to the left is Jamie.

Pictured to the right is Alexa. There were others who also got up and danced some of whom explained to me afterwards that this was their public "debut" of Sevillanas.

Here are some tips for beginners (not to imply that anyone needed these last night):

• in Sevillanas, a very confident ending pose (on the right beat) will often make you look like you know what you're doing--even if you made a few mistakes earlier in the dance.
• Listen to the music without dancing and visualize the steps and upper body movements.
• If you can, learn the lyrics to your favorite Sevillanas. Associate sections of the dance such as pasada (or careo) with certain sections of the melody.
• Eventually you'll get to the point where if you ever forget a certain step, the music will "tell you" what's next.

There's nothing wrong with that--I love flamenco, what more can I ask for?

But last night at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre in Arlington, I was pleasantly reminded that there's more to Spanish culture than flamenco--there's also an equally wonderful art form called Classical Spanish Dance.

As I wandered around backstage I noticed dancer Kelly Braga and dancer/choreographer Melissa Tomás as they did a quick run-through in full costume and makeup. Imagine this scene on stage with lights and the gorgeous music of Enrique Granados--I promise you, it will warm your heart.

I'm not going to spoil it by giving it all away, but I'll tell you that the second of this three-part piece titled Imágenes de España is performed by Aleksey Kulikov and Melissa with guitar and cajón accompaniment by yours truly.

This is part of the Arlington-based Center Dance Company's Holiday Concert. Kathryn Fredgren, pictured left, is the artistic director. There's a show tonight at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3:00pm. Call (703)522-2414. Details at the Washington Post.

Melisa Tomás teaches at the Arlington Center for Dance. The 2002 Winter-Spring semester begins January 7. Register by calling (703)522-2414.

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