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Thursday, April 21, 2011

R is For Rhythm

Daily April post of A-Z Blogging Challenge is for the letter R. Theme is Flamenco.

R is For Rhythm


Rhythm is the core of Flamenco. We dance, we sing, but we need some kind of a beat or rhythm that we first put inside of us. Once that rhythm is safely settled in the body, we can release it in the form of dancing. Guitars, violins, tambourines, knuckle rapping, finger snapping, cane striking the floor, are all the sounds that can produce a Rhythm.

Notice the position of the fingers in the photo above. He's using Pitos, or finger snapping. Just because we don't have a guitarist or a CD player, it doesn't mean we can't dance. Years ago, after Flamenco class, we'd stand waiting for a bus and practice our hand clapping in various rhythms. We'd dance and clap and feel sad when the bus arrived because that ended our little "Flamenco jam session."

The video below shows a group of street dancers participating in a rhythm.

25 comments:

  1. there's so much I love about this in addition to the music and rhythm- it's sensuous without being crude, it's joyous, the faces of the people around are beautiful and involved, there's a real sense of community, with people of all ages included and joining in enthusiastically. Thankyou again so much Manzanita. Have a beautiful Easter. Sue@JumpingAground (Alliteration & drabbles)
    Sue@traverselife(Workplace bullying)

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  2. I love the idea that instruments are not necessary to dance.
    A lot of us, me included, don't feel it till the beat is so strong that it vibrates the air and threatens our ear drums. I envy you your sense of rhythm.

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  3. to share the same spirit and passion with a group of people - isnt' that what a good life is all about. :)

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  4. Rhythm plays such a big part in so many cultures. Clapping and/or banging on something probably produced the first instruments, percussion. I believe it goes back to hearing our mother's heartbeat while in the womb.

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  5. To bad there isn't more of these street dances now days. There would be a lot less problems with out kids of today.

    The women look like they are having a wonderful time.... Great Post again!!!

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  6. I am lousy at rhythm, especially syncopation. David is better at it so he's the better dancer.

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  7. How wonderful to just gather on the street and express yourself.

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  8. Another great post. Love the video and your explanation of rhythm. It's such a huge part of nearly everyone's culture.

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  9. Great video. Rhythm plays such a large part in our lives. Voice, dance, writing...it is all round us and in us.

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  10. Wonderful post! It's important to remember that the rhythm lives through us, not instruments.

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  11. Sue : I agree with all you say and especially the all ages. Love the youngsters and the very old and all the in-between.
    Patti : Why I don't like dancing partners.... I could scream if they get off the rhythm.
    texwisgirl : You bet it is. Provides good family times.
    Bish : Now that you say that about a mother's heartbeat, I remember hearing that once. What a great idea to think about.
    Terry : You are so right. There isn't enough family togetherness and fun these days. In fact, hardly any at all.
    Gigi : wish we were neighbors. My students pick it up. It takes a lot of concentration just to hear the beat you are doing.
    Mybabyjohn : Yes and it makes for good watching and listening.
    Theycallmevarmit :I agree. Every culture has it's own sense of rhythm.
    Ann : Yup.... Rhythm is there in just about all phases of our lives.

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  12. Laura : A wonderful point. So happy you said that. I should have put it that way in the post. Thanks.
    Manzanita

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  13. You just made me remember that as a young whippersnapper I used to snap my fingers while I danced, without thinking. LOL!

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  14. Do you remember the Gershwin song, "I Got Rhythm"? I think it applies to people of all ages with flamenco in their blood, from the young boy singer to the old woman whose hands we saw keeping the beat.

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  15. Oh the boy has got such a voice - so has the woman!!!! And I love the rhythm, I think I can just about clap to it! And I love how the other (very raunchy!!!) women join in too! Yay!!!
    :-)

    Thanks for sharing this clip! Take care
    x

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  16. Thanks for my daily fix of flamenco :-)

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  17. Su-sieee :See, you had the wonderful beginnings of a Flamenco Dancer. You just had to keep dancing and snapping. :)
    Fishducky : Do I remember that song? I think Judy Garland sang it in a show by that name, starring with Mickey Rooney. But, yes, that's one thing I love about Flamenco..... it involves family. I used to love pictures of old gnarled hands .... i.e. until I got them myself. Now, I'm not so sure. :)
    Kitty :I bet you are really a good dancer. (I can judge !!!)
    K.C. : I thank you for needing it.

    Manzanita

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  18. It was Gene Kelly who sang it--I think it was in "American in Paris". You might enjoy a picture I painted of a old woman's hands. It's in the Desert Canyon Living blog of 3/25/11 entitled "This is a Blog.....". I did it in 1971. My hands looked a lot better then, yoo.

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  19. So excited to find your blog, my language class is learning Spanish this year and I've been looking for information and video clips on Flamenco dancing.
    :)
    Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers

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  20. You were right--Garland sang it in Girl Crazy & a few years later Gene Kelly sang it.

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  21. Fishducky : Oh, you looked it up. I was ready to concede to you that you were right. Ha. Somehow, the image of J. Garland flashed in my mind.
    I do remember that picture on Inger's post of not so long ago. I loved that picture. You did it, huh? That was the post on an elevator. The picture was very good and your house is filled with creative treasures.

    Charmaine : I love your name and especially the song Charmaine. I've been around Spanish speaking people most of my life and I'd say I still can't speak Spanish... just fragmented phrases and words. There are tons of Flamenco videos on YouTube.
    So nice to meet you. I like the name of your blog. :)

    Manzanita.

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  22. Thank you for the compliments. I'm glad you like my work--I LOVE your blog!!

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  23. Me: Happy that you stopped.

    Fishducky : I am happy that we met.

    Love your comments. Manzanita

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  24. I have no rhythm and two left feet. Those who can't watch and enjoy. :)

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