Aside dancing, I want to deliver also a cultural experience and understanding of flamenco at the studio

This week at the studio we will be watching and analyzing the US team who chose Flamenco at the Winter Olimpics, so I take this opportunity to share also with all students and/or parents (If somehow you miss the class this week)

Let’s talk about Antonio Najarro:

In a Nutshell

• He was the Director of THE National Ballet of Spain for over 10 years

• Beaux-Arts Medal given by the King and Queen of Spain for his work in the arts

• He has choreographed for the Spanish Olympic teams of Ice Skating and Synchronized Swimming

• He choreographed the French couple that won gold in the Salt Lake City Olympics

• He created and directed 2 seasons of a show for TVE (Television Española) -Un Pais en Danza- (A country through dance)

• He choreographed the most viewed fashion cat walk of all times, with the dancers of the National Ballet of Spain as models

• And as per this week and most recent news: He choreographed the beautiful Flamenco piece that lead the US team to the podium in the Olympic games in Milano.

• He worked with this couple, until they had a fully understanding of this art form

I think is relevant to analyze this ice-skating dance with my students because:

• As I like to point out to them: You don’t have to be Spanish to embrace Flamenco, in fact, there are countries like Russia and Japan, that are extremely perfect in technique but love to turn to flamenco as it is the most emotionally expressive dance of all

• In their future lives, even if they are not dancing flamenco, they can take all what they learn here to whatever they become… From studing any other art forms to a confident strong presence while leading a meeting or conference.

• They will still always have with them the stage presence, elegance, sharpness, musical understanding, hyper fast reflexes, expression…

So I love this US team, from a totally different background, using flamenco and Anotnio Najarro as a medium to deliver a perfect choreo in the ice:

Defiant

Angular

Powerful

Keen

Bold

Fiercy

Emotional