From August 26 to 29 annual summer camp organised by flamenco dance studio "DUENDE" took place in Zvejniekciems, with the opportunity to meet all the dancers from the studio in one place and learn from guest artists - flamenco teachers from Spain. I used the opportunity to attend two days of compa classes taught by percussionist Andrej Vujicic, as well as tangos and algeria dance techniques taught by flamenco dancer Francesca Grimm. Latvian dancers were joined by Lithuanian dancers at the training.
Camp participants were staying at the guest house "Lee", where the main bustle took place. A little place with wooden houses very near the sea. Between classes participants from the youngest and oldest dance groups (in the sense of dancing experience - from 1-7 years, not age) could walk along Saulkrasti beach. Also because the weather forecast was perfect - sunny but not hot.
On Sunday evening flamenco dance camp`s concert took place in the recreation centre of Zvejniekciems and all interested parties were invited. There were 11 performances all together, including 1 performance of our Spanish teachers. For a better insight here are a couple of videos from the concert:
The performance of the dancers of the flamenco dance studio "Duende".
The performance of our Spanish dance teacher Francesca Grimm and percussionist Andrej Vujicic.
Although I initially wondered if after one year of practising it was worth learning with professionals at a beginner`s level, the time and efforts were not in vain. My doubts as to whether I can within a couple of classes learn new choreography turned out to be true but otherwise it was extremely interesting and useful to watch the Spanish dance teacher`s elaborated and quick moves.
A discovery and satisfaction came from participating in compa classes (clapping along the rhythm and tapping of feet). I looked at flamenco from a different viewpoint, I realized how significant is the accuracy of rhythm and taps and the filigree. In this context, I began searching the web for flamenco rhythm and I found the same clock our compa teacher Andrej Vujicic asked us to imagine - Flamenco Metronome Graf-Martinez.
A rhythm that prevails melody. Later talking with some girls, a couple of them doubted that they would want to continue learning flamenco because it lacks the soft, slow-flowing, pleasing, uneventful and quietly aching melody that is so close to a Latvian`s soul. I, on the contrary, took it as another challenge to go further with getting to know the duend of flamenco; however, I can`t promise that I understand the cry of the soul of a flamenco dancer that manifests in rapidity, loudness and ostentatious emotional experience.
Sometimes we just have to go along the chosen path to make sure that it is the right one or, on the contrary, strange and not for us.
One of "Duende" dancers Angela sent me some of my pictures - portraits from the camp`s flamenco classes.
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