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I'm from Vancouver, although I haven't lived there in about 5 years now. The Flamenco scene is not bad in Vancouver. Check out Kino Cafe on Cambie and 18th, theres also East is East, and I think that there is also flamenco now at Barcelona Cafe. A friend of mine who sings at the Kino Cafe is visiting me in Costa Rica right now and supposedly he is supposed to start singing there when he gets back.
Look for Gary Hayes (Gerardo Alcala) if you want some lessons. He is pretty old school and spent like 12 years in Jerez. Theres also Peter Mole who is a bit more modern and I think also gives classes.
Look online and you'll find a bunch of websites like www.flamenco.ca and other useful ones. Cathulu here is also from Vancouver, so he will probably know a lot more.
I really wish I was back there sometimes just so I could have access to a teacher and be able to see live shows now and then! Enjoy and take advantage of everything.
I cannot comment on Flamenco in Vancouver, but I am Canadian so here's my general take.
I quit playing Flamenco 10 years ago because at the time I was computer illiterate, there wasn't much in resources except the Juan Martin VHS series and the Flamenco players I met all had the attitude like either they invented it themselves of it was originally developed in Saskatoon.
Leaning Flamenco in Canada is kind of like learning Spanish at the North Pole.
Moral of the story - take everything you hear from anybody with a grain of salt - never give up (bad move on my part) and seriously think about going to Spain to study. That or find a teacher who has studied in Spain.
Leaning Flamenco in Canada is kind of like learning Spanish at the North Pole
Interesting comment and point of view. You could also go to a remote town in northern Spain and not learn anything either...but you would be in Spain!!
Ideally you just have to be in a place where there is flamenco - whether you are hanging out at the Alameda de Hercules in Sevilla, or in small town north pole, but alongside a flamenco guitarist. I met a guy who went to Spain to learn guitar and ended receiving classes, in Spain, by a young American guy who was a really good teacher.
I think that we can learn from everyone, even if they are arrogant ****s. Just take them as ****s with talent and soak up as much information as you can!
There's the kicker. Just being there, even just watching local TV could have a greater and more authentic influence than what you might get in Canada.
With the second biggest country in the world and one of the smallest populations, the chances of finding a teacher who really knows what they are talking about are decreased exponentially. (Particularly if you want to accompany dancers and singers)
The percentage of Spanish immigrants to Canada over the years is minimal.
I make these clarifications because my intent is not to slag Canadians, Canadian Flamenco guitarists etc. etc. However, out of the 7 Flamenco guitarists, myself included, in Ottawa, Canada 12 years ago, 1 was a Spanish Immigrant who DIDN'T share his knowledge, 1 had studied in Spain for 4 month, 1 had learned from the Juan Martin books and the rest knew less than me.
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