Still from LA Music Center Zoom Performance/Workshop, "Artivities: Sakai Flamenco." It's been four years since I last wrote. A lot has happened since then, much of it difficult. I've gone through a battery of diagnostic tests and got new diagnoses added to my growing list. During that time, I had a terrible back spasm that has since left me needing a cane in order to walk around, especially when going up stairs and inclines. I can still dance, but there are days when it is harder. I'm currently in the process of another slew of diagnostic tests to see if they can figure out what is going on with my back and legs. If you're interested in learning more about my medical journey in the last few years, you can check out my Mindfully Lupie Blog.
There has been a lot of good news in terms of Flamenco though. I am still working as the Flamenco Teacher in the Ballet Folklorico Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts. I have now been there for 5 years. This year has been a bit difficult because of the pandemic, but we're making it work with classes via Zoom.
I have also taken over as the Artistic Director of Sakai Flamenco, now that my mentor and the original Artistic Director and Founder of Sakai Flamenco, Linda Andrade, has moved away to Oregon. Sakai has continued to work with the Los Angeles Music Center to bring Flamenco music and dance performances to schools and the community. We are also now doing Sakai workshops and performances via Zoom.
Because of my new position with Sakai, I am also now a Teaching Artist for the Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles Arts Organization, and the College of the Canyons. I had begun teaching workshops to 3rd graders for the latter two and had just finished the Teaching Artist training at the Music Center when the pandemic hit. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, all of these workshops are on hold, but we hope to get back to it once it is safe to do so.
I am sorry for taking such a long break from my blog. When I got sick, I sort of lost my direction on what to write about when it came to Flamenco. I wasn't really dancing much and I didn't know what the future entailed. I still don't know what the future entails, especially since the pandemic started. However, I do know that I still love Flamenco, I love dancing, and I love teaching. I love sharing my excitement about this beautiful art form which was celebrated around the world yesterday, on International Flamenco Day, November 16th.
So I promise to do more of that. I will teach more about Flamenco here on the blog and I will also write about the teaching of Flamenco itself, as well as the dancing and the music. I do so, not because I owe it to anyone, but because I owe it to Flamenco itself. Flamenco has saved me over and over again--spiritually, financially (I don't make much, but it has always been steady), physically, emotionally. Even in my sickness, it has been there for me. When I'm in pain and fatigued, I still turn to Flamenco because it is what I love and it feeds my soul.
As I've said to friends before, I will keep dancing as long as it hurts less than the love I have for it. Right now it hurts, but the love still eclipses the pain.
A belated happy Flamenco Day to all my fellow Flamencas and Flamencos.
There has been a lot of good news in terms of Flamenco though. I am still working as the Flamenco Teacher in the Ballet Folklorico Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts. I have now been there for 5 years. This year has been a bit difficult because of the pandemic, but we're making it work with classes via Zoom.
I have also taken over as the Artistic Director of Sakai Flamenco, now that my mentor and the original Artistic Director and Founder of Sakai Flamenco, Linda Andrade, has moved away to Oregon. Sakai has continued to work with the Los Angeles Music Center to bring Flamenco music and dance performances to schools and the community. We are also now doing Sakai workshops and performances via Zoom.
Because of my new position with Sakai, I am also now a Teaching Artist for the Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles Arts Organization, and the College of the Canyons. I had begun teaching workshops to 3rd graders for the latter two and had just finished the Teaching Artist training at the Music Center when the pandemic hit. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, all of these workshops are on hold, but we hope to get back to it once it is safe to do so.
I am sorry for taking such a long break from my blog. When I got sick, I sort of lost my direction on what to write about when it came to Flamenco. I wasn't really dancing much and I didn't know what the future entailed. I still don't know what the future entails, especially since the pandemic started. However, I do know that I still love Flamenco, I love dancing, and I love teaching. I love sharing my excitement about this beautiful art form which was celebrated around the world yesterday, on International Flamenco Day, November 16th.
So I promise to do more of that. I will teach more about Flamenco here on the blog and I will also write about the teaching of Flamenco itself, as well as the dancing and the music. I do so, not because I owe it to anyone, but because I owe it to Flamenco itself. Flamenco has saved me over and over again--spiritually, financially (I don't make much, but it has always been steady), physically, emotionally. Even in my sickness, it has been there for me. When I'm in pain and fatigued, I still turn to Flamenco because it is what I love and it feeds my soul.
As I've said to friends before, I will keep dancing as long as it hurts less than the love I have for it. Right now it hurts, but the love still eclipses the pain.
A belated happy Flamenco Day to all my fellow Flamencas and Flamencos.
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