Friday - movies and flamenco

 

I love you Carmen

The group

Old readers knows that I was learning at the studio of Neta Shezaf for some years, only at her studio. I had some dramas with her. Because of it and because it was time to try something new - last year I started to learn also at the studio of Mijal Natan. Last year it was two classes a week at the studio of Mijal, one more class a week at the studio of Neta. It was a difficult year for me. I knew that I do the right thing by being at the studio of Mijal and I'm about to rise there, but it was a new studio with a high level of dancing with a style that was new to me. That mean a lot of stress. At the studio of Neta - it felt like stress. I had a fight with Ilan because of a thing which happened there. We got over it and after couple of days we started all over. After that he wasn't for a while because of other things he learn and he's the person I'm the most touched with at this studio at last years. And Neta closed some groups because not enough people came, so she mixed another group with the one I took. A new dance to end of year show from the the middle of year... If I told her that I won't do it = she wouldn't mind although she didn't have a problem to beg others to dance at the show at previews years. At summer I had some more dramas with her and with the Russian girl at her studio. Now she moved classes of Tel Aviv to the days I'm at the studio of Mijal. She sent an e-mail at the start about the hours and days. I told her it will be a problem for me. She didn't even try to answer, who knows if she was reading at all. Fine. Goodbye. I'm at another studio now which doesn't fell new any longer. 

Old readers also know about the close group at Facebook. I know that people outside the group can;t see a thing at this group accept the members. Old readers of this blog knows that I was very active since this group was open. Every time we had some new steps at the classes I took - I took a video and uploaded to the group for all from the studio could see and remember the steps. In case still no one remembered - the videos kept in my camera. When Ilan wasn't there at the studio - I still took care for him personally as well. At those 3 months Ilan wasn't there - he was the only one that I heard about him from Neta that he's missing. She used to tell at my face for a long time that I'm a part of her studio. Last year after the previews dramas - she stopped saying it on me. 

Well, she was talking about watching the movie "Flamenco, flamenco" Carlos Saura after time at the studio. all members of the studio. When was a date - I couldn't come because I was then and still depends on public transportation, it was at a day without busses and I refuse to take a taxi those days (which mean cost more) for another city. The assistant didn't like it and told me how wrong I am. It didn't happen at the end, not only because I couldn't come. Looks like Neta was waiting I will go away. Ilan told me that this Saturday - the studio will come to him to see the movie. Just like the siguiryia Neta promised to teach for two year. She started to teach as needed only when I took the improvisation classes. Tangos. And this dance I needed to learn from the middle. 

Well, all of this reminder is for telling an old thing which wasn't important till now. And a new thing which makes the old one really stupid. For a year or so there was a Dutch girl at the studio of Neta. She had an Israeli boyfriend. By the time she was at the studio of Neta - she got married with her boyfriend, got pregnant and got back to Amsterdam with her fresh husband. Neta opened the Facebook group only after this girl got back to Amsterdam. Didn't disturb Neta to take the Dutch into the group. She forgot the nice one who was still a part of the studio. I took her in. So, now... Not only that this Dutch got into the group after one year she had before the group. I was 8 years at this studio. EIGHT years! And since this group got open - I was updating the group all the time with things with a connection to the studio. I was worried about it, I gave a lot of my time and energy for it. Today I found out that I've been removed from the group.No one told me about it. I just saw a photo that the Russian girl was uploading to other groups and pages. A photo of all the studio last year. A photo we paid for it. That was for the holiday that starts this evening. At least my face has been removed from it. I don't think I need to pay for the publicity of Neta. Enough I did her some for free for both of us here and it was still difficult for her to say "thank you". I just started to wonder. I made a try to get into the Facebook group that I was updating so much for the studio. I can only see the members, I can't get in

Three years

Three years ago I started to write this blog. Three years...25th July 201. It was few days before end of year show with the studio of Neta, weeks before the third workshop I took since I started dancing.

Three intensive years. Not only that I started to write (a lot) here - I took so many classes at the studio of Neta, took so many other workshops since, went to fiestas, went to see so many shows, performed myself, found out about flamenco artists which were new to me, made better connections with flamenco people - professionals and lovers, started to learn at the studio of Mijal as well - almost a year ago and took two studios at the same year... So, I guess this is one of the reasons why does it become a little difficult for me to write about the "regular classes" from time to time. This intensive time and the the reason it takes me a lot of time to write it all. 

And now, I find myself one week before one more more end of year show with the studio of Neta. It will take a part next Friday. By this show I will finish my 8 year with Neta and dancing flamenco and will start my second year at the studio of Mijal. As it looks like - next year will be an end for 8 years in my life. I won't go again to the studio of Neta. I still don't know myself if it's only a brake of one year, or maybe I'm taking now the very last classes at her studio. This  decision was a bit difficult, but I do it peaceful. Maybe it's time to let go. I learned a lot from Neta and I respect her for that, but it has been 8 years which looked for both of us much longer. And it isn't that I stop dancing - I just move to dance in another studio which challenge me. It isn't that I cut my connections - she will stay a Facebook friend of mine. And the person which I love the most from this studio (Ilan) started dancing at the other studio even before I did. I still see him there once a week, and I still keep on touch with him even without seeing each other at the studio. 

And today I celebrate those last three years (with a big hope for many more) by going to the cinematheque of Tel Aviv. Few more hours I will see there Carmen of Carlos Saura and Antonio Gades. I think that the best way to celebrate flamenco is by having some more flamenco. I didn't even notice the symbolic thing when I ordered the ticket, just wanted to see this movie on a big cinema screen. Turned out well. 

And after those years - I see this blog is getting bigger. It become easier for me to tell things, even though I don't have enough energy to write after every class and do it weekly last time. I still have the stories of this week...  I notice how much bigger it become with audience of readers. I know about some who read it a lot. I know someone who write me when she has workshops at her studio (which is great), another blogger wrote for me posts at his blog, I receive some wonderful comments - here and personally - all shows that the readers are are interested in having information (looks like I've been blessed in wise readers), some people shared links for this blog at Facebook, and the I see that people all over the world gets in as I wished for, even from placed I didn't dare to think it will come for. 

I thank you all for being here, reading it, taking a part in my life - even if I don't know you, and of course -  taking a part in this art called "flamenco", no matter if you do it or rather enjoy it without the making.

And again - few changes since last time I wrote the list of 10 states which gets into the blog the most, so...:

USA - 79296
Russia - 30015
Israel - 18324
Germany - 9701
Spain - 8297
France - 4784
Ukraine - 2375
Italy - 1712
UK - 1302
China - 1027

Yes, I know, still a bit humble, but it's only 10 states, only three years and not about the subjects which magnetized more readers. Still growing. I thank you all again - if you're at one of those state or not. For more years and more flamenco

Sevillanas (1992)

Flamenco, Flamenco (2010)

Flamenco (de Carlos Saura) (1995)

El amor brujo (1986)

Carmen (1983)

Blood Wedding (1981)

The movie

Bodas de Sangere

Bodas de Sangre: una danza de tres

“Lo flamenco es una de las creaciones más gigantescas del pueblo español”- F. G. Lorca, en una carta escrita a su amigo Adolfo Salazar. 

Comenta Daria Moreno Davis sobre la película de Carlos Saura BODAS DE SANGRE basada en la obra del G, Lorca:
"La cámara juzga, mira al personaje, no al bailarín, lo recorre a consciencia de sus roles y del peso de sus pasos. Y cual una daga que besara la herida, la cámara está atenta para marcar dónde duele el cuerpo del bailarín que encarna las palabras del drama lorquiano."

Carmen comes to Athens

Movies - tonight and next week

Watching movies

The workshop of Adi Akiva - second round, second class

I don't know what happened.... Never happened to me before that I get to a workshop almost in the last moment. In the regular classes it happened to me most of this year, but first time in a workshop. Still I'm not the only one. Only Adi was there with the studio owner. The other girls came later on. One of the girls "travel" between the days, so she came today. The girl I used to know from the studio of Neta came in the time that class meant to start. She said that she's going NOW to the super market, so if anyone wants anything... So she's back with water to herself, Adi and another one or two girls. Till she's back - just talking.  Adi said that one girl said that she's about to be late, another one... Does anyone knows about her?

When she came back - Adi said that we should start the class cause we're there to dance, not talking. We started with starching. Two more came - the one who said she's late (and started last week), and another girl who I never saw before. The one I never saw was meant to come last week as well and about her Adi asked. Now we were two more than last week... Starts to be crowded.....And still talking.

Before moving to legs' warming - I asked for an air conditioner. Nobody else wanted although it remind another that she's sweating. Only air. We started warming. Not too long till all started to sweat. In some points it starts to be easier for me cause I start to know Adi and her methods better, and after some practice... But not all was easy. I'm still a bit on pains since yesterday and other points I felt like I'm pushing too hard on my left leg. When I thought that I can make it although the pain - one of the girls felt like she need some water, so she started to go around includes too close to me. And she changed her shirt. 

Water brake. After drinking - I stood near the ventilator, let all flow. Move on.

Basic circles in our places. My balance is getting better, but few times I missed the sides cause the walker was near me, she got confuse and I got confuse because of her. And she went to change again. After that... Which kind now? Those we made last week or new ones? Some said new ones, but then Adi decided that we don't have time for that. The walker made sure that I'm taking some space from her. She had to tell me that she broke a finger this way. She even told me twice which finger. I didn't have much space now and this kind of circles still isn't "burned" in my body, so few times I missed or looked. 

By the main idea - we had only 15 minutes more, but Adi took it as 30 more. I guess it's because we started later than we mean to. Dancing a siguiryia.... First - working on to remember and practice what we made and after - dance all. And some new steps. Few times I found myself getting into the edge of the studio. To the walker it took some time till she stopped getting almost into me.... Because I wasn't also in Friday - Adi wanted to tell me a thing she was teaching about walking. Oh... Also the walker wasn't! Still Adi was looking at me while talking. It was about the way of walking in flamenco. Most of times it's like a resistance - like someone pulls you and you don't accept. As an example - she pulled the shirt of the walker and asked her to go with lots of resistance. And more resistance. As another example - Adi said that the best way is watching the movie "Flamenco" of Carlos Saura. There is a dance of Mario Maya with two other men who holds his hands and he still walk. And to the other side... The walker has been asked to pull Adi while Adi resisted. Go on with the siguiryia. Some weird noise from outside. It's raining! It's very rare to have here rains in May, so it took the attention of all of us. And back to dance.

 One new step. The walker got into my site that way it was hard till impossible for me to see Adi. I didn't have the power to start fighting, almost end of class, the pains come and go, and we're all gonna dance it. But... Still not really clear for me - each one has been asked to do it alone. I was the last one. Accept of one - all made it good. Me... I'm still not sure how to make it. Adi made it with me and it became clear. This time I could see her do it. 

Dancing all again. 

Class was over for this evening. The rain stopped as well. While we all changed (or at least those who took their time more than I do) - a little panic. The husband of the studio owner came to close the studio. The curtains has started to be open. He's been asked to wait. Till most of us came out - one was worry for where did he go. He was around. 

From Carmen of Saura/Gades

Happy Valentine's Day!

Him as well

So, I guess I didn't give enough attention here to this singer. This is El Chocolate (when he was still young). He was sinning with Los Farrucos, includes in the movie Flamenco of Carlos Saura. I found this photo today and thought it's too bad NOT to give a bit of attention. I really don't know who's the photographer, but... I think it's pretty good one. And the singer is good as well

Some information