Why Study Cante and Palmas with a Guitarist?
Right now in the NYC flamenco scene you could opt to study with a couple of cantaores who are from Spain, or you could study with 1-2 female dancers who are currently working more often as flamenco singers. Why can I, El Guapo del Milwaukee, help you understand the most mysterious form of el arte flamenco?
- I have been involved with flamenco accompaniment 44 years.
- I understand how to accompany all the dance and cante forms, and as a musician, I know how everything fits together.
- I sing most of the cante forms, and can learn new requests quickly.
- I am bilingual. Puedo defenderme bien en Español
Sometimes, as foreigners living outside Spain, it takes a long time to immerse yourself in flamenco and understand how the 4 elements, dance, cante, guitar and palmas are important for every flamenco performer to understand and to be good at.
Dancers get caught up in choreography and don't understand enough about the structure, or how to dance to a cante form that might work with alegrías, tangos, bulerías or soleá which is different or "obscure" in comparison to what was mounted with their dance. Dance students often do not understand how to follow the guitar phrases for start and end, or do not understand how to feel and follow various falsetas.
Guitar students often come to flamenco looking for how to interpret solos. Yet, all the material used in a guitar solo needs to be understood component by component so that it can be used as simpler building blocks in accompaniment of dance or cante. Learning to accompany is also somewhat simpler musically, in that it involves strong delivery of rasqueados or rhythms more than playing a huge repertoire of falsetas. You also have to develop your ear for recognizing the variations of cantes that exist.
I can help inexperienced dancers and guitarists digest this knowledge with clear explanation, and my ability to present in an organized manner, with valuable analytical insights. While I did not grow up in Spain, I have acquired authenticity by experience, and I can help you get there.
We do need a commitment to get a group class up and running - at least 3 students per month. Get involved now and participate in the upcoming Recital scheduled for Sun May 19 in Woodside Queens at The Secret Theatre!