Flamencos need each other: Flamenco Vivo’s Consorcio Flamenco.
Flamenco is a solo dance, but a communal art form.
Any flamenco artist who has been lucky enough to live and study in a vibrant flamenco community and then has been displaced to a Flamenco Desert devoid of other flamencos, will deeply understand that statement. Flamencos need each other. We need each other to grow, learn and offer support during the hustle of being a flamenco dancer in America. Even more necessary- we need each other to make our art.
Flamenco is an improvisational dance which means that for a singer and a dancer, we need live musicians. One just can’t dance to recorded music one can’t dance with just any guitarist either. If you live in an area without a lot of flamenco artists it makes the day to day hustle of being an artist even more difficult.
I moved from Cadiz to Washington DC, just five months before Covid lockdown. Finding my footing and connecting with other local musicians has been a challenge. DC flamencos have a reputation for being insular. Remember, as a dancer I can’t dance without a singer and a guitarist. There are always more dancers than singers or guitarist and all the issues that you can imagine arise. As I find my place here in DC and return to performing and teaching in the Hudson Valley, I have had emotional ups and downs. Moving is always hard and this move has been the worst yet.
Screen shot of Consorcio meeting.
BUT…but…this year there was a guiding light, a shining star, a blessing from on High. I was accepted into Flamenco Vivo’s Flamenco Consorcio. A year ago, I saw a post on Instagram and applied. The application process was involved, including my artistic statement, CV, bio and a few audition videos. I was honored to be accepted and being involved in the group changed my life.
Led by the wise Leslie Roybal, Flamenco Vivo’s Program Director, a group of six dancers from around the country met regularly to engage in professional development seminars, talks about our industry, dance and also general cheerleading. It was the light of the dark Covid months and I have made some dear, dear friends.
We have celebrated pregnancies, cheered for grants granted and supported one member as she chose to leave her teaching job to dedicate herself entirely to her art.
Consorcio member leaving her last day of teaching 3rd grade.
We have decided that we are going to continue working together indefinitely and are meeting in NYC this month for a creative residency. We will create, plan and dance together and I couldn’t be more excited.
To have connections with fellow artists across the country. To have a group to whom I can send a text asking, do I need to publish my LLC? or hey, can someone help me figure out this step? has felt so safe and has given me a home when I haven’t felt like I have had one yet in DC.
I am so excited to share that TWO of the dancers from the group will be at the HV Flamenco Festival in August.
This is how we connect. This is how we build flamenco communities where we can work from the ABUNDANCE mindset. We can support each other and not compete. Flamencos need each other. Flamenco is growing on the American arts scene, but it is tender and new. Together we can protect and nourish the roots that have been planted— and with these seven artists spread from Boston to New Mexico to Puerto Rico, we are going to change things for everyone.