Flamenco Protest Group - Spain

Wow they have balls! Great idea but I pity those people working there who are just trying to do their jobs. The common working man is often a casualty.

The Flamenco Academy by Sarah Bird

Be warned, if you dislike romance novels, you'd be tempted to throw this book against the wall several times as you read it. But do press on as you will be duly rewarded, much as I was.

This book shines in the descriptions of dance and flamenco's passion. Even music was lovingly recreated in prose form. I loved the stories and the side characters more than the main one involving the protagonist Rae, her frenemy Didi and the guy she has an obsessive love for, Tomas. I would have given up on the book if the writer hadn't returned to flamenco each time she leads the reader to the highest point of frustration. I didn't like that minorities were treated unkindly in several instances either but perhaps that is a device employed by the writer to show how unsympathetic the narrator really is.

I didn't care for the ending but it was an ideal one for a character such as Rae and I can't find fault in that. I like that there's no magical fairy-tale ending. It was 'real' in that regard and I could forgive and sympathise with the character after all. The thing that saved it though was on the next page. The author listed many names, providing a list of resources on flamenco in her acknowledgement page. I'll write again after I've explored them. I hope the writer will try her hand at writing bellydance next. I will certainly read that.

Two links for keeping. I was left worried after a scene involving the fictional flamenco legend, Dona Carlota Montenegro. Her feet were wrecked after years of dancing and even Rae mentioned the pain in her own spine and knees. Don't want that to happen to me.

Flamenco Injuries 1
Flamenco Injuries 2

Flamenco

Aside from raqs sharqi, I am also interested in flamenco. I know there are a few dancers who like to incorporate the two into a 'fusion' but I like them separately. I would like to learn flamenco some day. What a lovely passionate dance! I prefer solo dances because I don't like being touched (why I stopped salsa and ballroom lol) and because of the lack of individuality in group dances. Don't get me wrong, I do like group dances but now is not the time yet as I still have a few issues I need to resolve. So, aside from a few types of Indian dances, the only solo-performing dances I know of are flamenco and raqs sharqi, I'll delve into them. I can't seriously get into ballet anymore for obvious reasons, nor tap. The only other one would be hip hop but I'm not interested in it.

I loved the teamwork of group dances and the fact that rehearsals were always fun so I'd go back to that soon once I'm back in school. But anyway, here's a video that got me hooked.