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mother and girlfriend have asked me to attend a flamenco dance class with them, now being a bloke (and irish to boot) dancing aint supposed to be the done thing, i've looked at the positives, so far:
-my compas (internal) may improve -i could loose more weight -it may give me a better understanding when i do want to accompany dancers -it could also be fun.
the cons -the teacher teaches limited stuff for blokes. -i could be devoting this time to the guitar instead -dont think i could devote alot to learning el baile -could damage my ankle again..arggggh..ive seen punta y tacon fast it looks dangerous...
Posts: 96
Joined: Aug. 27 2005
From: Finland (Living in Dublin)
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
I have danced for about 3 years... Kinda on and off (now i've been off for quite a while). I actually danced before I came to the guitar.
It's fun. It helps. You play with the rythm alot once you get past the very basics and that helps with getting compas in to your head better. If you think it takes time away from guitar, think of it as studying compas. Try it!
(and is it really a bad thing if your the only bloke there? )
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
There's Joaquin Cortes too if I remember rightly... you can see him in action on Saura's "Flamenco" film, and he is almost as well known outside Spain as some of the guitarists. He's very talented, and also very popular with the ladies, I think. I'm told women love a man who can dance. (Plus, if it helps improve your compas...)
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
I just took my 2nd dance class last night. It's pretty fun and not bad exercise. The only problem is that there's a class full of graceful girls and I'm the only guy.
I just took my 2nd dance class last night. It's pretty fun and not bad exercise. The only problem is that there's a class full of graceful girls and I'm the only guy.
Thats a problem?! Ah yes, I suppose when you're married...
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
Better doing one thing very good than two things mas o menos. There are only a view dancers who are interested in guitarmusic... They often dont understand the guitar. They just do their dance and want that the guitar helps them automatically.. tststs. In a dance shool where I play one time during th week are two teachers. And they do thier lessons good. And they think the ate flamenco. But during a very hot day. We decided not to do lessons. We sat outside with all pupils and played the game "guess the palo". And the teachers thought the silencio of an alegrias I played was a Solea and stupid things like that... .. Es ist zu Maeuse melken. So,.. in general the dancers only have rythm and numbers in their heads..but no music. If you take dancing classes please watch up to dont become one of these ones.. And thats also a reason why so many guitarrists are a bit mad about the less importance of the guitar in the media. Gerardo and Vicente said that in an interview.
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to Doitsujin)
quote:
And thats also a reason why so many guitarrists are a bit mad
Doit, Liked your post! I dunno... I've never really played for a Dance Class.. But the little bit I did, I got the impression that the participants were just doing some sort of cool keep-fit class. Next week they will be doing Salsa or Line Dancing or something...
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
Yes, no reason to get the panties in a snit. It's just part of the deal. And looking at the pictures Ricardo occasionally posts, it's not a bad life at all...!
I remember yesterday, we were practicing this footwork. Basically you stand there with knees slightly bent, and you bring up the foot, and then down...clomp! And then with that clomp you shift your weight and then do the same thing with other...clomp! Those are the ones. The twos are the same but you do two clomps with each foot. The triplets are the same but you do three.
Here's the thing..the dancer's trying to explain the rhythm to the class. And the ones are like this (in 4/4)...rest clomp! rest clomp! rest clomp! rest clomp!
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
Okay D - I can understand your frustration with dancers who have no interest in the music because I share it myself but what about the side of the coin -
Guitarists who have loads of falsettas but no understanding of flamenco structures and dodgy compas!
Or worse - those who never listen to cante - only solo guitar CD's ad infinitum.
Or even worse - those who only know 2 names - usually Paco and Juan Martin and think that a dance class is somehow beneath them because fast scales are the be all and end all.
In my opinion, a guitarist who has enough interest to attend a dance class - either to learn dance or accompany can only become a better guitarist because they will have a more rounded understanding of what flamenco is.
Karenanne
PS and a big hug to all those guitarists who play for classes week in, week out and often find their hard work upstaged when the class performs and all the comments are directed at the "lovely dresses". You are worth your weight in gold!
Posts: 2008
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
In my area we have some very good dance teachers-some know cante and one even plays the guitar pretty well. They go to Spain often, and study with the best dancers there, and bring back all the new steps. It's a competitive scene here for these dancers, and a few make their living from teaching and performing. It's also true that many students can only dance the steps they have been taught, and have little knowledge of forms, guitar, cante, etc. But I have to take my hat off to the best of the dance teachers here, because they have a lot of experience, talent, and dedication. I would love to learn to dance, and would be fortunate to have so many able teachers available, but there is only so much time in the day.
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
I love it when the dancers know how to explain exactly what they want ritmicaly.
eg .
tam taka ta cam tam taka ta cam TAGADA TAGADA tagADAMM
it takes the guess work out of it, because advanced onece have an set idea in they head of the rithm they want, but only exlplain it in counts, witch leaves you guessing.
RE: wants me to do baile!!! (in reply to henrym3483)
This thread has changed things conciderably After reading about Miguel taking a few lessons and Bulerias' praise of acompanying guitarists I had to try this........ Dancing ......... "whew" now thats off my chest
Ive been playing for dancers for years we even have a dance floor in my recording studio
So I got some shoes and convinced my wife to show me what to do...... That was two weeks ago Now here I sit ..... MY feet are killing me , Im covered in sweat and I realize my concept of compas is selfish
Hats off to the DANCERS
I reallly didnt realize how hard it is Every flamenco guitarist needs to try
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Ah yes, I suppose when you're married... 
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