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Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ryan002)
quote:
Honestly, FAT people like me have no hope of that particular aspect of flamenco.
Guess you have never been to Jerez. Chiqui de Jerez is an awesome dancer. I have seen some close to 300 pounders who could really jump and turn with aire. Most of the skinny ballet dancers I know got into flamenco because it is a very acepting art form in terms of weight and shape. In some cases, you use it to your advantage, make it personal.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ricardo)
I agree with Ricardo. Weight is just not an issue for flamencos in Spain. We have some incredible big guys and gals in Granada who sing dance and play guitar. The only negative comment I have ever overheard was some-one at the Peña calling Morente a big head but they may not have been talking literally .
Posts: 432
Joined: Jan. 7 2005
From: Iasi, Romania
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ricardo)
I have big nose , is that acceptable ?
I mean ...could I make it to my advantage ,I already know a stage name Cyrano (oh not "de Berjerac") di Moldova (Flo will get the joke ,Moldova is a region in Romania , and "di" is a short for "din " (from).So it will be Cyrano from Moldova Cyrano di Moldova (di pronounced like in Di Meola )
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ricardo)
If I were to "jump and turn with aire" the resulting shockwave from my landing (and my outlying regions coming to rest) would probably compromise the studio's structural integrity.
Seriously though, I do wonder what dancing is like. Many are the times I have stuck my head through the door a local flamenco dance studio and ponder giving it a go, not to be good at it but just to round off my overall understanding of the art.
Then I see those slim, ultra fit people who are probably the sort with exercise routines that could kill a horse. How they move and twirl, whilst I am doomed to never do a dance more graceful than the Ox-trot.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ryan002)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ryan002
Seriously though, I do wonder what dancing is like. Many are the times I have stuck my head through the door a local flamenco dance studio and ponder giving it a go, not to be good at it but just to round off my overall understanding of the art.
Then I see those slim, ultra fit people who are probably the sort with exercise routines that could kill a horse. How they move and twirl, whilst I am doomed to never do a dance more graceful than the Ox-trot.
Some of the best or should I say most enjoyable flamenco dancing I have seen is the fin de fiesta when everyone has a go, the guitarists included whatever their shape or size. You do not have to be graceful, somtimes it is the personality that makes it work. Yes there is a comedy to it but the idea of having to be fit and slim is not a concept in flamenco. It is for everyone.
One of my favourite dancers is a bonny lass, a big girl, she pounds the stage with such force. She can also do taconeao in 32's. Stunning, just her feet moving so fast you can hardly see them. One night at a concert a foreign dancer turned her nose up and said she lacked grace, but I think she missed the point of this dancers power.
Go for it Ryan. Dont worry. The Gitanos dont give a ****.
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Guest)
i have a video of Jose Merce doing a consert in Jerez and at the end both Moraito and Jose dances bulerias. Moraito is realy funny, he´s got personality
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This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ryan002)
Now fat isn't an excuse for not dancing. I can just mention el Farruco and Matilde Coral, not very slim people. That is what is one of the great reasons for dancing flamenco, you don't have to look like a ballet-dancer.
And: maybe a dance- and a cante-sección would be a good idea. Not that I don't find it interesting to read about guitarist's opinions, but just to invite people in with those perspectives also. Or maybe not to scare them away again, because I can see some dancers have been arround and have left again, or???
Escribano: why cant I attach pics here?
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El Corazón es el que manda cuando la duda está en la mente.
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to Ricardo)
Ha, i just saw a show called "Son de la frontera" wich had a amazing male dancer. The funny part is, at one time the guy doing palmas danced some moves, now you could tell he was far from being a professional dancer , but he was just truly enjoying himself, smiling and doing very simply moves. Everyone in the audience at a great time clapping along, just being happy that he gave the effort to entertain !
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: Is this just another guitar site? (in reply to dyst0pian)
quote:
ORIGINAL: dyst0pian
Ha, i just saw a show called "Son de la frontera" wich had a amazing male dancer. The funny part is, at one time the guy doing palmas danced some moves, now you could tell he was far from being a professional dancer , but he was just truly enjoying himself, smiling and doing very simply moves. Everyone in the audience at a great time clapping along, just being happy that he gave the effort to entertain !
I have their album which I love. Its great to see them touring the world and doing so well. Just a point but here in Spain almost all flamencos can dance, not just dancers, and I may have said before how I love the spontaneity of seeing some big singer take to the floor, strutting and posing, and guitarists are even funnier. When this happens on stage you get a much better idea of how a juerga, a flamenco party, would be in someone's home where Granny gets up to dance.
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