Flamenco runs in my blood. My grandfather was a flamenco singer-song writer. He also writes poems and film/theatre scripts. He taught himself to play guitar, armonica and flute at the age of 65. My uncle is a professional musician, he plays electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards and sings. My three aunties are dance teachers and my uncle used to dance too... my brother plays drums professionally. His band last year won the national award for best alternative band album... and I can complete the saga with the Lukas Award!
I started learning Flamenco at the age of three. My mum sent me with my aunts to the dance studio. Then I attended the official children Andalucian folk dance school of Almeria from where the most talented children would be selected to be in the official dance group that represents Almeria and on ocassions Spain in international festivals. As part of that group you would receive free tuition, costumes, etc I travelled with them around the world since the age of 12 performing in France, Portugal, Israel, Russia, etc and all over Spain.
When I was nine years old and I was already managing a group of 20 dancers. I loved choreographing and making new dances. I spent ours in front of the mirror with my cassette player (no ipods or internet at that time) stopping and rewining trying to create routines... I could do that for hours on my own. I could choregraph to any music... at school I was often in charge of preparing numbers for the christmas and summer festivals...
While other teenagers would go to see the psychologist my theraphy was dancing and still is...Flamenco liberates me, flamenco has the power to making you feel relaxed and give you energy at the same time, it is somehow magic hwo it makes you cope with everyday life. I think any hobbie can helps you disconnect from reality and takes you to another place far from problems or worries... It is a quality time for you only that no one can touch.
I knew I wanted to leave Spain and move somewhere where I could feel free, since I was very young. When I first visited London I was 18 years old. I was totally blowned away by the mixture of cultures and ethnics and I said to myself I would come back to stay one day. London is an amazing city that offers nearly everything and where dreams come true if you are hard working and determine. You can be who you want to be without having to worry about being judge.
I have worked very hard (and I still do on a daily basis) to create and run the flamenco school and the artists agency. I did it on my own without any official funding or grants. I have to auto-finance all the events we organize and any workshops or courses the school offers... with hard work I have managed to build a school and have a costume bank for performers to use.
The last thing I ever imagined being was a flamenco teacher and run a school as it was never intended. Flamenco was always part of my life and for me it was normal to sing and dance, I didn't think it was special, I thought every family in Spain would do it? In London I met people from other regions in Spain and it was at an office party that I danced for my colleagues that I realized it was special and not everybody was able to dance or clap in rhythm. It was at this party that a group of people gathered and ask me to teach them dance... then people started to join the group and slowly it started to build up and here i am today talking to you guys... a dream made true!
When I look back I don't really know how I have done it and if I would be able to do it again... very very hard, but I enjoy it so much that I will go on and on .... all the help and support I get it is from my students, the parents of the children that attend the lessons and the people that attends to our events which are always a success...
My number one obstacle has been to find a studio that doesn't mind flamenco, normally they complain it is loud and damages the floor, which makes me very sad because it is afterall a beautiful art form that shouldn't be in disadvantage compare to other dance styles...
My breakthrough was having been invited to offereworkshops with international artists like Rafael Amargo or Farruco Family and to have put together a 2 hours show in a theatre in central london featuring 100 performers of all ages (from 5 to 65 years old)to prove non-spanish people can also flamenco
There will always someone that wants to push you downout of jelousy or envy but in general my experiences have been really good. I am in peace with the world and I dedicate this award to everyone. I have always felt accepted and happy working here. I know it might not be the same in all work fields but in what I do I feel appreciated and respected so no complains.
What keeps me driven is seeing people coming our classes with a smile on their face. Their respect and admiration for flamenco is inspiring. In some way the classes, performances and flamenco related events that we offer make people happy... Also the interested in learning about my culture and the respect they show for it motivates me to continue and to be better. Students are always asking for workshops to work on particular aspects of flamenco and it is this interest that made me organize new events and courses... People really want learn and are committed to improve... it is fantastic!
It makes me happy to see how people learn and improve, how they progress and get better. I see them disconnecting from reality in class after having been working all day mainly doing estressful office based jobs. Flamenco class means to them freedom and peace of mind. I get to meet a lot of really nice people which are special to me in their own way. They are like my family I see them twice or 3 times a week... I miss them when they don't turn up. I also meet international artists when they come to the Flamenco Festival and teach in my school... so I can say that I am very lucky and very happy indeed. What else can I wish for
It makes me unhappy to see that the Spanish authorities don't support us or private initiatives as much as they should specially being abroad. It means a lot to have the support of your own country but unfortunately that's not happening in this ocassion.
Everything I wanted to do I have done... the main dream was to put up a school show involving all our students and that happened last summer with Gala Flamenca Show at Shaw Theatre... so I guess, repeat it? jajaja Perhaps the next ambitious project is to create a centre dedicated to flamenco in London... have been thinking about it for some time. I see my future as it is now, organizing new events, bringing artists over to the Uk for "aficionados" to enjoy. Choregraphing and passing it on... that's the plan for now and of course winning this award next year!
I think it is a wonderful thing bringing latin artists together under one roof. Well done to the LUKAS team for all the hard work. Thanks a lot to all of you!
