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Sunday, May 15, 2011

My Mother's Day Present

Is everyone tired of Flamenco? Last one, I promise. I had the best Mother's Day and it didn't involve my kids. Flamenco performances are almost unheard of in Montana but last Sunday a fantastic travelling troupe gave a high energy show in Helena.

I sat with my students and was delighted to watch their reaction to this powerful performance. None of them had ever seen live Flamenco with guitars and singers The absence of both in Montana force us to perform with Cd's. I was extremely pleased to know I had a large part in preparing the students foundation so they were able to fully appreciate it. Their feet silently danced and their hands were keeping rhythm with palmas.

I put together a few clips that I took with my flip camcorder. The stage was quite dark and the clip is shaky in places but it gives you some views of the show. It's customary for every performer to do a small dance at the end of a performance. Then everyone walks off together, often entwining arms and always in a jovial mood. This is called the Fin De Festival. I lost my program but I think the troupe's name is "Noche Flamenco," featuring Soledad Barrio and guest artists.

26 comments:

  1. How neat that your and your students got to see a live performance. Can't remember the last time I have seen a performance advertised. Hope this means a resurgence.
    I liked the jovial ending. The only dancers I have seen always seemed so serious. You did a great job of filming.

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  2. Wasn't shaky at all. Your students must have been thrilled to see this live.

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  3. That is really neat...that is definitely something I would enjoy seeing !!!

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  4. Ooh my...very enjoyable! Good job filming... & thanks for sharing.

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  5. Oh Manzanita... how much fun that was for you. I have never seen anthing around here like that, but then you have to remember I live in a hick town in Pennsylvania.

    You did a very nice job filming it. I would have had that camera shaking all over.

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  6. What a wonderful day that must have been for you & your students!! Thank you for letting us "be there" with you. I, for one, am NOT tired of seeing flamenco videos & wish that you had not made your promise. You got my juices flowing again this morning--I'm 76 years old & they don't flow that easily, anymore!

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  7. Loved everything about the video. Good job, Manzanita!

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  8. I can just imagine the thrill and inspiration your students must've felt as they watched. That was a cool gift for everyone. Thanks for sharing some of it with us. :-)

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  9. Great job, Manzie! I didn't think the video was shaky. What a treat for you and your students to enjoy such a beautiful performance together. Even better, they were prepared, not just for this performance but you'd given them a foundation upon which to build and enjoy future performaces, as, life being life, many will move on but will always have you with them. This is nice, very nice!

    About my post, Yvette and her ring - thank you for 'getting it' - you're the only one who understood the layering - there's something to be said for life experience, my friend!

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  10. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment.
    Beth

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  11. Patti : This was such a joy for me. I hung out in the lobby with a few locals and had a conversation with some of the the group and it was a perfect evening.

    My baby John ; Thanks. Wish it could have been lighter.... but ... oh well.

    Jeff : Yeah... you'd probably be good at dancing flanenco, too.

    Terry : Well, Helena is just a hick cowboy town, too. That's why Flamenco usually never comes there.

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  12. Fishducky : Thanks for your nice comment. You are always kind. I do appreciate your liking and following Flamenco. It's such a pleasure to know you. Well, my dear, we are nearly in the same league. You are 76 and I am 81. We have to enjoy every year, every month, every minute. I know I do and I get the impression that you do too. But.... having said this, I feel I comprehend more than I used to so that's a bonus!!! Thank you again for being my friend.

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  13. Gigi : Thanks. The clips came out better than I thought they would. :)

    Amanda : Thanks for stopping and commenting.

    Su-sieee : You are welcome. My pleasure. Perhaps you picked up a couple steps to add to your kitchen routine. :) I love that Suz.....So happy you are interested in Flamenco.

    Kitty : You write such nice comments. You are so sweet. Re: your post. You are so wise for being young and that may not sound right but it seems like it takes a few years to "catch on to life." You got it very early. It will serve you well and make a happy marriage for you and a contented life. Bless that creative mind of yours.

    Beth : And I return the same to you. Thank you and I always appreciate your visits.

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  14. Very entertaining dancing combined with professional filming! Glad you had a wonderful Mother's Day, while doing something special for your students. Julie

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  15. A great filming job,beautiful performance.

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  16. You are 81 & you still dance flamenco? HOLY S**T!!!!!!

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  17. Hello Manzanita. I'm following you from your comment on Romantic Friday Writers. I'd love to be at your place in life. You sound so content.

    I'm about to head to Madrid in Spain and visit a few Spanish cites. I wonder if I'll see any flamenco.I believe it's very difficult to find?

    Denise

    Romantic Friday Writers - Second Challenge - LOST

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  18. So glad you got to see such a wonderful performance. We don't get much flamenco out here in Hawaii either. I remember seeing it in Illinois. I just loved the energy and grace of it.

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  19. Wow! What an experience!! Especially for me - I thought we were done with the Flamenco after the A-Z challenge!!

    But I don't care what you write about - it's always worth reading!!

    Have a great day!!

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  20. PS I took your suggestion about removing the word verification. So far, good! But it's only been a day ...

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  21. It's me again--I just wanted to thank you for the comment you left on Inger's blog!

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  22. I bet you all had trouble staying in your seats. How many students do you have?

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  23. How can anyone tire of Flamenco!

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  24. Wonderful post from a mother.

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  25. Julie : It was a glorious Mother's day.

    Anthony : Thanks. It came out pretty good after all for bootlegging a little Flip cami.

    Fishducky : It gets easier after dancing 60 years. LOL

    Denise : You'll have a great time in Spain. Most of the Flamenco is in Southern Spain but you'll find pockets of Flamenco scattered around. Andalusia and Malaga used to be the hot Flamenco spots but I haven't been there in a while and things change. Just ask when you get there and you'll be directed to it. Have fun !!!!

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  26. Kay : If you lived in Chicago, you had all kinds of good arts and theater.

    Red : Hope you don't get any spam. You'll shoot me.

    Rosalind : That troupe was really high energy and all that power. I have 2 studios.... One in Helena and one in Bozeman. My studio in Helena is small and all I can fit in comfortably is 5 or 6 students. I don't charge for lessons but it's strict classes because I don't want to waste anyone's time. I teach for the love of dance and Flamenco. I don't want to put more financial burden on the students because they have to buy shoes, castanets and costumes.

    JJ : No one can.... in my book. :)

    Gujjari : Thank you. It was a beautiful Mother's Day.

    Thanks for the meaningful comments, dear bloggy friends. Love you all.... Manzanita

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