16 August 2010

The Flamenco Class


Each year Gorbio holds a Flamenco Festival - this is the bigger Fete Day of the year in the village with hundreds of visitors arriving to hear the music and see the dancing. And the dancers are not 'tourist flamenco' dancers but the real gitane dancing.

Here we see Isabel Cortes giving flamenco classes in the village hall. Tomorrow - more of Mme Cortes, who is celebrated in the world of flamenco.

18 comments:

  1. Jilly

    That is on my list of things to do in my lifetime--- to learn the Flamenco. Some of them better get better practice shoes, flip flops do not work at all.

    For now I will enjoy your photos, and go to see my friends sing and play Flamenco music this week end.

    Love some of the photos are in
    B & W.

    Joanny

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  2. belle serie et belle expression de la prof sur la premiere photo

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  3. The ladies look in good form (except for the flipflops)!

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  4. Fingers! They say it all.
    Are you in the class?

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  5. Oh I want to join these women.

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  6. Yes, Jilly - you must join it! It's fun and the clack, clack of the heels sounds so good!

    I did it in Spain several times. As long as it's only the feet you have to pay attention to it's no problem, but wait if you have to use hands and feet!!! ;-))
    Barbara from Germany

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  7. I've always loved Flamenco and the power and passion of the women especially. Although I don't know how one could ever do this in flip-flops!

    Joanny--I actually took several Flamenco lessons and learned very quickly that it is harder than it looks. Some people "got it" much quicker than I, and you may be one of those people. I am not blessed with the best coordination, so I when it came time to putting the hand gestures with the foot movements I was rather lost. Barbara from Germany also mentioned this. It was a really fun experience though; you can work out a lot of frustration!

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  8. Oh dear, the teacher is everything you imagine about flamenco and more. She is wonderful!

    How difficult it is for those of us who weren't born in that culture!
    So - are you joining the class then?
    Everyone is suggesting you do!

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  9. Perhaps this lesson concentrated on arms and hands, not feet and legs, so the sandals and flip flops didn't get in the way. The students are doing a wonderful job with their arms. I think because they have a marvelous teacher.

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  10. The classes were only on for the three days of the Flamenco Festival - ie Friday to yesterday - so no I didn't go - except to take photos. The lady in black in the foreground seemed to know what she was doing but come back tomorrow to see the teacher in action - well part of her! She's wonderful!

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  11. This looks like such fun. Every since Alexa in Brooklyn posted a tango photo, I've been wanting to dance, dance, dance.

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  12. Jilly, love the action and movement and looking forward to more.

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  13. I always go to the flamenco festivals here (Washington, DC) & I look forward to more pix. I love love love Isabel Cortes. This is such a treat!

    xo

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  14. Me again...
    Maybe she's a realtive of JoaquĆ­n Cortes?? A flamenco god!!
    Barbara from Germany

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  15. The dance is the THING!

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  16. Good to see them lerning at this age.

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  17. Now that I see the full picture I understand that it's flamenco. From the thumbnail I thought it was a yoga class. There is some overlap.

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  18. Oh my dear, you MUST! I can see you doing it very well, but i can't see myself. Well I"ll enjoy from the sidelines.
    V

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