An interview with La India

From the site Flamencos Pr El Mundo 29/05/2012 La India Si vienen a Sevilla y se pasan por la Peña Niño de la Alfafa en la calle Castellar y quieren aprender flamenco conocerán a La India, Virginia Di Domenicantonio, maestra de esta peña. Virginia recibió su apodo de Concha Vargas su primera maestra y así es conocida en Sevilla, La India. Además ha estudiado con Angelita Gómez, Matilde Coral, Manuela Carpio, Juana Amaya, La Farruca, La Chiqui de Jerez, Angelita Vargas, Manuel Betanzos, Andrés Peña, Manuela Reyes, Pilar Ortega, Belén Maya, Antonio " El Pipa", entre otros Es originaria de La Plata, Argentina, pero desde el año 2006 reside en Sevilla donde ha logrado varios sueños. ¿Por qué el flamenco? Sinceramente no lo sé…me he hecho muchas preguntas en mi vida , pero jamás me cuestioné el flamenco. El flamenco estaba en mi sin yo saberlo exactamente , a medida que fui creciendo fue creciendo conmigo y me fue marcando el camino y si pudiera marcar un comienzo ese sería la academia de danzas españolas en la ciudad de La Plata en Argentina a los 6 años , desde entonces ha pasado mucha agua bajo el puente de mi existencia que me condujo a mi presente en el que soy española ,andaluza y sevillana por residencia , bailaora y trasmito lo que sé a mis alumnos en la Peña Flamenca “ Niño de la Alfalfa” en Sevilla y dando cursillos fuera de España. Sé que he sido lo suficientemente intuitiva y fuerte como para dejarme guiar por un deseo profundo y desconocido que muchas veces me hizo saltar al vacío, lo cierto es que doy gracias a mi cobarde valentía porque finalmente he llegado a ser yo misma. ¿Tiene Sevilla un color especial? Sevilla tiene un color especial, un olor especial, un sonido especial, y todo esto hace que tenga un embrujo particular… un algo sumamente atractivo y peligrosamente seductor que hace a los sevillanos y todo el que llega a esta ciudad contagiarse de vivir el presente en sus calles llenas de magia. Decía Bécquer que el secreto de Sevilla está en su luz. ¿Cuándo tiempo ya en Sevilla? Comencé a Viajar en el 1999 a formarme y lo hacía cada año por un par de meses, definitivamente me asenté en el 2006. ¿Que recuerdas de los primeros tiempos? Los primeros años fueron maravillosos, yo era muy inocente flamencamente hablando y todo me emocionaba y sacaba mis lagrimas, he conocido gente maravillosa, recuerdo cuando conocí a Juan el Camas en La Carbonería, aprendí mucho de él de hecho el casi me empujo a conocer y estudiar con Concha Vargas con quien seguí estudiando muchos años y a quien considero mi Maestra …ella abrió la puerta al flamenco dentro de mi y yo disfruté de dejarlo salir con su total apoyo. El choque mas fuerte que tuve fue la primera vez que llegue aquí , fue sentirme energéticamente en casa, sabia como moverme y orientarme jamás mire un mapa, yo solo sabia donde ir …eso fue muy sorprendente para mi y disparó muchas inquietudes que se fueron manifestando posteriormente a ese primer viaje que cambió literalmente el rumbo de mi vida. Papás me voy a Sevilla... a estudiar flamenco ¿qué te dijeron? De hecho ese primer viaje lo hice con un dinero que me dejo mi padre de herencia y que solo alcanzaba para ese viaje, para mí fue un total consentimiento de su parte y en su honor me lo permití a pesar de que a pesar de ser muy joven era mamá. Cada año me ahorraba para viajar a estudiar cuando Argentina vivía en abundancia económica y mis niños se quedaban con el papá hasta que me divorcié y cuando niños ya fueron adolescentes, fue a ellos a quien les pedí el permiso más doloroso que jamás había pedido. ¿Quiénes han sido tus maestros? He tenido grandes maestros en mi vida, yo considero un maestro a quién enseña con amor y compasión, entrega generosamente y exige sacar lo mejor de cada uno …el flamenco tiene grandes , grandísimos artistas y bailaores, he tenido el placer de conocer a muchos ya sea tomando sus clases magistrales, o compartiendo almuerzos , viajes, momentos en los que me han trasmitido sus experiencias … soy una agradecida de haber vivido esos privilegios . Hay grandes maestros y cada alumno tiene el suyo, sin dudas la que conecto directamente con mi ser fue Concha Vargas a quien visito amorosamente en sus clases cuando necesito volver a mí. Otro gran maestro que he tenido que es Víctor García, (analista corporal-Madrid ) quien tutelo mi crecimiento emocional y espiritual. Menciono a Víctor porque cada vez estoy más convencida de que si uno no está en consonancia con su ser profundo al bailar, solo muestra pasos y formas. ¿Has logrado un sueño? Soy una persona que los sueños han inspirado mi vida y sin saber concretamente cuales fueron los pasos que he dado, miro para atrás y tengo una gran colección de sueños de todos los tamaños e índoles cumplidos, sueños que no me han caído desde el cielo….son sueños que me he currado a los que les he puesto el cuerpo, el alma y el corazón, que también me han dado dolores y pesares pero el saldo es positivo absolutamente. Hoy vivo en la ciudad de mis sueños con el hombre de mi vida y saber eso me da la confianza de seguir descubriendo mi camino y acompañar el de mis hijos. ¿Una historia que contar? Uno de los momentos más flamencos de mi vida los he vivido en la Peña del Sordera en Barrio Santiago en Jerez. Era una peña muy exclusiva, de hecho creo que ya no funciona, yo vivía al lado y todas las noches me dormía pared por medio con bulerías en directo. Nunca me había atrevido a entrar hasta que un día me invitaron a pasar y allí ocurrió todo, estaban todos: los zambos que eran muy asiduos, junto con el Chicharo, Bo, integrantes de Navajita plateada, el Morao en fin el arte más grande de jerez y yo. Me sentí tan integrada que en un acto de inconsciencia me arranque con el cante de Diego Carrasco con el toque del Moraito… Un consejo para los Flamencos del Mundo que quieran venir a Sevilla Lo mismo que digo siempre a mis alumnos, venir para sentir la energía del cante, del compas, del origen de los hacedores del flamenco que ya quedan pocos con vida y ellos son el sentido de flamenco, los maestros de maestros . En contraposición a esto suelen venir y llenarse de coreografía sin reparar en el sentido y esto es solo eso: c o r e o g r a f i a . Esto a mi me da mucha tristeza por ellos porque se pierden de la parte mas importante , la parte de :¿que sienten ellos, para aportar sentido al flamenco? . Cuando los estudiantes, tanto los que vienen como los que están aquí mismo viviendo dejan de reparar su total atención en los pasos para aportar su ser flamenco al flamenco, es cuando ellos mismos ya se han convertido en flamencos y han dejado de ser interpretes del SENTIDO FLAMENCO de otros.

Classes of Andrés Peña

CLASES CON ANDRES PEÑA SEP-OCT NIVEL ALTO 17:00-17:55 ABANDOLAOS NIVEL MEDIO 18:00-18:55 TANGOS NIVEL BAJO 19:00-19:55 BULERIAS PLAZAS LIMITADAS Mas información en info@manuelbetanzos.com Tlf. +34 954 519 340

The upcoming Festival Jerez

And information from the site Flamenco-World: Original Flamenco Festival es un nuevo festival flamenco de iniciativa privada, producido por Grupo Smedia y Proyectos e Ideas del Sur, que celebra su primera edición del 6 de agosto al 2 de septiembre de 2012 en el Teatro Compac Gran Vía de Madrid. Con el flamenco de Jerez como eje temático, el programa combina los espectáculos de gran formato, con los recitales de cámara en el Pequeño Teatro Gran Vía. Joaquín Grilo, Mercedes Ruiz, María del Mar Moreno, Andrés Peña, Pilar Ogalla, La Macanita, Juana la del Pipa, Luis el Zambo, David Lagos, Diego del Morao... son sólo algunos de los artistas que protagonizan esta primera edición. El cartel conjuga, en perfecto equilibrio, la tradición y la vitalidad del arte jondo de Jerez, una tierra donde el flamenco se vive. 8 a 12 de agosto Teatro Compac COMPAÑÍA DE MARÍA DEL MAR MORENO 'JEREZ PURO, ESENCIA' Martes a sábado: 20:30 horas · Domingo: 19:30 horas + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 14 de agosto Teatro Compac, 20:30 horas LA MACANITA & MANUEL PARRILLA + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 15 a 19 de agosto Teatro Compac ANDRÉS PEÑA, PILAR OGALLA, MACARENA RAMÍREZ Y JAVIER LATORRE '¡VIVA JEREZ!' Martes a sábado: 20:30 horas · Domingos: 19:30 horas + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 16 de agosto Pequeño Gran Vía, 23:00 horas Miguel Lavi + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 17 de agosto Pequeño Gran Vía, 23:00 horas Javier Patino + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 18 de agosto Pequeño Gran Vía, 23:00 horas Ezequiel Benítez + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 21 de agosto Teatro Compac, 20:30 horas LUIS EL ZAMBO & JUANA LA DEL PIPA & FERNANDO MORENO + info: elenco, fotos, entradas Pequeño Gran Vía, 23:00 horas Santiago Lara + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 22 a 26 de agosto Teatro Compac COMPAÑÍA DE MERCEDES RUIZ / PERSPECTIVAS Martes a sábado: 20:30 horas · Domingo: 19:30 horas + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 22 a 26 de agosto Teatro Compac COMPAÑÍA DE MERCEDES RUIZ / PERSPECTIVAS Martes a sábado: 20:30 horas · Domingo: 19:30 horas + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 23 de agosto Pequeño Gran Vía, 23:00 horas David Carpio + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 28 de agosto Teatro Compac, 20:30 horas JESÚS MÉNDEZ & DIEGO DEL MORAO + info: elenco, fotos, entradas 29 de agosto a 2 de septiembre Teatro Compac COMPAÑÍA DE JOAQUIN GRILO 'LEYENDA PERSONAL' Martes a sábado: 20:30 horas · Domingo: 19:30 horas + info: elenco, fotos, entradas

A bit more of Andres

Andres and Pilar in Jerez

An oldie flamenco poster

Andrés on stage

Two old posters of Andrés

And one more of Andrés....

Few of Andrés Peña and Pilar Ogalla

Few more of Andrés

An old poster of Andrés

Andrés

The DVD from class

This is the DVD that I saw in class with Domingo Ortega, Andrés Peña Morón and Rafael Campallo. If you have the chance to see it - I really recommend to do so. It's a great one

1st May class

After years that 1st of May was mostly a day that people here remembers it meaning, but don't do a thing about it. Now it's here again. I received a ride this time to class, but looks like I could get the studio faster if I went by foot. There were two demonstrations in Tel Aviv and I got the studio when the class was meant to start. Maybe a bit after... I sent a text message to Neta for I won't disturb the other class and she still will know that I'm about to come. The studio is in an area of a school. Last two years it was in the same school, but a different studio. Many kids with their parents. I finally got the studio - no flamenco but more kids with parents. I called Neta. She asked me if I'm in the studio of this year. I said that I am. She told me it's about to happen this time in the old studio. I came there the fastest that I could (includes going up many stairs cause there is no elevator). A video class. Half dark, a TV and a bench. The other one who always comes was sitting and already had her flamenco shoes on. One of the medium level class was there and was sitting with her. I apologized, was throwing my things near the bench and sat down. I took my water out, made my hair like it's always in classes... I wasn't sure it to change. It didn't matter to me this moment anyway. I just wanted to be there and if it's a video time - flamenco skirt can wait. The other one wanted to give a DVD that she have for watching a farruca of Sara Baras. It was a weird machine - it was possible to do a "play", but no choosing which part. I came to see if I find the right buttons, but it really didn't have any of those. So, as far as she doesn't like Sara Baras and no choosing parts - she said we'll see what there is and no what is was meant (parts of palos that comes on 4). Before we really started Neta asked me how long we're together. Not the first time, but... I remind her that it's the 6th year. Neta asked if that's all. I said it feels longer and started to laugh. Neta agreed it feels this way. So - a DVD she have. It was mostly with alegrias and solea por buleria with three dancers: Andrés Peña Morón, Domingo Ortega and Rafael Campallo (in this line). Neta already showed before parts of them in other times but as I remember - it was something else of them. About Andrés Peña Morón - I start to be sure that I love his style. Talent he has for sure. In one part I found myself say quietly "ole". Neta did in the same time. About Domingo Ortega - it was an amazing part, one of the best that I saw of him. The "house father" came. Neta asked him about another DVD player or any thing that can help to choose parts. He said that they don't have there anything else. In both parts Neta asked us to say what we see (what makes the dance in each part). I usually was right, but I got confused once... Oops. And we needed to do the palmas. Neta asked me to sit different once and was watching at me. And the part of Rafael Campallo. He is good indeed, but I'm not sure that I'm crazy for him. He didn't make me feel anything which isn't a good sign. Then was a part of fin la fiesta with a buleria. Two tables, the players and one of the singers near one table, the dancers near the other - all knock on the tables the beat. One other singer was standing between and started to sing. And the dancers got up and made a little part of fin la fiesta - each in a turn, the same turn - Andrés, Domingo, Rafael... I thought that both Andrés and Domingo made cool things in this part, but I still couldn't be amazed from Rafael although he made it very well too. I'm probably broken... And a flamenco in a tango beat part of all of them. It wasn't a fin la fiesta, but it was a thing to "end" it nice. The musicians and singers were behind and made the live music. From the dark it was possible to see short solos of three dancers in a different turn and then three of them in the light and do the same dance together. It was so beautiful. It was possible to see the same thing in three different styles at once. And three of them were amazing (yeah, Rafael made me feel something this time almost like the two others). We have been asked to do the palmas again. Easy this time. The girl from medium level class has started to use her phone. In the end of this DVD she said she have to go. Oh, what's the time? We have 15 more minutes for class. Neta said it isn't enough for starting to dance now, so she will let us see one more thing. The other one was a bit disappointed cause she was with her flamenco shoes. Neta let us see from another DVD a part of Pastora Galvan dance solea por buleria. It isn't the first time that I see it in those classes. This time I started to enjoy it more. And a little more from this DVD before we go. And the name of Eva Yerbabuena was in the air. Neta said that she really loves her - her and Rocío Molina. I told her that those are two reasons for she will finally see the movie Flamenco, Flamenco of Carlos Saura. I told her about the part of Rocío. Neta asked me if Belén is there too. I told her that this time no... She didn't like the answer. On the way back I went by foot and no sign for the mess that was earlier in the roads.

Once again with the videos

Yesterday there was another evening to fill with classes that has been cancel. Not all needed to bring the flamenco clothes. I did. It started with an early video class (watching flamenco in video/dvd). After that was meant to be the class of tuesdays. When I came Some already were in the studio: the snobish woman (I didn't miss her) and her daughter, the assistant, and another one from medium level sunday classes.There was a weird light near the mirrors which I never seen before. The DVD machine was already working and there was a part of Marina Heredia. I said hello to all. The one from medium level didn't even try to look. The assistant answered. The snobish looked at me in a shocked way. Only in the second time she did a favore to answer (b#$@). Her daughter in her way being like mother and didn't answer. After I was putting my stuff and took some papers I found for Dias de Flamenco I went fast to the ladies room. I didn't even try to change. It was pretty late and I still wasn't sure if there will be a next class later this evening. On the way I saw the woman who looks like a man from beginners. She at least ain't snobish and has no problem to say hello. When I got back she made herself a place to seat. The class has started and Neta started to talk. In the middle of talks the man from the medium level classes got in with another girl from those classes. He said that now it's time to start. They sat behind the assistant. Three of them made some stops at class for talking. Neta started again because of the lates. This time it was watching mostly videos around solea and solea por bulria. After the videos has started came also an old woman from medium level classes. She apologized for the late and sat. Quite in the start Neta showed us a solea por buleria danced by Joaquin Grilo. That pretty good most of time. When his part over at class the beginner who looks like a man said he's a hunk. I was pretty shocked. I was sure that she isn't interested in men. And she was busy in something... Writing? Mobile phone? The man said that Joaquin didn't need a vest. The girl from medim level asked if he's about to com to Israel. Neta told her that he already did two years ago for Dias de Flamenco with Pastora Galvan.Later on - the man asked to hear/see an alegria. Neta let us see a bit of Diego El Cigala. It was a surprise for me cause I know that Neta doesn't like him. The girl from medium level classes and the man choosed to start standing cause they couldn't sit anymore. This girl and the assistant said they don't like him. Neta said that she doesn't like him nither but many people around the world adores him. Second remark on a look: the assistant said it's because he's ugly. Ok, I never said that Diego is a good looking, but this isn't a reason. Ok, let's move on? For really watching alegria - Neta let us to see a dancer. One more surprise to me. First of all I know that alegria is a very feminine type for a dance - at least if we're talking about traditional and it was a man who was dancing. Accept that - it was a dancer that I didn't know before. He's name is Andrés Peña Morón. When he was on screen someone said "see? he's with a vest". Neta said "and with a jacket. Look - he also have a use in it". I'm glad I had the chance to see it. Although I wasn't expecting to see a man dance an alegria - I just LOVED what I saw. Neta said that he's great but he don't have the carisma of Joaquin Grilo. I adore Neta but I'm not always agree with her. Joaquin is great indeed, but this part of Andrés excited me much more than Joaquin can. And there was a part that Andrés made THAT good till the man from medium level classes has started to curse, jealousy of course.I really should check on YouTube for more videos of him just to know if it was a one time thing or does he can make me feel this way all the time. For the end - Neta said that she wants to let us see a woman who dance solea por buleria. It was a part of Pastora Galvan. It looked familiar like I saw it before. Most was good, but there was a part that she made a movement which looked to me too weird, something that doesn't fit for a dancer to do. She pulled her head very ahead before her body for a short while. This class took a bit longer than it was meant to be. Now it was 10 minutes into the second class - the one that I normally take on tuesdays. There was the other one who comes every time who wasn't there. The sisters from Haifa were suppose to come as well but they were always late. The kidos from the sunday class said they would come although it isn't their class. I found myself alone with Neta. Hey, will be a class or not? Neta was a bit confused too cause others said they will come and through those who said it - I was the only one there. I went again to the ladies room (I;m getting old and drink a lot of water, what a mix!). That time Neta made some phone calls. She said that no one told her accept the one who always come, but the others won't come. No one accept me. Now I stayed inside the studio for watching over the stuff while Neta went for the ladies room. We went out together. Until the main street we went together and talked. I told her that I think that in the video classes there is always a flamenco artist that I didn't know before and for me it's already a good thing. I also told her that I think that this year the hardest class is the one of tuesdays and every time we don't have it - it just makes more nervous about how will be next time. Through what she said - the future of this class is in the fog. Oh no. Although it's a really hard one it doesn't mean that I want it to over...