Quick update for Sunday students:

Our Sunday classes will move to Wednesdays at la Girandole starting on October 28th. There will not be any more classes on Sunday and our next class will be in more than a week. To be clear, our remaining classes at la Girandole are on the following dates:

Por fiesta – regular class 7:00 – 8:30/improv only 8:00 – 8:30
Oct 28
Nov 4
Nov 11 – not yet confirmed
Nov 18 – not yet confirmed
Nov 25 – not yet confirmed
Nov 27 – all levels at MarrMac
Dec 2 – not yet confirmed

Advanced tangos 8:30 – 9:30
(if the por fiesta class doesn’t continue, we will move this earlier on Nov 11)
Oct 28
Nov 4
Nov 11
Nov 18
Nov 25
Nov 27 – all levels at MarrMac

click here for updated calendar

Never been to the studios at la Girandole? Plan to arrive early your first time. It can be a bit confusing. The building doors will likely be locked before 7pm so do plan to enter the building through the parkade on the North side. Studio details at this link

Students, if you are registered in or planning to attend por fiesta or advanced tangos classes, please confirm that you have seen these changes so I don’t have to worry that you aren’t aware.

thanks!
Jane

Exciting updates!

1. Paco Pena concert ticket raffle
2. Sunday classes moving to Wednesdays
3. Flamenco Society event reminder

Paco Peña live in concert! Monday, October 26th at the Winspear.

As part of our fundraising, the Edmonton Flamenco Festival Association is raffling off 4 pairs of tickets to see Paco Peña’s “Flamencura” at the Winspear on Monday, October 26th. Raffle tickets are $10 each for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show (valued at $94). All proceeds go towards our Association in support of our first Flamenco Festival in April 2016.

Raffle tickets can be purchased by contacting Jane Ogilvie (janeogilvie@mail.com) and will also be available at the Edmonton Flamenco Society Swap/Sell and AGM on Sunday, October 18 where the draw will be held.

Paco Peña embodies both authenticity and innovation in flamenco. As guitarist, composer, dramatist, producer and artistic mentor he has transformed perceptions of this archetypal Spanish art form.

“Mr. Peña is a genuine virtuoso, capable of dazzling an audience with technical abilities beyond the frets of mortal man.”
-The New York Times

www.pacopena.com
www.edmontonflamencofestival.com

Sunday classes moving to Wednesdays!
I’m excited to announce that la Girandole has opened up their studio for us on Wednesday nights and therefore as previously mentioned, our Sunday classes will be moving to Wednesday evenings. Por fiesta will run from 7 – 8:30 and advanced tangos from 8:30 – 9:30. If you are registered in either of these classes, please let me know immediately if there is a scheduling problem for you to have Wednesday classes start on the 21st (next week). We do have the option to begin the following week but it means we will have a class on Remembrance Day instead of the 21st.

por fiesta registered runs from 7 – 8
por fiesta drop-in 8 – 8:30 (registered students this is included in your class)
advanced tangos runs 8:30 – 9:30

Classes will run as usual this Sunday, October 18 and will plan to move to Wednesdays starting on October 21 pending everyone’s response. I will be announcing the date on Sunday evening. Please see the calendar on the webpage for a clear view of class dates.

A reminder that our Flamenco Society swap-sell and AGM is this Sunday.

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2015 
Location: Marr Mac Dance Studio lobby
Downstairs, 8627-109 Street Edmonton

5:30 PM – Flamenco SWAP-SELL 
Do you have flamenco shoes, clothes, accessories, CD’s and want to swap, sell, or buy them? Looking for new items for your collection? Want to update your flamenco wardrobe? Want to catch up with the local flamenco community? This is the event for you.

6:30 PM – Society First Annual General Meeting
Society membership ($5) is open to anybody involved and/or interested in the Art of Flamenco: performers, students, presenters, teachers, aficionados. Previous knowledge or experience with flamenco is not required.

Our mission is to promote and facilitate local Flamenco activities, to build and increase awareness of Flamenco art in Edmonton and Alberta and to be an umbrella organization for local Flamenco artists, schools, presenters, aficionados and community at large.

At the first Society General Meeting a Board will be voted in from members. Want to collaborate with other Flamenco enthusiasts? Want to have a voice in Society events? Want to be involved in organizing social events, performances, workshops and more? We hope you’ll consider a position on the Board.

You can acquire a Flamenco Society Membership in advance from Irena Dumicz or Jane Ogilvie, or at the event during our Flamenco SWAP-SELL, just before the AGM.

Questions? Email us: flamencosocietyofedmonton@gmail.com

An update for those of you that have not yet heard via the facebook group “Edmonton Flamencos” or our community blog Flamenco Edmonton

Join us! The Flamenco Society of Edmonton is hosting its first social event and AGM.

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2015 
Location: Marr Mac Dance Studio lobby
Downstairs, 8627-109 Street Edmonton

5:30 PM – Flamenco SWAP-SELL 
Do you have flamenco shoes, clothes, accessories, CD’s and want to swap, sell, or buy them? Looking for new items for your collection? Want to update your flamenco wardrobe? Want to catch up with the local flamenco community? This is the event for you.

6:30 PM – Society First Annual General Meeting
Society membership ($5) is open to anybody involved and/or interested in the Art of Flamenco: performers, students, presenters, teachers, aficionados. Previous knowledge or experience with flamenco is not required.

Our mission is to promote and facilitate local Flamenco activities, to build and increase awareness of Flamenco art in Edmonton and Alberta and to be an umbrella organization for local Flamenco artists, schools, presenters, aficionados and community at large.

At the first Society General Meeting a Board will be voted in from members. Want to collaborate with other Flamenco enthusiasts? Want to have a voice in Society events? Want to be involved in organizing social events, performances, workshops and more? We hope you’ll consider a position on the Board.

You can acquire a Flamenco Society Membership in advance from Irena Dumicz or Jane Ogilvie, or at the event during our Flamenco SWAP-SELL, just before the AGM.

Questions? Email us: flamencosocietyofedmonton@gmail.com

Registration Reminder

The registration deadline for the upcoming session of Flamenco classes is Monday, September 28th.  Classes begin on October 2nd.

Class information can be found here.

If you are planning to attend classes this session, please make sure to get your registration in by midnight on Monday. If I’ve received your registration in the mail, I have emailed you to confirm. You can also register via interac e-transfer. If you would like to register this way and have not done so before, please email me for details.

Exciting news!

Sunday students, we may still have a chance to move classes to Wednesday evenings. La Girandole has a bit of chaos happening at the moment but I will know more after October 15. If you will be attending any Sunday classes, please let me know if Wednesday evenings will work for you so I have an idea of our options.

Stephanie Pedraza will be returning from Dec 4 – 6 for workshops in flamenco dance and song! More information coming soon. (click here for her bio)

Have you heard? With great anticipation and excitement we would like to announce that the Flamenco Society of Edmonton has been created and registered by the following founding members: Irena Dumicz, Jolene Yuen-Jung, Nyles Varughese, Karrie Darichuk and Jane Ogilvie.

Society membership ($5) is open to anybody involved and/or interested in the Art of Flamenco: performers, students, presenters, teachers, aficionados. Our mission is to promote and facilitate local Flamenco activities, to build and increase awareness of Flamenco art in Edmonton and Alberta and to be an umbrella organization for local Flamenco artists, schools, presenters, aficionados and community at large.

The first Society General Meeting will take place in October (stay tuned for details), when a Board will be voted in from members of the Flamenco Society of Edmonton. We hope you’ll join us as a member and, if interested, consider a position on the Board. I will have memberships available in class and they will also be available at the AGM to be announced shortly.

hope to see you this fall!
Jane

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Dear Students,

Registration information for the upcoming session of flamenco classes is now available. The deadline to register for all levels is September 28th.

Unfortunately the studio at La Girandole is not able to accommodate us this session so Wednesday class are back to Sundays.

Introductory/Beginner level students

I am offering a One Day Introduction to Flamenco on October 2nd to give you a taste of my classes before the full session which begins on Oct. 16th.

Levels I and above – Classes begin on the weekend of October 2nd.

Not sure about your level? Please read below and contact me with any questions. A reminder that students receive a 25% discount on the second level when registering for two levels.

Students that were in the Beginner level tangos class last spring, you are ready for Level I, but if you have not done a session of tangos working specifically on the letra, I recommend continuing to take the Beginner level instead or concurrently so that you are not missing vital information. Depending on your comfort level with tangos you may choose to take the full Beginner level or drop in for a few classes. Please contact me if you’re not sure what to do.

Beginner students that have worked with the tangos letra structure (either last fall with me or with Stephanie or Oscar), you are ready to join the Performance class on Sundays. More information below.

Level I students that have completed at least 2 sessions of bulerias, you are ready to move on to Level II. I recommend that students moving on to this level also continue to attend the Level I bulerias class, either the full session or as drop-in. You are also ready to join the Performance class on Sundays. More information below.

Students formerly in Level II (Alegrias last term), your new level is Level III and has moved to Sundays.

Advanced students (Siguiriyas last term), you are now Level IV.

*Performance Class* – Aimed at students level I and above. I encourage you to join this class early on in your flamenco journey so you can begin to get comfortable with dancing solo, improvising, and eventually creating your own choreographies.

This fall the performance class is offered in sets of 4 classes. We will work on a specific letra for all 4 classes in each palo. Steps are geared to each dancer’s level so that lower level students are not overwhelmed and higher level students are challenged.

Intermediate/Advanced students preferring to work with their own steps and not the set being taught should instead drop in for the final 30 minutes of improv at $5/class. Singers wanting to practice cante, please confirm with me first and aim to sing in this improv timeslot. I will not be allowing other singers from 11:00 – 12:00.

Performance Class structure is as follows:
11:00 – 11:30 – Tangos
11:30 – 12:00 – Bulerias
12:00 – 12:30 – Improv

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Click here to go directly to the class registration page.

Hope to see you this Fall!
Jane

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Dear Students,

Oscar Nieto’s workshop is this weekend! I am so excited to bring this teacher to Edmonton.

Beginners – if you have at least 4 classes behind you, from any teacher, at any point in your past, and would like a flamenco fix…I can’t recommend Oscar enough. There is still room in the 1 hr Intro level class on Friday from 6 – 7. Don’t miss your chance to take classes from this incredible teacher.

All levels – if you haven’t registered and are planning to attend, please do bring both the registration form and your total fee to the first day you attend the workshop. There is still room for both partial and full workshop participants.

Cante class  – Note that the cante class is separate from the dance workshop fees. If you’d like to join us for cante be sure to indicate so and add the fee to your total.

Click here for workshop information/form (including drop-in/partial workshop fees).

Miguel Ortega CD

Miguel Ortega is an incredible singer from Spain that came to the Calgary International Flamenco Festival in 2013 as the singer with Olga Pericet. He gave a fantastic cante workshop and we were able to buy his CD “Una Mirada Atras” which had just come out. He has released a new CD this year “Amalgama”. Silvia Temis in Calgary has arranged to purchase some from him and would like to know if anyone else in Edmonton would like one.  The cost is $20.10 (shipping included) and he will sign them before sending.  I am collecting the money for her and will arrange for the Edmonton order to be delivered. If you’d like to purchase one, please let me know by Friday and I will make sure you are on the list.  Money must be paid this weekend! (cash only).

You can see more about Miguel at the links below:

Miguel Ortega website (spanish only)

link to video from the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla – Sept 2014

link to video from the Festival de Jerez – Feb 2015 – for release of “Amalgama” CD

hope to see you in class!

Jane

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Dear Students,

A few quick reminders:

1 – There are no classes this Friday for the long weekend. Classes resume next week as usual.

2 – The registration deadline for the upcoming 4 week Intro to Flamenco session is this Monday, May 18th. If enough are registered, classes will begin next Friday. I will confirm if these classes are running on Tuesday.

Class information can be found here.

If you are planning to attend classes this session, please make sure to get your registration in by Monday. If I’ve received your registration in the mail, I have emailed you to confirm.

A reminder that you can also register via interac e-transfer.  If you would like to register this way and have not done so before, please email me for details.

hope to see you there!
Jane

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I’m over the moon excited to announce that master teacher Oscar Nieto will be returning to Edmonton for a weekend workshop in flamenco dance and song on June 19th, 20th and 21st, 2015.

I can’t speak highly enough about Oscar. His ongoing influence has been fundamental in my flamenco journey since I took my first workshop with him as a total beginner back in 1997. To quote Portland’s Laura Onizuka:

“What Oscar teaches sticks. He has a secret magical talent for explaining things in ways that make so much sense. He helps you engage muscles in the body you didn’t know you had, allowing you to move with ease and power. The way a flamenco dancer moves. There are master dancers, but few can explain how to execute things as Oscar does.

Oscar is in constant demand as a guest artist and teacher across Canada, the USA and Asia. His broad experience and knowledge gives students a rich background in the history of flamenco and Spanish dance, cante (song), jaleo (shouts of encouragement) and compas (rhythm).”

These workshops are open to the greater flamenco community. Some previous flamenco experience is required and there is an Intro level class offered for students with at least 4 classes of flamenco experience (from any teacher).

If you register early, there is a discounted rate. Early bird registrations must be received by June 1st at the latest in order to receive the discounted rate.

Class size is limited. Though preference is given to students that register for a complete level, if you are unable to make both days or would like to add classes to your level there is also the option to register for individual classes.

For those of you wanting to take classes with Deborah Ibach this summer, she is also really excited to have Oscar Nieto in town, so the start of her classes will be delayed to ensure that everyone can take advantage of his workshop.

The final registration deadline is June 12th

Click here for more information and to register.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to take classes with a truly incredible teacher.

Jane

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The registrations are in and classes will begin this Friday, May 1st.

Levels I, II, III, and the Performance class are running the full session.

The Introductory level for continuing students has been cancelled. For those students wishing to continue, a reminder that the Performance class is open to you and you really are ready for it. The Performance class has students from all levels with each student working at their own level. It is a great opportunity to learn to accompany with palmas and to become comfortable dancing solo. You work at your own pace with assistance from me and with material you are already familiar and comfortable with. It is an exhilarating class with very supportive and encouraging fellow dancers. Full session fees are $90 for 6 weeks or drop-in at $20/class

*NEW* Introductory level 4 week session – starting May 22nd
This class is aimed at students who are new to flamenco.
Click here to go directly to the registration page.

For your convenience, the schedule and calendar for
this session are posted on the website.

Beginners and new students, if you haven’t already done so,
you may want to look through the FAQ page.

Hope to see you in class!

Jane

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