A Memorable Experience

I had never thought that I would embark on a workshop with a Flamenco master at this early stage in time... My original class teacher encouraged us to enrol to a workshop she organised.  A flamenco master was invited from Spain to give classes.

The one I did was Tango (Flamenco Tango).  I was nervous for the first class because everything was so hard, and...the master taught in Spanish!!!  I didn't have a clue what he was talking about except guessing from the reaction of others and watching him.  It seemed that a lot of people could follow but I couldn't.  The master adjusted the level of the second class.  I was still lost because of the speed of the footwork (zapateados) and some of the steps I had never drilled before.

The experience of learning flamenco was complicated.  All of a sudden, I realised that I could not manage to move my feet and my arms at the same time, not to say my head.  Then I thought I had serious amnesia because I kept forgetting the steps and their sequences, and I couldn't put them together.  It was hard, and VERY frustrating!  I tried to write the steps down but gave up after the sixth lesson as there were too many, and change of rhythmic steps could not be recorded in words...

Rushing to the class everyday straight after work was hard.  Eight days in a row... my feet hurt, my legs ached, as well as my wrists, and my back was tired.  I had never sweat so much in a dance just by moving my legs and feet!  Total fatigue!  Like an old woman!!  I thought I was too old for this.  Only when I'd reached the fifth lesson then things started to progress.

It was amazing.  I'd never thought I could do this and I was so much in love with the music matching with the choreography, and the singing (cante) of the master.  So did everyone.

We had dinner after the last class.  They were such nice and friendly people (he came with his manager).  My teacher explained that my amnesia was totally normal and I was relieved!

So that was the first proper flamenco dance I did, apart from the Sevillanas the teacher taught us.  For sure I love the dance, the singing, the clapping, and the guitar.  Everything is strongly cultural and fantastic!  Just wonderful!