Making way through Ohio
If you asked me to come up with one word to sum up our Ohio regional tour, I’d have to give you two: grueling and invigorating.
Grueling, because we packed a LOT into one week. Invigorating, because the artistry and audience appreciation was non-stop.
On Monday, the guest musicians arrived. The next day, we rehearsed ALL DAY, putting together several new pieces, working out harmonies, giving pre-professional dancers training with live music, working out transitions, etc. The next day, we were off to Granville to give workshops at Denison University. That day, we did three lectures: one on guitar, one on cante, and one on flamenco history. While each artist could’ve done their workshop and gone back to the hotel to relax, when able, we co-taught and supported each other’s classes.
Yiyi & Marija teaching flamenco singing together at Denison University.
I got to observe Marija and Yiyi’s opposite approach to cante (and counting!). While Yiyi learned flamenco immersed in the culture and coming from a flamenco family, Marija, isolated far from flamenco culture, learned by immersing herself in any recordings she could get a hold of growing up. While they ended up in the same place (both instrumentalists and vocalists with extraordinary repertory and command of flamenco), their manner of transmitting the form could not be more different. I go - you go (in Yiyi’s case), and intense analysis (in Marija’s case). Both valid, and seeing the two approaches literally side by side fascinated me - there’s no one way to approach flamenco.
Alice leading a masterclass accompanied by Alex, Marija, and Yiyi at Denison University.
The next day, we all taught a workshop together, sharing how the palmas, baile, guitar, and singing fit together. Students learned a short tangos variation and got to dance it with live music.
Afterwards, it was off to the theater to do sound check, run through pieces, get ready for the show, and perform! Then, packing up the stage, we were on the road to Xenia, OH that same night.
Alice leading a lecture-demonstration in Xenia, OH at Athletes in Action.
In Xenia, we were up bright and early for two school shows, sharing flamenco with over 500 students from several schools around the area. The students got to join in some footwork, learned how we use our hands to play guitar and castanets, and learned how cultures from all over the world influenced flamenco rhythms, costumes, and more.
That night, we performed in the same venue for an intimate tablao. Here are a couple of things I remember the audience saying “I was in a trance of joy the whole time” and “I felt like I was in Spain again!”
Next, we headed back to Northeast Ohio, driving 3 hours the morning of our Bop Stop performance. A short break, and before we knew it we were sound checking at the Bop Stop. What a special evening! We celebrated La Romera’s 80th birthday with her dancing por soleá, along with cake and patadas por bulerias. Her solo was such a stunning example of what flamenco is - deep connection between music and dance. It’s not fancy steps or glamorous costumes - the simple act of letting the music inspire the dance and vice versa leads to profound artistry.
La Romera dancing por soleá at the Bop Stop in Cleveland, OH.
Last, but not least, we headed to Akron for a matinee performance with some educational information sprinkled throughout. It was a fun afternoon, sharing flamenco with people of all ages.
By the end, we were unsurprisingly all exhausted. I’d stressed for weeks about making it through the intense tour schedule. Yet, to have had the opportunity to repeat repertory so many times and to have two singers, cajón, and guitar! Wow! The pieces we put together and the already present artistry and artistic growth in just one week were tremendous. And the positive reception and tremendous engagement we received from audiences at all the venues refueled us each day.
A lot of work goes into planning something like this, and the opportunities to share the stage with such tremendous artists and to share this art with such receptive audiences makes it all worth it.
Photo after the final performance - exhausted but content!