These recent weeks have been filled with much inspiration watching the great flamenco maestro Manuel Betanzos teach at the workshops of the prestigious Festival de Jerez in Southern Spain.
These recent weeks have been filled with much inspiration watching the great flamenco maestro Manuel Betanzos teach at the workshops of the prestigious Festival de Jerez in Southern Spain.
Two full-house workshops featured his beautiful and vibrant choreographies of the Caracoles and the Bamberas, accompanied by an amazing singer, Manuel Soto and an equally amazing guitarist, Javier Ibañez. It has been greatly heartwarming to see how much the international students accomplished within one week of daily 2-hour intensive studies.
It is also with great honour that we welcome him back to Singapore, as the maestro who has journeyed much with us over the years, with constancy.
Make a date with him from Wed 20 June – Sun 24 June 2018. Make your date too with true excellence and experience in teaching and look forward to uplifting, challenging and greatly inspiring times.
Here’s the schedule!
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR!
ESPACIO PROPIO (MY SPACE) – AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUTTING YOUR LEARNING INTO PERFORMANCE PRACTICE: The inspiration comes from what we are currently doing in Manuel’s Academy in Sevilla, where at the end of their course, students put their learning into practice, collaborating and communicating with the musicians their choreographic intent.
Likewise, on the last day of the Singapore workshop, we will organise an informal showcase. The programme seeks to include:
a. Workshop Showcase – All workshop students can participate in this showcase of the original choreography of Tangos and Bamberas. No worries, enjoy the experience, as Manuel will be dancing with us and guiding us, just as he does in class.
Working towards the showcase therefore, one key area of this year’s workshop is the focus on building and completing a choreography. Students should be prepared to commit to the full 5 days (particularly for the Bamberas of 10 hours), in order to reap the maximum, should they wish to join the showcase.
b. Adaptations – Manuel would like to encourage participants to experiment and adapt the original choreographic material of the Tangos and Bamberas themselves, and to collaborate with the musicians. Participants will have opportunities to seek Manuel’s guidance and consultation for their ideas, in the days leading up to the showcase.
c. Participants’ Showcase – Additionally, workshop participants may also present their own dance items that they would like to perform at this showcase.
HOW TO JOIN ESPACIO PROPIO
Those interested in the Adaptations and Participants Showcase should submit their interest to Tania in advance, so that a selection of participants, levels, a curation of dance items and overall programme duration may be done. (Therefore, kindly understand that not all submissions of interest may be able to be accommodated). Participants will be supported by the provision of singer and guitarist for this performance day.
If you need further info or would like to sound out any aspect, please be most welcomed to chat to Tania any time 😉
SCHEDULE, FEES & REGISTRATION
WORKSHOP NOTES
A. Bamberas (Choreography)
The Bamberas is a wonderful 12-beat amenco style with a strong captivating song. We are continuing to work on the Bamberas from last year. Students who did last year’s workshop can join Tania’s Saturday class on Sat 2 June and Sat 9 June (3.00-4.00pm), on a FREE basis. We will revise the falsetta and one letra from the 2017 workshop.
Students new to the Bamberas this year need not worry, as you can learn the new parts of the choreography from this year; alternatively you can join Tania’s Saturday Bamberas class to catch up any Saturday, from now onwards. A class is $25/h. Please refer to our website for the schedule/location.
(Do note that as the Bamberas is a choreography class, the maestro will not be stopping as frequently for personalised corrections, as he would always do in the Style and Technique classes (such as the Tangos)
Bamberas workshops are accompanied by guitarist and singer on the last 3 workshop days, from 22-24 June.
b. Tangos (Style & Technique)
This class will focus on the style and technique of the Tangos. Manuel will be giving generous tips on how to work this style, how to use your body and giving you lots of personal corrections. What a bene t to receive such detailed teaching!
The Tangos is a fun, enjoyable dance with a 4-beat rhythm. Manuel’s Tangos is sensual, with earthly amenco avour and style. He encourages us to explore our feelings (‘sentimiento’) and ‘give it your personality’. While last year’s workshop also featured the Tangos, most of us know that the Tangos is such an essential and great style to work on, consistently. In the Tangos por esta, you’ll be training to listen to and interact with the song (‘cante’).
Tangos workshops are accompanied by guitarist and singer on the last 3 workshop days, from 22-24 June
c. Technique
The 2 days of technique classes will be based on a 12-beat rhythm. This will be useful when working any 12- beat dance including the Bamberas, Alegrias etc. So participants of the Bamberas are greatly encouraged to take this up. Those doing the Tangos can also join in, to gain familiarity and foundation in this rhythm.
The courses will be taught for 5 consecutive days, similar to the intensity of classes at the Academy in Spain, to maximise students’ focussed learning. Those who, due to time, are unable to take the full course, may opt to do either the weekday course or the weekend course,, where different parts of the choreography will be taught respectively. Those who attend the full course will have fuller material and experience of the Flamenco palos (styles).
Workshop Venue: Dance on Us, 8 Claymore Hill
Espacio Propio Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Payment Mode: Payment can be made via bank transfer. Please contact Tania for the bank details. Contact: tania@saltshaker.com.sg / (+65) 97377703
