7 Day Flamenco Quick Start
The 7 Day Flamenco Quickstart is GREAT way to get your feet wet if you're new to the Online Flamenco Studio. It's also FANTASTIC to revisit every once in awhile to track your progress and up level your technique.
HOW IT WORKS:
First Timers- Go through the content as is. You can choose the beginner or more advanced options. You'll also be given recommendations of other lessons in case you want to deep dive even more!
Be sure to write down notes at the bottom of the page to track how you did for each day. Easy? Able to complete at 120bpm but not 150bpm? Tried one piece of music but not the other? It's so useful to write these notes down and look back on them
Old Timers- (sorry, can't think of a better way to say it!) Look at your notes from the last time you went through the Quick Start. Try doing a more advanced version, maybe pick a different song or use a faster tempo of music. And still be sure write notes in the section below!
Don't forget to appreciate the progress you've made. You deserve it!!
[NOTE: This course is for advanced beginners and up. If you're a new beginner, go straight to the New Beginners Area and start the first course.]
Follow these simple exercise to gain strength and mobility to achieve that flamenco "look" in the upper body.
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You can't dance flamenco without a sense of the compás and the best way to train your ear to hear it is by practicing palmas. Once you can do this video, then practice on your own with these music options:
- Solo Compás with guitar @144 bpm
- Romance del Amargo by Camaron de la Isla
- Kicking it up a notch by playing along the cuadro at Casa Patas backing up El Carpeta.
** Want more palmas practice? Check out the first lesson in the How to Improvise Flamenco Workshop.
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This Tangos footwork drill is my absolute favorite because it covers so much and it's adaptable for all levels. Beginners stay with the first part of the exercise and just play palmas when it gets too fast. More experienced dancers can do the whole thing or add a layer of complexity by playing palmas as you do the footwork drills.
- Follow along with me or use Tangos Solo Compas at 144bpm or even 152bpm. Keep it clean and crisp though!
- Visit the Core Program for tons more footwork technique lessons and drills.
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Let's work the upper body with fluid hands, graceful arms and strong posture!
Try dancing on your own to these recordings
Go to the Hands, Arms and Upper Body page for more focused lessons.
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When a dancer has "aire" it means she has style and substance. So today, let's work on our flamenco attitude! Here, we use the same marking steps and adapt them to different palos with soft and strong movements.
** Work on expressing yourself even more with the "Aire" Personal Expression Workshop.
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Here, you'll learn the three elements of turns: spotting, proper arm placement, and proper alignment.
- Beginners try to learn the technique and follow along with me.
- More advanced dancers try practicing your turns with steady compás or inspiring music.\
- Bulerias por Solea- Las Campanas de las Monjas by Fernando Canela
- Rancapino Chico por Tangos
- Alegrias solo compas con guitarra 144bpm
** Practice your turns even more in the Turns Workshop in the Core Program!
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Every dance in flamenco follows a basic structure. Salida or Entrada (entrance), Letra (singing verse), Falseta (guitar falsetto), Escobilla (footwork section), Macho (fast letra like Bulerias or Tangos) and finally the Estribillo (chorus or exit). Of course there are many variations, elements you can add or subtract, but this is a solid beginning for you to learn. This lecture covers a Solea por Bulerias dance.
Pick a dance and test your knowledge! Can you identify and of the elements of the dance?
** Watch more Solea por Bulerias lectures here or browse the Lectures library to learn other palos.
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My Progress
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My Private Notes
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