Suspiro Andaluz in rehearsal at DC Dance Collective. May 17, 2007
Milvia and Juliana rehearsing alegrías at DC Dance Collective. May 17, 2007 8:32pm
It's 2:17am on Friday as I type these words. Spent a few hours at DC Dance Collective earlier this evening. First I was upstairs on the third floor photographing a rehearsal by Suspiro Andaluz--the name of the group of dancers including Mariya's students and Manuel. They'll be the first flamenco group performing on Sunday at Centro Español de Washington's Feria de Sevilla at Strathmore.
Suspiro Andaluz is working very hard over the next few days to prepare a good show for the audience at the Feria. Being a performer myself, I know very well what it's like, but it was refreshing for a change to be at the rehearsal purely as an observer.
(Well, OK, I'm not just any ol' observer. In a way, I am a member of the press--the flamenco press. 
Many flamencos all over the USA and around the world visit my website--and this blog that you're now reading happens to be the most visited section of my website!)
I've played guitar at the Feria just about every year--my first time was in the early 90's when I was the guitarist for Danza del Río. Yeah it's been that long! Since then I've played for Natalia Monteleón's Arte Flamenco, Sol y Triana and Ena Camargo's Viva Flamenco as an official member of the company. But that was years ago. Nowadays I just play for everyone. It's very informal. Us guitarists just invite each other at the last minute, "Hey Miguelito, why don't you come play for us." Or the director of the company will do the inviting. It's really cool because you get to see so many guitarists on the stage at once. Normally we're a pretty friendly bunch. Among us guitarristas there is a bit of friendly competition but at least for this day at the Feria we just get together and have fun.
Anywayz, here are a few more pics from the rehearsal. Enjoy!
Manuel doing his solo as Danielle provides palmas. May 17, 2007 8:36pm
Torcuato waits patiently as Mariya speaks to Milvia and Reine. May 17, 2007 8:39pm
Manuel in the final pose of his solo. May 17, 2007 8:45pm
Mariya provides palmas as Milvia dances the choreography of alegrías. (yeah, that's yours truly in the background taking the pic 
) May 17, 2007 9:45pm
Mariya watching Reine, Francisco and Milvia. May 17, 2007 9:47pm
Milvia and Juliana. May 17, 2007 9:47pm
The first time I met Milvia was ten years ago in February 1997. She was in the audience at El Bodegón when I was subbing there for a few weeks while Torcuato was out of town--the dancers were Micaela Moreno and Edwin Aparicio both just getting their start in tablao performing. Little did I know Milvia would be taking flamenco dance classes years later. Kinda makes me wonder who in the audience in one my many shows will become future flamenco dance or guitar students.
Reine and Milvia. May 17, 2007 9:48pm
Reine. May 17, 2007 9:55pm
Torcuato's point of view. May 17, 2007 9:57pm
Afterwards, I spent some time watching Genevieve's class downstairs. They were working on the tangos section of a taranto. Very cool rhythmic ideas. Sorry no pics--Genevieve was in the middle of teaching class so I didn't get to ask her if it was OK to take photos. Yeah, I know it's probably cool, since everyone pretty much recognizes me by now and knows what I'm up to when I bring a camera to dance studio. But it's always better to ask first.
When the class got out, I asked a couple of the dancers if they wanted to go down the street at Bambule to hang out and have a few drinks. Jason was up for it, so we went and listened to live music by Trio Caliente featuring guitarists Michael Bard and Amilcar Cruz with singer Deborah Benner.
View from the bar at Bambule. May 17, 2007 11:56pm
Amilcar Cruz and singer Deborah Benner. May 18, 2007 12:03am
Amilcar, Michael Bard and Deborah. May 18, 2007 12:03am
We only stayed for a short while cuz I wanted to also stop by Famoso Restaurant up the street to say hello to Duende Camarón. briefly before calling it a night.
Time for bed. I have morning rehearsal--thank God it's down the street from my house. As for tonight, I'll be performing at Cabanas. We're trying out doing three shows on Friday nights (don't worry, we get paid more) with the first one at 7:15pm. When the weather is beautiful and warm, you can't find a prettier place to be--it's on the Georgetown waterfront. See you there!
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Comments
ferias gonna be a blast
Posted by: raqui | May 18, 2007 10:02 AM