After Miguel Angel's workshop, February 2017

There is no better way to finish this visit of Miguel Angel at Israel with taking another workshop. This time it took only two classes for each workshop at Tel Aviv. For me it isn't enough. I did say before that I adore him as a dancer and love him as my friend, isn't? So, whatever left of the 15 years old girl at my soul woke up and it wasn't enough. Each class meant to be two hours (but took few more minutes more). So, slowly I will try to tell how did it go this time. 

First day

Once again I did take the level that fits to people who dance a lot, but not professional. I meant to come early for time to watch at a big part of the class for professionals. I did come early enough to change without any stress and watch a little bit. Looks like both things - my will and real life are a matter of the same thing: my excitement. And this time I knew that Ilan finally comes to the workshop of Miguel. Because he's a professional - I was sure that he will take the hardest level. I didn't bother to ask. I hopped to talk with him between classes. Well, surprise. He took the same level as I am. It was better for him because of the hours. For me it was better because it meant two good friends of mine at the same class - one will teach me, the other one will dance beside me. Couldn't be any better. 

At the moment that I was sure that couldn't be any better - I noticed that came a girl who recently started at the studio of Mijal. This girl is stressing me out every class. She always do her thing without any silence and without to stay at her place. Recently she just made Ilan's joke about me for real - she ran over me while dancing. And I mean - she went back without looking, all her back over my body and her legs on my professional flamenco shoes. Instead of just say "sorry" - she did it with hugging me. She isn't my friend, I don't want her hands over me, mostly after she do a thing like this. After that I was watching over her at the scariest look that I could give. She didn't get near me since. When I saw her at the studio for the workshop I told Ilan that now he and Miguel are taking care for me. It didn't impress him at all and with a lot of indifference he said "You don't need anyone to take care for you. You can take care for yourself". I was wondering how come that I don't see Idit there. She always takes Miguel's workshops. At any workshop that I see her - no matter if it's Miguel or anyone else - I see her at the progress classes. Now I didn't see her at all. Couldn't figure out and her case - I was sorry that I didn't see her. Only after that I found out that she's at London for work.... Few girls from Mijal's company took this class. 

Between classes some kisses. Ilan and me stood together at the front. Ayelet who took the progress class and fit there stayed for this class as well. OK. Still another person that I like takes this class. 

The class has started right away without any warming into a buleria dance. Well, almost right away. First Miguel said that it's about to be a siguiryia. Few people who still don't know his kind of humor at classes has corrected him that it's about to be a buleria. No, buleria is much more difficult than a siguiryia.... 

While the class the crazy girl took aside and didn't dare to get near me. From time to time she looked at me with a stressed look at her eyes. Yeah, maybe it's another thing that Ilan was right about... And Ilan made a thing that he didn't do for a long time - made me laugh at the middle of class just by looking at me weird. Miguel noticed me a lot and took care that I do all steps correct. It took me back to the first workshop that I took of him. It stressed me out at the first time, now not only that it didn't bother me - it could stress me out if he wasn't notice me. Two girls came late and took their places at the back. After a while - Miguel asked to change the lines for those who were at the back will be at the front. Those girls didn't accept at the start. Mijal noticed it and scolded them that Miguel came to teach, so it's better that they will do what he tells. They accepted. 

Water brake. Instead of drinking - Ilan was going to the dancing bar. I asked him if he's fine. He asked me if it's possible to stretch at this studio. I said "no". He didn't like it. I went to talk with Miguel. Now, another class joke of him - I want to dance alone, don't I? He heard me say that I do. 

After the brake - all came back to front or back as we wanted. Some more steps. At the end of class he asked Ilan to dance alone. Ilan was stressed and made something, but it wasn't his best. After that Miguel asked Ayelet to dance alone. She did it. 

Meant to be another class of beginners after that, but it didn't happen. I asked Miguel to take a video at the next day. He started talking with me about my (beautiful) shoes and skirt. I didn't try to argue that I'm wearing a dress and not a skirt, but I did tel him that I have also some other skirts. None of them is pretty as this one. By the way I kinda ran after him like a 15 years old fan. At the "balcony" of the studio he wanted to start changing clothes. He asked me to go. I told him that I don't have a problem to see him this way. He said that he have. He's very shy. I went. By going down I still saw him with shirt off. Really can't understand it. We're friends for a long time, it's only a shirt off and he's a man, and even at his age - what a body.... 

Second day

Once again - most of those who took the classes at the first day came back. Ayelet took both classes again. I came with my camera. Between classes - few more kisses. I sent Miguel "hello" from a mutual friend who couldn't come. 

When our class has been started - Ilan and me took our places at the front again. This time Miguel didn't ask us to change the lines. Usually he finish those workshops with a part that puts a song at the system and all students do just markajes that fits the music - right after him. This time he started this way the second class. I love those parts cause there is something relaxing in it. 

We went on. A lot of practice on the buleria from the first class and many new steps. At one ater brake we were talking. He asked me again if I attend to dance alone. No. He asked me if I don't like to dance alone. I guess it's more correct to say that I'm afraid to dance alone. I said that I want to dance with him. He had a respond of "OK, whatever". 

Moving on. A lot for two classes. Near the end a girl has started to take a video. Mijal asked her to stop for she will dance. Will be time for it later on. Her luck because there were some new steps to learn after that. And yes. There was a time to take videos at the end. We've been asked to dance at two groups. Those who were standing aside had the chance to take a video. Somehow - Ilan, Ayelet and me were at the group that took videos first. 

Some people came. I wasn't sure why because from one hand - no one came for the first class of beginners. At the second hand - it was possible to take one class only between two of beginners and few days before it has been told it will be two different rumbas. 

After the class was over - I asked Miguel and Ilan to have another photo with them. I asked Ayelet to take the photo. I don't accept to give my camera to anyone. I do trust Ayelet, so I asked her. I told her how to use it. When I finally took over Miguel and Ilan to stand next to me for the photo - it was "Orna in the middle. The ordinary thing"... Ayelet was a little shaken. I guess that it stressed her to hold a professional camera. She wasn't sure if the photo was good. Ilan and me looked. Ilan thought it's fine, but I wasn't sure. I gave Ayelet the camera once again and asked for another photo. The second photo was much better. By this time - Mijal was trying to rush us. There is a rumba now. The class must to start. 

By changing - Ilan and me were talking. And the music has started for the next class. Oh my GOD! I have and love this song! On my way out I couldn't say a real "goodbye" to Miguel. The class has started and he gave it. He signed me for goodbye, I signed him for a kiss. 

At the morning after he was already on a flight. And I already wait for the next time

Rafael Amargo

Adrian Santana

The Global Gift Gala - Madrid

The party has finished (for now)

OK. Now it's after another workshop of Miguel Angel that I took. I still don't have enough of him. And this time my dear friend Ilan Miller finally came too. After that - Miguel is leaving till the next time. 

I will tell all about it after I will relax a bit from the goodness I have for the last a week and a half

This March with Adi Akiva

Few photos from a rehearsal

A work together.

Miguel Angel makes a choreography for Compas Company

of Clasico Español.

Few photos that I took during a rehearsal of it.

It took a part at Tel Aviv in the studio of Mijal Natan

UNDUETRIO with Miguel Angel as a guest star

Another time a show of Compas Company. A second time that I go to see. I have two great reasons for it. I loved it at the first time, and this time it's with Miguel Angel as a guest star. Well, he isn't the only dancer "outside" the company. He's almost a part because of all the work together and the fact it's about flamenco. But Mijal Natan, the manager and the lead dancer of Compas Company loves to take chances and mix with other styles. Many times it means to invite dancers and musicians who normally don't do flamenco. So, this show is a bit of flamenco, but mostly  Clasico Español. And this show includes the young ballet dancer Michael Schneider.

So, not many people that  I know at the audience - once again. Weird, but it means that some new people gets into it. Still I had a little talk with the boyfriend of Hadas Nestel before the hall's door has been opened. 

The show starts with a duet of Mijal Natan and Michael Schneider. After that - it's a part that Mijal dance alone, the duet become with Hadas Nestel. Hadas received a long solo after that was closer to modern dance than flamenco. She's a good flamenco dancer, but at this solo as a modern dancer - she made me chills. Mijal came back to stage for ending it as a duet. At this moment it has started to look like flamenco.

After that - a lot of Clasico Español, mostly by the young dancers of the company. One of the girls lost two hairpins on stage by dancing, but it happens a lot to many dancers. Were two ballet solos of Michael Schneider. One of them was when the girls has finished one of their parts. He was wearing a shirt and short tight pants. I didn't remember he was wearing those pants before at this show, but I was sure that I missed something or maybe my memory doesn't work well this time. 

Later on there was duet of Miguel with Mijal. It was pure flamenco. And there were some parts that one of them was dancing while the other one is giving a little space to the dancer. First to dance alone was Miguel. By this time - Mijal found out a way to make a nice movement, to take off one of the hairpins from stage, put it in her hair while smiling.... It was clear it wasn't a part from the plan - at least for a person like me who see flamenco so many times and learn for so many years. Still I think that the way she made it was very elegant. Although Miguel was dancing and I was waiting for him - it was hard for me to stop looking at her and get impressed from this move. When the hairpin was at her hair - my eyes got tuck on Miguel. This duet was too short for me. I loved it too much. 

The company was going on. Near the end - the coming back of Miguel for his solo. It was a buleria with a recording music by Johannes Doschew. I knew this music before. The CD with this music was including a work together between  Johannes Doschew and Miguel Angel from the first moment. At some parts of the CD - Miguel has been called for the recording studio to dance and make palmas for this CD. Miguel sent me a copy of it. They had also a tour with a special show for this CD. I saw a video with parts of it. Were few movements that I remember that I saw in the video. I was chilled to see it live. 

The next thing was the closing dance of this show by the original thing - a pure flamenco dance made by Mijal and all the company. It's a tangos that she was teaching before at one of the classes I take at her studio, but she made few changes for making it more fit for stage and a full company. I still saw Miguel stands aside the stage. I was that close. It was hurting my concentration which was never my strongest side.

For fin la fiesta after that - a bow down. After that Miguel, Mijal and the company made palmas of a buleria. Miguel made it as a contra tiempo while all others made it as tiempo.

After that - of course I was running to get into the back stage. Of course I was asking Miguel another photos cause we don't have a new one since last night. Till he was ready to pick up his things (and he needed to make it faster than he meant to) - I was talking with Guerau. He have at this show also a solo that I love. He was nervous to do it this time and he have his reasons for it. I still loved to see him dance. When Miguel was ready - he asked to take the photo outside. There was only one person outside. Miguel asked me to go to this guy and ask him to take our photo. We made it near the door to the artists' entrance. There was a problem with the light. Till I made Miguel to notice it - he was in a middle of a conversation with this guy. We went to the other side near the entrance to the hall. Miguel was still preparing when this guy started to take our photos. He made few photos cause "something must go well". So, three went out pretty well - including the one that Miguel was preparing. I got into the conversation too. I found out this way that this guy who was taking our photos is the boyfriend (or husband?) of Ayelet Shachar who is a very dominate dancer at this company. I know her also in person (but not THAT personally) and love her as a dancer and as a human. Miguel was asking to go to Mijal's car. He asked me if I can come with him or do I mean to stay and talk with Ayelet's boyfriend. OK, of to behave like a 15 years old girl who goes after the artist that she adore.... I was walking after Miguel. Next to the car while Mijal was there and heard it - Miguel invited me to eat dinner with them at Suzanna - the popular restaurant at the next side of the road. I asked if I'm really invited. Miguel and Mijal said both that I do. I went with Moran Ron to catch a place. Ayelet and her boyfriend came a moment after us. At last, Miguel, Mijal and Lia joined us. I was at a side of the table, next to me one chair at the middle. Lia almost sat next to me, but Mijal asked her to sit at another chair for Miguel will sit next to me. By this dinner I found out about few things that stressed them through performing that night. One of the things was the pants of Michael Schneider - the short one that I didn't remember. I found out it wasn't really pants. He have a choice of two pairs pants for this dance at this show. One pair pants - Mijal brough and Michael didn't accept to wear. The other pair pants are at Michael's hands. He forgot to bring it, so he got up to dance on stage at his underwear..... Mijal already called it "naked". I found out that the girls were shocked from it - really naked or with his underwear

And those are the good photos with Miguel from that evening:

Compas Company

A photo by Ronen Rosenblatt

Los tres amigos

Here we go again. Miguel Angel came back to Israel and I'm celebrating. It isn't a secret that I adore him as a dancer and a choreographer, and it isn't a secret that he became a very good friend of mine at real life. It's also correct to say that Ilan Miller is a very good friend of mine for years as well and I adore him too as a dancer. Now Miguel came back to Israel for giving some workshops and perform with Compas Company. Two shows. Once again "David and Bat Sheva" - a show which is running for years. Ilan to perform at this show few years ago as a replacement for another dancer, now he's a part of this production as a dancer of Compas Company. The other show with Miguel - the new show of Compas Company - UNDUETRIO. It's only of Compas Company, but now Miguel is a guest star He takes a part at two parts as a dancer (one is a duet with Mijal Natan, the other one is a solo of him) and as a choreographer for a new dance. So, as a part of my celebrating - I took some photos at a rehearsal (some already has been published, will be some more), I made sure to have my tickets for both shows, taking a part at a workshop at Tel Aviv, and..... A cup of coffee with Miguel as friends. 

At the part of meeting as friends - coffee, but also breakfast at the end. At the same evening he had two shows in a row of "David and Bat Sheva". First time was for people who were invited (I still don't understand how come that I wasn't at the list), and the second time is for people who bought their tickets. Yeah, I was buying. I know this show very well from all the times that I saw it, still can't stop. Even for seeing again my two good friends are sharing the same stage. And of course - also my teacher Mijal Natan and some people who I know from dancing at her studio. At our breakfast together - Miguel and I were talking about Ilan. Miguel starts to like him and said he's nice. I told him that Ilan is my friend for years. Miguel was a little stressed that I will come that evening to see them because he's already tired and all of them will be tired at this time. 

At Suzanne Dellal, Tel Aviv weren't many people that I knew at the audience. Still many people and only few places left. At the hall when I was sitting - a guy was asking me to see the program. When he almost finished to see - two women were sitting between us. Of of them was asking me to see the program as well. After that - the guy was talking with the two women. While listening - I understood that I met this guy before. He's the boyfriend of Hadas Nestel, one of the dancers of Compas Company who takes a part at this show. 

At the show itself - were few moments that it was possible to see that the dancers are tired. It didn't stop them and even not at their best - it was stunning. I did notice Ilan freak out near the end. He made a thing that made others laugh on stage. At the solo of Miguel was a thing he made a little different. This time - I was busy mostly to see this show through photos that I took last week at the rehearsal. This time Maya Shani Palenbaum was taking as a dancer of the company. She came instead of Vlada Vest who is in a brake now. Maya is now officially at the company. I looked at her a lot at the show, a little bit more that I thought to. I was a little bit confused about it. She was a ballet teacher long time ago, but as a flamenco dancer - recently she takes a part from time to time at a kids' show of the company. Accept that - she's a regular student as I am at the studio at my age. I was jealous to see her there on this stage with those people. I was sure that I hate her this moment. Although I was jealous - I must admit she made her job very well. She was dancing very professional and it looked good, at least most of the time. 

After the show I got into the backstage. I was talking with some of the girls and asked to see it again. NOW. And I came with Ivelisse to one of the dressing rooms for talking with Miguel. She went out a moment after she was saying "hello" to Miguel. I stayed. A lot. It was funny to see that another girl who learn with me got in as well, she knows Miguel and hardly recognized me. She didn't see him for a long time. After a long waiting (I'm terrible at waiting) and freaking out from it - I received two photos with my friends at the dressing room of Miguel and some others. A moment before the photos - Miguel said "Los tres amigos". I love calling it this way.... After that I was telling Ilan I was meeting Miguel that morning and we talking about him. Nothing to worry, only some bad things... Because of that - "los tres amigos". 

I found myself for a moment on stage. Oh my... I disturb the holiness of this place! I meant to say goodbye to Ilan and some of the girls before I go. I didn't see Miguel after that and couldn't understand it. I went out from the backstage. He called me. He was out to have some air. He asked me to wait with him if I have few minutes. Of course that I have! We were talking with the boyfriend of Hadas Nestel. After  that I was talking with him alone for a little bit more. After that - I could say few more times "goodbye" to the girls. And another girl came running when I went away. She's a girl who learn at the same studio. We learn together. I dislike her because I think that she's weird, she looks like that her ego is bigger than her and the classes looks worse because of her and few others. She looked at me and didn't recognized me. I guess that it's because she's weird and never saw me before with the hair this way. I don't mind that she spared me the talk with her.

And the photos of "los tres amigos" at the dressing room:

Miguel Angel and Mijal Natan

A photo by Ronen Rosenblatt

Mijal Natan at the show "David and Bat Sheva"

From last night

Farruquito

Miguel Angel at a rehearsal

Few photos that I took of Miguel Angel

at a rehearsal for the show

"David and Bat Sheva" 

with Compas Company

A part from his solo near the end of the show