Feria de Abril, Atlanta GA
Performance, April 22, 8p.m.
Activities all afternoon and evening, including classes, concerts, Spanish tapas, and kids activities. The festival ends with a special performance by renowned guitarist/singer Marija Temo and Seville dancer Isaac Tovar, along with local professional artists.
Workshop, April 23, 1-3p.m.
Marija Temo will teach her well-known communication methodology.
Guitarists, singers, dancers, and percussionists are all welcome to join!
This class examines flamenco from different perspectives between music and movement, exploring how each work together in an improvised setting.
Flamenco Communication Intensive
with Marija Temo and guest dancer/teacher, Kerensa DeMars
(for all levels in Dance, Guitar, & Vocal, working separately & together)
The flamenco intensive focuses on working with different disciplines to enhance your abilities to lead, accompany, and to better support one another with feedback from M. Temo and K. DeMars
This year is designed for participants to be able to take one or more days. Different material will be taught each day.
Coaching sessions are a supportive environment for you to workshop parts of your dance solo, falseta, or letra with other students (dancers, guitarists, singers, palmeros) and the instructors. The goal of these sessions is to help you improve your performance communication skills with constructive and positive feedback.
(Best to arrange with other students if you want a 2 person or group coaching, or inquire with M. Temo if someone can be put with you. You may also sign up for an individual coaching where M. Temo will accompany via guitar and singing, and/or K. DeMars will dance for you.)
Email Marija Temo to register for your slot time. First come, first serve. Slot times are guaranteed with payment.
Workshops Workshops are for all levels (beginners to more experienced dancers). The material will be shown in a basic and more advanced version. (Students are welcome to record the material.)
Bamberas (Llamada, Letra, Escobilla, Salida) Separate Workshops for Dancers, Guitarists, and Singers
Application Workshop Combining Dancers, Guitarists, and Singers together.
The Bamberas or ‘Swing Songs’ are a flamenco adaption of Andalusian folk music. Originally sung in a fandangos style, Paco de Lucia reworked the Bamberas in the Solea por Buleria rhythm which is most commonly used today but with a different aire that’s more fluid, reminiscent of the swings….
Dance Technique Friday:
Footwork Drills and Building Escobillas. This technique class includes a series of footwork drills for stamina and musicality followed by phrasing patterns to create escobillas in 12 count palos. We’ll look specifically at how to create strong, musical footwork sections, how to extend or shorten a pattern and how to create patterns that work well for a guitarist to accompany.
Saturday:
Upper body movement and mantón technique. This class will include a series of drills focused on upper body control and using the torso to create more depth and power in your dancing. We’ll explore the dynamic torso movements that are unique to flamenco and how to cultivate the flexibility and strength needed to create those lines. We will also explore mantón work and how to engage the torso to complement this technique. BYO mantón if you have one, some will be provided.
Palmas (Technique & Application): Learn various styles of palmas, which include different patterns for accompaniment and how to create strong accents, and how to hold the body to prevent fatigue. We will also learn how to find musicality in your palmas, play supportively without rushing or overpowering what’s happening musically.
We’ll put our technique practice to the test accompanying falsetas, escobillas, llamadas and letras, and discuss how to get in and out of contra sections, how to listen to your fellow palmeros to stay in synch, and how to give jaleo while playing palmas.
Palos to be covered: Friday: Bulerias, Sat: Tientos/Tangos.
Jam sessionsFree time, without the instructors, to jam with other dancer, guitarist, and singer workshop participants.
Observation All workshops and coachings are open for an observation fee. (Observation is free for the days that you are registered for a workshop or coaching.)
