Mercedes Ibarra Flamenco Los Angeles
Facebook:
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Performances
  • Classes
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • About Flamenco

Serving Through Flamenco, Part I

8/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Because of my recent activities, the thought of being of service has been on my mind. Recently I had one of those "a-ha!" moments onstage, while I was doing palmas along with my fellow dancer as accompaniment to the guitarist's solo.  We were all totally in sync, riding the waves of the rhythm and the notes, hitting all the accents, and resolving all the phrases together beautifully.  The guitarist was trying new things, complicated things, that he hadn't done with us before.  It all came out apparently easily; the audience had no idea we dancers hadn't heard this particular version of things before.  Our expressions of joy during our jaleos were not rehearsed, they were natural exclamations of delight at how it was all coming together.

When it ended, we all looked at each other with gratitude.  We dancers enjoyed the guitarist's playing, and he in turn, thanked us for giving him the support he needed to try the new material. These moments, where improvisation and collaboration meet smoothly, can only come from one thing--years and years of dedicated study.  These instances are moments when I feel pride for coming as far as I've come and gratitude for having the fortune to be a Flamenca in this lifetime.  I believe I live a very beautiful and privileged life.

Those years of practice have been a gift to myself, and I have often reflected on how I am sharing my gift with students and audiences, but I'd like to offer another thought.  For us artists, our years of study are a gift to our colleagues as well.  If you've been dancing, singing, or playing for a long time, you know how wonderful it is to work with a full ensemble of performers who are bringing their all to the collaboration.  There's nothing like it.

Often, we artists focus on our practice in order to prove something--to be the best, to dazzle, to get as much work as possible.  All of these things are important, but I'd like to propose a new consideration.  I'd like to suggest that we make our study and practice an act of service:  service to our students and the audiences who come to see us, service to the venues and customers who pay us, but also it is a service to our colleagues.  The more work we do to hone our craft, the easier we make it for everyone with whom we share the stage.  Doing this shows a sign of respect and reverence for our craft and for each other.  

When you come to work from this place, the place of reverence and service, the music flows beautifully and you all experience that sense of joy and gratitude and isn't that ultimately what work and life should be about?

0 Comments

    Mercedes

    In love with Flamenco for over 27 years.

    Archives

    November 2020
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All
    Aging
    Artistry
    Blogging
    Buddhism
    Compassion
    Dance
    Dance Therapy
    Entertainment
    Event Planning
    Feminism
    Fitness
    Flamenco
    Flamenco Films
    Flamenco Legends
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Hiring Talent
    Hospice
    Independent Artist
    Intention Setting
    Interfaith
    Life Transitions
    Lupus
    Marriage
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Music
    Music Therapy
    Performance
    Personal Development
    Personal Development
    Physical Therapy
    Relationships
    Risk Taking
    Risk-taking
    Self Employed
    Self-employed
    Service
    Spirituality
    Stage Presence
    Talent
    Women

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.