It's 7:36pm on Sunday as I type these words. It's been a lazy non-flamenco day which is fine cuz I need a break every now and then.

About an hour ago, I had a couple of local tangueros here at the Pink Flamenco checking out the dance studio. Apparently, they found out about the Pink Flamenco through my blog and inquired about renting it out for an Argentine tango workshop.

Of course, they loved it! OK, so it's not fancy-schmancy but we have an advantage over the local dance studios: lots of open time slots on the weekends. Available time slots are typically hard to come by at other local studios with usually are booked solid with dance classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Plus we have our own parking lot!

What else do we have to offer? We have a contact person, yours truly, who is sensitive to what dancers want and need.

OK, enough of the sales talk. :-)

How did I spend my day? Woke up around noon, got dressed and headed to Fronteras University for some study time. Read a few more chapters in an art history primer which covered formalism and interpretation of art based on contexts such as history, artist's psychological profile etc. All this new stuff that I'm learning is getting me excited about going back again to the National Gallery of Art--which I haven't been to in about a week. The new Cezanne exhibition opened up today--which I'll check out on Monday mornin' to beat the crowds.

(From what I've read so far, Cezanne, 1839-1906, was financially supported by his father and likely didn't have to cater to the public's whims about art. Do you think this financial freedom allowed him to focus on his artistic vision later elevating him to the status of the father of modern art? By the same token, do you think that starving flamenco artists produce "better" art than well-off flamenco artists? There's no right or wrong answer--just something to consider.)

Back to my day...obviously I didn't make it to dance class as I originally planned. I volunteer my time at Joy of Motion and DC Dance Collective. The flamenco teachers and students at these respective studios are always happy to have me there and are very appreciative of my donated services. But sorry not today.

I have an ulterior motive when I do show up at class. Actually, it's part of my master plan to spoil all these dance students with live music so when the time comes when they have to choose between CD's and live guitarists in the performance, they'll make the right choice! :-)

It's 1:27am on Monday as I type these words. Just got back from Chi-Cha Lounge where I was hanging out with my photographer friend Niko Alexandrou. There wasn't much of a flamenco crowd which was fine cuz it gave me a chance to catch up on what Niko's been up to since I last saw him a few months ago.

Anyway, he's a flamenco photographer (try googling his name with flamenco) and currently his work is in an exhibition in Boston. Some of the photos in this exhibition include yours truly Miguelito, Ginette Perea, Anna Menendez, Natalia Monteleon et al. Here are just a few of his many previous pics in my photo diary. He'll be at Cafe Citron tonight (Monday) trying out a new camera. Just a heads up in case you want to look your best should your pic show up at a future photo exhibition. :-)

As we were about to leave Chi-Cha, this girl that I had been standing next to most of the night said "Excuse me." as she referred me to her friend, Susan.

This girl Susan recognized me from my photos on DCFlamenco.com and it turns out has been using my website for the past five years (!) to keep up with the local flamenco scene. This was the first time we met and she wanted to take a moment to thank me for all my hard work over the years. Awwww!

Here's a pic of Susan and her friends...

Joy, Susan and Joya. January 30, 2006 12:43am

Previously, Susan studied flamenco in New Orleans with Lali Solangel Calix. Currently she studies Cuban dance and the classical Persian musical instrument tar.

(Natalia wrote a review of Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba about five years ago.)