Flamenco at Tapeo with Ginette and Samantha. February 3, 2007
After the first flamenco show for the night: dancers Ginette Perea and Samantha Zerpa with Miguelito at Tapeo. February 3, 2007 8:03pm (photo by Christopher Kobar)
It's 10:23pm on Sunday as I type these words. Got home from Anna Menendez's class a few hours ago, chatted online with a few friends, took a nap and here I am back at the computer again. This is my second blog entry for the day. But this'll be a quickie too since I need to finalize some web-related work for a paying client by Monday.
So last night (Saturday) I had the pleasure of working with two young and very beautiful talented dancers: Ginette Perea and Samantha Zerpa.
Short recap about Samantha: although I first met her last summer at Cafe Citron I didn't actually invite her to perform at one of my tablao gigs until November when she subbed for Ginette at Cabanas. She performed with me again at Cafe Citron a short time later sharing the stage with dancer Mariya. She originally studied flamenco in Venezuela and recently moved to the DC area. (checkout her pics from the tablao "El Jaleo" in Venezuela) She's now performing regularly on Friday nights at Tapeo with Isabelita dancing Sevillanas and rumba. Anywayz, I just thought I'd invite her to perform this past Saturday night in my tablao show at Tapeo.
The bad news is that I don't have any decent photos from our flamenco performances that night. The good news is that the restaurant was packed with customers which meant that my friend Christopher couldn't get a clear camera shot from his seat at the bar. Oh well.
So business was good, yay! Of course it helped significantly that Samantha had her personal cheering section of about ten people, her family. Ginette and I had our friends in the audience including Christopher, Sarah (student of María Roncal) and her fellow recent college graduates. Plus we made a few new friends and I passed out a few more Lisner Flamenco Festival brochures.
So you'll have to settle for these posed pics taken after each of our two shows. At least it gives you an idea of the beautiful costumes they wore
For the first set, Ginette wore a fitted pink shawl which was expertly tailored by her mother Gina (see above pic). Most dancers I know like to wear a costume that complements the mood of the dance while some like to wear one costume for all the dances. There's no one right way to do things: it's a very personal artistic decision. Anywayz, the cheerfullness of pink really went well with her solo for the first set: an alegrías (choreographed by Anna Menendez). Just for a little variety, she performed the alegrías wearing black pants.
As for Samantha, she performed a tangos which she originally learned and performed in Venezuela to a very catchy Arabic-influenced song by Ruben Blades. I got some work to do on the music though--it's a challenge to live up to Mr Blades' music using only one guitar and palmas.
Ginette, Miguelito and Samantha after the second flamenco show for the night. February 3, 2007 9:03pm (photo by Christopher Kobar)
For the second set, Samantha danced a soleá por bulerías which she choreographed herself. She did a pretty good job. Like Ginette, she's a good performer and knows how to engage the audience. But as we rehearse and perform more often and get to know each other artistically, our performances will just get better and better.
Ginette also danced a soleá por bulerías which pieces together various choreographies that she's learned from different teachers over the years to which she's added some of her own moves and rhythmic variations. From week to week Ginette comes up with new choreographic ideas, tests them out with me right before the show and performs it right away. Love it! Although I work with Ginette all the time, there's always something different or new so I always gotta stay alert and pay attention--that's the way it should be anyway!
I'm happy. The essentials of life: flamenco, good food and friends! 
February 3, 2007 9:58pm (photo by Christopher Kobar)
We got a late dinner of the usual array of tasty tapas here at Tapeo. Ginette got the steamed mussels with white wine, garlic and herb broth and I got the sautéed mahi-mahi steak cubes with onions in a lemon-ginger white wine sauce, accompanied by fresh bread, olives and followed with flan for dessert. Mmmm!
Dim the lights, it's chill out time. 
February 3, 2007 11:02pm
Around 11:00pm, they dim the lights and the DJ sets a loungey mood with a tasteful variety of chilll-out, house and trance. It's not the first time we found ourselves lulled into a loungey frame of mind and ended up relaxing and conversing at the bar with our friends until very late.
Samantha left shortly after her family finished dinner and said goodbye. We lingered at the bar for a little while longer before calling it a night and going our separate ways. It was a very enjoyable evening overall and we'll do it again: next Saturday here at Tapeo, I'll have pleasure of performing with Ginette and Samantha. See you there. Ciao for now!
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