Verano Flamenco at DC Dance Collective. June 6, 2009
At DC Dance Collective: upstairs studio converted into a mini-theatre! The audience is just arriving. June 6, 2009 6:49pm
It's 2-something am on Wednesday as I type these words. I got home around midnight feeling tired and was so looking forward to going to bed early for a change. OK, so my body was tired, but I still couldn't fall asleep. So here I am working on a blog—I needed to catch up anywayz. :-)
So this past Saturday, local dancer Flor Pérez Taboada (who has some great ideas to add something a little different to our already active DC flamenco scene) got to see one her ideas come to life: "Verano Flamenco."
Here's a quote from my interview with Flor last month:
...in Madrid, I hosted "Juglar por flamenco." The concept is an "open tablao," where pre-professional or foreign bailaoras, for example, can ask for a show date and perform with great musicians in front of an appreciative audience. Now everyone who knows the Madrid flamenco scene knows about Juglar. 'Cause in Madrid, as here, there are very few opportunities to perform on a real stage with great musicians without being at an advanced level and with lots of experience. Juglar has been going strong every Sunday since 2003, and "Genoveva" was there when I started!! In fact, the first month of Juglar she performed with me!
So it seemed very fitting and sentimental to have Flor and Genoveva dance together in "Verano Flamenco" since this is sort of like a continuation of "Juglar por flamenco" idea transported from Madrid to DC! The featured guest dancers included Pam de Ocampo and Jen.
Musicians' side of the stage before the show. And yes, that mixer is a Behringer! The cajón is by Schlagwerk. June 6, 2009 7:00pm
For those of you not familiar with tablao style of flamenco: there is very little to no rehearsal. While this does make things a little less than polished, it does force the dancers to make sure to communicate effectively with the musicians onstage (and vice-versa). Because the musicians are creating the music as the dance unfolds there is a certain energy that you get that doesn't happen with rehearsed choreographies that you might find in a typical theater performance.
Featured dancers: Pam de Ocampo, Jen, Flor Pérez Taboada and Genevieve Guinn "Genoveva." June 6, 2009 7:09pm
These days, most dancers have set choreographies but in a tablao setting they don't always know what letras the singer will use or what falsetas the guitarist will play. So they have to pay attention and be ready to adjust to whatever is happening musically in the moment. While this relatively chaotic situation sounds nerve-wracking for the uninitiated, it does afford the artists the creative options of shortening or extending sections or to try out some recently-learned material or even improvise if they are feeling especially adventurous or inspired.
Singer José Oretea, guitarist Richard Marlow and Gonzalo Grau on cajón. June 6, 2009 7:10pm
I spoke with dancer Pam de Ocampo last night (she happened to be my dancer for the evening at Las Tapas where I was performing). And she confirmed what I expected: that there was no rehearsal for "Verano Flamenco."
Flor and Genevieve getting the show started. June 6, 2009 7:10pm
I'll just shut up now and let you enjoy the pics...
José and Richard. June 6, 2009 7:13pm
Jen dancing tientos. June 6, 2009 7:15pm
Jen. June 6, 2009 7:18pm
Jen. June 6, 2009 7:18pm
Pam de Ocampo performing seguiriyas. June 6, 2009 7:23pm
Pam. June 6, 2009 7:24pm
Pam. June 6, 2009 7:24pm
Pam. June 6, 2009 7:26pm
Flor Pérez Taboada dancing alegrías. June 6, 2009 7:33pm
Flor. June 6, 2009 7:33pm
Flor. June 6, 2009 7:35pm
Audience. June 6, 2009 7:38pm
Genevieve Guinn "Genoveva" dancing soleá por bulerías. June 6, 2009 7:42pm
Genevieve. June 6, 2009 7:43pm
As is customary in a typical flamenco performance, they ended with a fiesta style bulerías where everyone gathers around in a semi-circle and improvises (even the musicians get up and dance sometimes!)...
DC Dance Collective founder Nancy Newell joins in with a little impromptu tap interpretation of flamenco. June 6, 2009 7:58pm
Local dancer Edwin Aparicio (center) even got up from the audience to dance a little bulerías. June 6, 2009 7:58pm
Up and coming dancer, Sarah Hart joined in for a patada of bulerías. June 6, 2009 8:00pm
Other dancers that were in the audience that got up onstage: María Roncal and Anna Menendez.
Flor chatting with audience members after the show. June 6, 2009 8:15pm
Judging by the response of the audience, the show was very successful. For all you dancers out there: this is also a good stepping stone for those of you who are more advanced and want to improve skills in a tablao environment. Be sure to sign up to join future "Verano" performances. Contact Flor.
More importantly, I hope that after this first "Verano Flamenco" more people will learn to appreciate the energy and excitement of a tablao show where no one really knows exactly what will come out onstage! And let's not forget that you can also catch tablao shows almost every night of the week in the DC area (see my calendar).
The next "Verano Flamenco" is scheduled for Saturday July 18, 2009, so mark your calendars and get there early to snag the front row seats! Check Flor's website and DC Dance Collective for the latest updates.
PS...in June 2005, I visited Flor's Juglar before I even knew Flor! For more pics visit my old photo diary documenting my trip to Spain (and click on the link for day 7).
Juglar in Madrid. June 12, 2005 9:48pm
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