We had much fun with the Tangos at Manuel Betanzos’ flamenco master workshop in Singapore last year. Here’s a video glimpse of it. We worked on a choreography to the letra of the Tangos de Triana over the weekday evenings, and on a new one over the weekend.
Dear Friends
We had much fun with the Tangos at Manuel Betanzos’ flamenco master workshop in Singapore last year. Here’s a video glimpse of it. We worked on a choreography to the letra of the Tangos de Triana over the weekday evenings, and on a new one over the weekend.
Sensual, earthy, redondo (roundedness) – we explored what all this was to our body, how to work our physique to the style we searched for.
Technique – working our footwork to the rhythmic compás and remates.
Listening – hearing the live song and guitar, familiarising ourselves to the melody and responding to it, calling upon what we learnt technically.
Feelingly – because dance is about expression and amenco, greatly about your own response.
Artistry – because that is the higher merit, going beyond steps and technique to cultivate your deeper essence.
Journeying with you – Along with learning the dance, students experience Manuel’s teaching style – a personal approach, where he ‘sees’ each student and with his great experience as well as instinct, he understands where the student is at.
Hands-on and on-the-spot, he corrects the student, explaining how to become better. All this, while keeping the rest of the class of the class going, either with his palmas keeping beat or vocalising his encouragement. It’s such amazing multi-tasking skills of the group and of the individual all at the same time!
The short, intensive and yet impactful five-day workshop gave us a charge of inspiration, further insight into learning and a sense of accomplishment of the steps of our individual growth.
AT THIS YEAR’S 2018 WORKSHOP:
Log in these dates into your calendar: Wed 20 – Sun 24 June!
Tangos (Style & Technique): We’ll be working on a different Tangos this year. Similar to last year, 3 weekdays (Part A) and over the weekend (Part B). Come for both, or either. The Tangos is always such a great and useful palo ( flamenco style) – for all the above reasons I mentioned above! So let’s have a go at it!
Technique: 2 days of technique, working on a 12-beat rhythm. Yes, technique is much needed, constantly!
Bamberas (Choreography) – An intensive session of 2 daily hours. We aim to complete the choreography. So do join us fully if that is also your aim.
Espacio Propio/ My (Flamenco) Space – Ok, so this is the new one this year. All participants are welcomed to join this n-de-curso (end-of-course) showcase. And those bold, brave ones, can work on adaptations.
PREVIOUS POSTS
For full info on the schedule, fees, venue as well as how to join Espacio Propio, click here. (http://manuelbetanzostours.com/2018/04/16/singapore-20-24-june-your-date-with- flamenco-excellence- inspiration/)
Useful Resources
Sample listen to Tangos. The great Carmen Linares sings here (https://youtu.be/lAPDi-3zMPY)
Sample listen to a Bamberas song here too! (spotify:track:3rsKU2aAAewlPtTRea1BQs)
Letra (Of the Tangos we danced to)
Triana, Triana / Que bonita esta Triana / Cuando le ponen al puente / La banderita gitana Triana, Triana
How pretty Triana is / When upon the bridge, they place the gypsy flag
(My informal translation)
