Accompany Dance classes

Accompany Dance classes (Full Version)

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ddias -> Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 16 2017 15:40:08)
I’ve been learning flamenco guitar for about 4 years (previously played electric/classical for 30). We moved to south germany in the summer and I’ve finally got round to reaching out to the local scene here. My wife Introduced me to a dance teacher in a nearby town and I’ve been invited to sit in on a dance class on Monday. Any tips would be much appreciated as this will be my first time!

Piwin -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 16 2017 16:54:25)
Make sure to not step on any toes, especially if there's a guitarist who's a regular for that class, you don't want to come off as "the competition". Basically, make yourself scarce and only play if you're asked to. Not sure that's very helpful though, it's really just common sense and basic courtesy.

mark indigo -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 16 2017 16:58:12)
quote: Any tips would be much appreciated as this will be my first time! I'm not a particularly advanced guitarist, and I'm not a "pro" but I do play for dance classes, and have done for 20+ years, so what follows is not the definitive last word but just the culmination of my limited personal experience. Do you have a teacher? They should be able to advise you, so as you are asking I assume you don't... Is there a guitarist already at the class? If so follow what they do. Ask for lessons from them and they will show/teach you relevant stuff. I guess probably not as you are asking for tips... Find out what palo/s they are going to be dancing at the class, that should narrow things down a bit to begin with. Find out if they are using any particular music for the class - sometimes a teacher will have a recording of a class they themselves learned at, or a recording they made with a guitarist and/or singer when they created a choreography. Or they might use a CD/mp3. You won't necessarily need to play exactly what's on it, 'cos often a CD/mp3 will be a compromise choice without proper spaces for llamadas etc. Otherwise be prepared to spend the time "pendiente" - listening and following. To begin take the attitude that you are playing along with the teacher, rather than "providing the music for the class". Make sure you can play simple compas for the relevant palo/s. Solo Compas CD/mp3 are a good guide/reference for typical stuff. Ideally you need to be able play compas for marking, music for footwork, llamadas/cierres/remates, typical "square box" chord sequences for letras, and one or two "suitable falsetas". It takes time to pick all this stuff up, and longer if there is no experienced guitarist to show you and you have to figure it all out for yourself. Re the "square box" letras these are a kind of basic template that dancers use in class when there is no singer. In a real performance they must follow the singer, so the letra could be longer/shorter/different/whatever. Re "suitable falsetas" dancers seen to have particular tastes in falsetas. You will find some falsetas work and some don't, and sometimes it's hard to figure out why! Good dancers can pretty much go with anything, but will still have preferences for what works better with their choreography and/or students.

Morante -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 16 2017 18:03:00)
I gave up, sometime ago. playing for dance classes. It is not worth the trouble[:D]

callemunicion -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 16 2017 18:54:57)
quote: It is not worth the trouble Of course it is amigo.

ddias -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 17 2017 9:23:20)
Thanks really useful! Where can I find more info about the "Square box" chord sequences? quote: ORIGINAL: mark indigo quote: Any tips would be much appreciated as this will be my first time! I'm not a particularly advanced guitarist, and I'm not a "pro" but I do play for dance classes, and have done for 20+ years, so what follows is not the definitive last word but just the culmination of my limited personal experience. Do you have a teacher? They should be able to advise you, so as you are asking I assume you don't... Is there a guitarist already at the class? If so follow what they do. Ask for lessons from them and they will show/teach you relevant stuff. I guess probably not as you are asking for tips... Find out what palo/s they are going to be dancing at the class, that should narrow things down a bit to begin with. Find out if they are using any particular music for the class - sometimes a teacher will have a recording of a class they themselves learned at, or a recording they made with a guitarist and/or singer when they created a choreography. Or they might use a CD/mp3. You won't necessarily need to play exactly what's on it, 'cos often a CD/mp3 will be a compromise choice without proper spaces for llamadas etc. Otherwise be prepared to spend the time "pendiente" - listening and following. To begin take the attitude that you are playing along with the teacher, rather than "providing the music for the class". Make sure you can play simple compas for the relevant palo/s. Solo Compas CD/mp3 are a good guide/reference for typical stuff. Ideally you need to be able play compas for marking, music for footwork, llamadas/cierres/remates, typical "square box" chord sequences for letras, and one or two "suitable falsetas". It takes time to pick all this stuff up, and longer if there is no experienced guitarist to show you and you have to figure it all out for yourself. Re the "square box" letras these are a kind of basic template that dancers use in class when there is no singer. In a real performance they must follow the singer, so the letra could be longer/shorter/different/whatever. Re "suitable falsetas" dancers seen to have particular tastes in falsetas. You will find some falsetas work and some don't, and sometimes it's hard to figure out why! Good dancers can pretty much go with anything, but will still have preferences for what works better with their choreography and/or students.

Dudnote -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 17 2017 12:17:27)
You lucky chap! I miss the dance class I was in on last year. quote: ORIGINAL: ddias Where can I find more info about the "Square box" cchord sequences? Some one already mentioned Solo Compas. There is another series of CDs popular in dance schools called Escuela de Flamenco. You can cop the chords off those to get a base. Also, if you don't know "Norman's site" canteytoque there is a wealth of info on there. Then there are all the old classic cante records, although these can often mix square box with very non-square / very elastic variations. Copping chord sequences off cante accomp from online dance videos is more likely to arm you quicker with tricks you can pull out in dance class. You might wanna check if your dance school has a mic or if you need to bring your own. It's worth knowing how to play Alegrias in E, A and C and to be able to transpose (at least chord sequences) between all three. Having a few variations for escobilla up your sleeve can help keep thing interesting.

Ricardo -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 17 2017 23:32:49)
At the bottom of this thread I detail a flamenco dance number that might help you: http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=299792&p=4&tmode=1&smode=1

Leñador -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 18 2017 3:26:51)
quote: Any tips would be much appreciated as this will be my first time! Ear plugs! [:D] Just be respectful and don’t play unless asked or nodded at really. If you don’t know something better don’t play than try to fake it. But like stated, know your palos, whatever the class is studying make sure you have material for all the possible parts. Eso es todo!

ddias -> RE: Accompany Dance classes (Dec. 19 2017 9:01:09)
Thanks everyone for the generous advice and suggestions! I went last night and really enjoyed it - the dance teacher's brother accompanied and invited me follow him, which turned out to be easier than I thought. We did: Solea por bulerias, farruca, and solea. He's also a teacher - he showed me some variations and gave me a pointer on my abanico technique. Overall I came away inspired and energised to play more. I'll have a lesson with him beforehand next time I go.

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