Flamenco holiday Information
Read more about our courses, Jerez & Simon El Rubio!
1) About Flamenco
2) About Jerez
3) Our Maestro – Simon El Rubio
4) Our dance courses
5) Prices
6) Accommodation and transport
1) About Flamenco
Flamenco culture lies at the heart of everything Andalucian, bursting with vibrant colours, passionate dancing and the melodies and rhythms of the guitar. Although considered part of the culture of Spain in general, flamenco actually originates from one region: Andalucia. It is generally acknowledged that flamenco grew out of the unique interplay of native Arabic, Andalucian, Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures that existed in Andalucia prior to and after the Reconquest. Latin American and especially Cuban influences have also been important in shaping several flamencomusical forms.
Once the seeds of flamenco were planted in Andalucia, it grew as a separate subculture, first centered in the provinces of Cadiz, Seville and part of Malaga, but soon spreading to the rest of Andalucia, incorporating and transforming local folk music forms. Flamenco, like many music forms has had golden ages and periods of dormancy. Until the 19th century it was an art form with an oral history, allowing it to be a lot more fluid and adaptable with the times and permitting it to absorb other music forms whilst apporting its own influence The mysterious and romantic nature of the music along with the intricate dance has fuelled an enormous growth in popularity throughout Spain, but its spirit remains firmly in Andalucia. Nowadays, flamenco is the pillar of Andalucian identity. It embodies passion, heat, love, intensity, pride and manages to maintain that wonderful sense of abandon that so characterises the Andalucian.
2) About Jerez
Sherish – Xerez – Jerez. Named by the moors after one of its most famous creations, sherry, and also known as “La cuna del cante” (the cradle of flamenco song) it is the fifth largest city in Andalucia and the largest in the province of Cadiz. Jerez is best known as an epicentre of flamenco culture and tradition in Cadiz province and throughout Andalucia. It is home to the Andalucian Flamenco Centre and annually offers the Jerez flamenco festival, one of the biggest annual flamenco gatherings in the world.
If it is culture you are after, you will find it here. Flamenco dancing, peñas, flamenco shows, wine tastings, arabic baths, horse shows, historical monuments, gastronomy – there are endless things to do and places to explore. You are treated to countless food and tapas bars dotted around the city, on street corners or in town squares. Sherry wine flows freely here, and each meal of the day is the perfect excuse to try a different one. There are over 300 days of sun in Jerez, making it a wonderful city to investigate on foot. If you decide to stay in Jerez during your course, you have the fantastic advantage of having Simon´s insider´s knowledge to tell you where to go and which flamenco spots to frequent after your dance classes as night-time is given over wholely to flamenco!
3) Simon El Rubio
Simon El Rubio (Simon the blonde - guitarist in the above video clip) was born into an already musically gifted family. His parents were both Royal Ballet dancers and they immersed him in music from a very young age. Despite repeated attempts to guide Simon into a regular musical genre with violin and piano lessons, his Bohemian temperment pulled him towards the flamenco art. With over 20 years experience, Simon is an expert flamenco guitarist and highly accomplished flamenco dancer. He spent many years dancing and playing in the Peña flamenca de Estepona before moving to Jerez. It is one thing to enjoy flamenco. But it is quite another thing to make flamenco your life such as Simon has done. His is truly a unique story. To break on to Andalucian flamenco scene with all its mystery and heritage and to cultivate so much respect amongst his Andalucian and gypsy peers goes to show the quality of flamenco artist that he is.
And perhaps the most important point – Flamenco is a dance of feeling and emotion. And being a good flamenco dancer does not make you a good teacher! Simon´s varied dance background has allowed him to study flamenco with a very critical eye. He is one of few (and the only individual whom I know) who can translate and quantify flamenco into something understandable to a student. Most flamenco teachers can tell you that you are doing something wrong – that you are not “feeling” the dance. Simon allows you to assimilate, understand and therefore feel a dance unlike any other teacher. His teaching methods and explanations are truly invaluable to a non-Andalucian dance student.
4) Our dance classes
Our dance classes currently take place in Jerez and Sanlucar de Barrameda. To ensure a high quality and guaranteed student improvement we limit our classes to a maximum of 10 people. We cater for beginner students right through to advanced dancers.
Course lengths:
5 day course (10 hours): 5 days x 2 hours
3 day long weekend course (Up to 10 hours): 3 days x 3 hours
Individual 1 to 1 classes: Tailored to the dancers needs and length of stay
Example Beginners course itinerary:
• Introduction to flamenco – its history, background, the music, the emotions, main dance types
• Introduction to flamenco footwork
• Introduction to flamenco techniques
• The upper body and differences between male and female dance styles
• Dancing Alegrias & Tanguillos
• Composition of a short Alegria choreography
Example Intermediate course itinerary:
• How to dance tangos & bulerias
• Excercises on intermediate footwork
• Excercises on intermediate flamenco technique with attention to style
• The tricky art of undersanding the guitarist & singer when dancing to live music
• Composition of Tango & Buleria choreography
5) 5 day Course dates 2009
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3 Day Courses 2009
We don´t offer any fixed dates. We work around your requirements to organise a long weekend that suits you and your group and your holiday time. Just send us an enquiry with the dates you have in mind.
1 to 1 Courses 2009
Again, we don´t offer fixed dates. Contact us with the dates of your holiday and we will tailor an individual course to your needs.
6) Prices
10 Hour Dance Course
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***Should you require a dance course tailored to your needs, we try to be as flexible as possible and can come up with the ideal dance package.
7) Accommodation and transport
Tailormade Andalucia work with various establishments in the Jerez and Sanlucar region. Just let us know your ideal accommodation and budget and we´ll come up with some great hotel suggestions for you.
We are also able to get you some fantastic carhire quotes. Or, should you not want a hire car we can facilitate transport and airport transfers for you.