One more class with Guerrao Cabrera

This round of the show AguaDulce has started. The show itself belongs to Mijal Natan (my amazing teacher) and her company - Compas Company. Now she brought back Hugo David Alvarez to Israel. They worked together before. He's whatever called "bailarin" - unlike "bailaor". Well, I guess that if you read this blog you know the difference, but in case you are new in this field and still don't know.... "Bailaor" is a dancer who started in flamenco, stayed in it and dance nothing but flamenco. "Bailarin" is also a dancer, but there are two options for it: or that he's a dancer who started in a different style (most of them starts in ballet). The other option - they dance flamenco, but not only. When it's a dancer who dance flamenco and Escuela Bolera (somtimes), or like most of cases -  Clasico Español. This is Hugo. He dance flamenco and Clasico Español. So does Guerrao Cabrera, he dance flamenco and Guerrao Cabrera. On this thing as bailarin Guerrao found a place recently at Compas Company. A long story how does Guerrao speaks Hebrew and why did he moved to live Israel. I heard he's story. He took a part in dance companies at his homeland - Spain. He did learn Hebrew at Spain. I heard that he learned it mostly because of the bad economy at Spain for giving a chance for make a living in case the dancing won't be enough. It was a part in bigger studies. He came once to Israel two years ago or so because of the studies. The reason he stayed has no connection to his studies. I know now the reason, but rather keep it out. It has no connection for dancing and no connection to anything that I write here. And it fits for gossip part anyway. Although it does happen once in a while, I do my best to avoid it. 

So, back to shows and classes. Hugo David Alvarez got back to Israel. He gives some workshops while the main one takes a part in Tel Aviv. At the studio of Mijal, of course. I will take a part in it. After a while that haven't been a show at a tablao style - now will be once again while Hugo is the main guest. With him will dance Mijal. Ayelet Shachar and Hadas Nestel. I will be there to watch and tell. Normally it takes a part at Saturday nights, but this time because of a Jewish holiday it moved to Sunday. He also take a part as a guest dancer at the show AguaDulce. It includes 4 dates for the special way. It includes shows at Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Once again - I will go to see it when it will take a part at Tel Aviv. Next Saturday night. Till the show will happen at Tel Aviv - all other 3 dates are falling at nights of classes. As far as Guerrao is still new at the company and don't take a part in this show - he's free. Accept the fact not all came to the studio when he was teaching for the first time there - it could count as a success. Looks like all girls who came that evening just enjoyed class and told private to Mijal. Mijal offered that instead of she will cancel our classes - she will ask Guerrao if he can and mind to replace her again at the evening that AguaDulce with Hugo falls on classes. Well, he can and accepted. 

This time it was an ordinary class for him. Flamenco. Started just on time, but he was a bit confused. He's been told that this class includes a guitar player and there is no guitar player at the studio. Some girls said that maybe the guitar player didn't come because Mijal didn't come. By the way there was a little issue with the air conditioners if it works or not, and in case it is... Cold or hot? 

Some legs drills for a warming. As far as it's a hot day, I was running to the studio and didn't have enough time to breath between coming and starting the class - I started to feel the sweat in a moment. Now Ofir suppose to be the guitar player, but he took a long travel to Spain. He will be back to some other shows. Till then - replace him Tomer. Tomer did come this evening, but after we started. And no, it has no connection to the classes that Mijal gives. He gives us something else. 

After while of sweating Guerao said how much he hopes to go on this evening. Like a class of a workshop, more or less. Not the way he called it, but when I heard the parts - I heard "we're about to make a workshop". OK, let's start the dance. A moment... Tomer had a question. Which palo? Oh, a little thing which Guerrao forgot to tell. It will be a solea por buleria with him. And if we don't mind to remind him till which hour do we have this class. 

We started some steps of solea por buleria. At the first moment it looked very difficult. For our level - it wasn't too bad, mostly new. It felt for me like it flowing at the body, although I wasn't sure if I remember all as I should. He wanted to go on, but some other girls asked for repeating the start few more times. After few more times and after he watched us Guerrao said it's time to go on. He started to think of the continue. He showed us something. OK, now he really got insane. I won't be able to it! Too difficult! A little relief, I didn't need to say a thing and didn't have to show how much do I have to improve. After a moment he said that he will show us two options to next part, we would choose the option we rather. He made this part again, a moment after he showed us something a bit different. Those who said something asked for the second option. One of the girls said it loud and clear that she rather the second option because it looked easier. 

We went on quite a lot. From time to time were some silly mistakes. Happened more than once that most of us were dreaming instead of start dancing. Once we moved on our solea por buleria without the sinning although we needed to wait. Tomer was dreaming this time and we didn't listen. 

We made a big part till the real drama happened. One air conditioner has started to get crazy. Lots of water on the floor in a little time. The class has stopped. A bucket under the air conditioner which has been closed by this time. And cleaning up. Not sure if it was a lazy thing of me, but 3 other girls made the job, did I have to help?

Going on some more at the solea por buleria. Few times thinking and changing a bit. Dancing few more times from the start to end before we finish our class. 

After class Tomer asked Guerrao about his Hebrew. After that I asked Guerrao if it will be better to take a video for next week. Only if I really want to, but will be fine. Next week we will go one some more with the solea por buleria, so if I rather make a video next week it's another option. Whatever. If he says that it will be at the memory - I rather take a video of all together. After he wasn't sure about one photo = I thought it will be for the best to tell him that I won't upload the video to Facebook. I went to change. Another girl asked to take a video NOW. And she made a promise to send it by e-mail to another girl there. 

So that was the first class of flamenco, pure flamenco with Guerrao. More or less.

A class with Guerrao Cabrera

I guess that I won't return soon for writing about ordinary classes. Maybe I will when I could spend less time on publishing the blog itself. But this time it wasn't an ordinary class and was almost out of connection. Almost. 

Mondays I have regular classes at the studio of Mijal. Last months it's coming back to Clasico Español. At the end there is a part of tangos. For the last 2-3 months Ilan doesn't come for those classes, just for the classes that comes next. And on Sundays. The reason is about time and pressure. He have many rehearsals for the new show with Einat. He said that he will be back after that to those classes. And he has another job as well. And some more studies. Probably one of the reasons that he forgot to tell me about the show he just had in the south with some other fellows. Not anything personal of him. I couldn't come mostly because I don't have a car and anyway I didn't drive for years. And the public transportation here needs to improve. It was in another city at the edge of the south. After it finished I had the chance to get some writing with him. Just found out it was invited for migration/migrants for Israel. Because of it it probably won't happen again at Tel Aviv. He told me it was a success, mostly because of the audience from Málaga, Spain. The biggest problem was that at least some of the audience from Spain came with someone I hate. Long history. Another blogger (or is it possible to call him a former blogger?) that made a try to make me feel small because of my blog. Ilan isn't a big fan of him. He told me that this time he behaved worst than ever. That guy just came, didn't say "hello", but it didn't disturb him to get into the backstage. Or to eat from the refreshments that was ordered to the audience. It looked like he was more interested at the food than the flamenco. And looked full of himself. When I said that he's always full of himself - Ilan said it was more than ever. And just at this evening there was a special class. I mean - two. I came only for one. 

At weekend Mijal published that instead of her - this Monday will teach Guerrao Cabrera. He will teach at the class that I take and the class after. It's open also to flamenco students from other studios. It was a bit hard for me to publish before at the blog. She didn't write any more details accept that, no flyer for it, and I hate to admit, but... I didn't know him before. I couldn't find any videos of him at the internet. I didn't know what and how to write about it to publish those classes. The only thing that I could do is being sure that I will be there and get the chance to know him. By the way to try some new things. 

From some weird reasons = once again I came at the last moment. Mijal was preparing. A black elegant dress, evening shoes... Looked really good. I asked her where does she go. She said that she was invited for a wedding and because of it she asked for that replacement. Inside was a young guy with  flamenco shoes and castanets. Could it be him? I hardly made it to be ready for class at time. 

Yeah, that guy was Guerrao Cabrera. And he speaks Hebrew. He started as a warming some castanets' drills. It was including some drills that I didn't know before. And some soniquetes that were new to me. This practice was very interesting for me. And the fact it was new was enough for me to like the idea that I do it. The biggest problem was to "get into it". He looked a bit nervous and took him a bit time till he started to notice all girls. For me it was difficult because till I noticed eyes' contact.... And it still can take me some time till I hear the way of making the soniquetes without to watch. After few minutes he showed all how to do it. From that moment it became easier. After that I was happy that I came with influence of Ritalin. Looks like he also have a little problem with concentration. Few times he started something and a moment after he asked for a moment to think.At those moments it was a bit different than he wanted to show and teach us. At those moments it was the best for me to be at the influence. The Ritalin helped me to stay focused, he could "loose" me at those moments. Mijal went away a bit after class has started. 

After some warming - we stared with dome drills for the body. Some included castanets after some practice, some just holding the castanets. After a while some of the drills for the body has started to mix. He made some drills with and without castanets to be as one. Some of it became like a part of a dance. From time to time he was putting us some music to dance our drills with it. And all at Hebrew, accept counting the beat at Spanish. At the middle of class someone asked how does he know Hebrew so well. Someone else hushed her. For me became another challenge - not enough space. Almost dancing on the wall. He noticed it and asked us to take some more space at the studio for it won't happen to anyone. 

Near the end of our time was one of those danced made of drills. My former friend came and joined us after a while. We made it for both sides - as one group for a start, but it changed fast for two groups for giving all of us some more space. All drills and parts of dances were at the style of Clasico Español. He still stopped from time to time to tell the difference between the Clasico Español and flamenco, or ballet. He have us the option from time to time to do it more "flamenco" or more "ballet" by our will. 

Water brake. I went to bring my camera and my mobile phone. Camera - in case that it will be possible to take a video and we'll take it as a dance. Mobile phone - in case he will accept to have a photo with me. I rather have it at my camera, but with time it become easier for people to take photos at smartphones as I have now. It was for making easier for whoever will accept to take the photo. And in case he will accept to have it on Facebook - much easier for me to upload faster. 

One more girl came for the next class. One more drill. And working some more on it. Oh, by the way - when does our class suppose to finish? It meant to finish already. OK, he was sorry, but we'll do it once again. Our class received a bonus of 20 extra minutes. 

After class he accepted to have a photo with me. After he saw the photo he accepted to publish the photo. Yeah, he's tall. Or maybe I'm short...

By the way - after class I found out that he's a new dancer at Compas Company 

(the company of Mijal)