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Passion!

The benefits of dance

9/4/2011

5 Comments

 
There's too many to list! I have been dancing all my life, and it's what fills my soul. When I was growing up in Santa Barbara, I discovered my life’s passion of Spanish Flamenco dancing. Imagine a persecuted gypsy population in Southern Spain, whose quest for autonomy brought on much pain and anguish from those who didn't understand their unique way of life. From this conflict, the intriguing and passionate art form was born, called Flamenco. The music and movement of Flamenco is an interpretation of the gypsies’ way of life, full of emotion creating an intensity that’s felt by all who are fortunate to experience it. For me and my dedicated students, having Flamenco in our lives is as important to us as oxygen. For others, it can be seen as angry and depressing. Because of this there are few that are on the fence. You either love it, or you don’t.

I am a student, performer and teacher of Flamenco dance in Washington State. I teach dance classes 5 days a week and I study dance whenever possible. I love all that dancing brings to my life, especially the physical benefits. Sometimes after the usual stresses of the day, I have to drag myself to teach class in the evening. Once I hear the music and start moving my body, all my tension and stresses melt away. I’m energized and ready to face any obstacle before me. I especially notice this when I’m feeling a little under the weather. I will come to class and tell my students that I’m not going to be able to dance fully because I’m not feeling well. Somehow, the movement of my body and the collective energy of my students, transforms me and I ultimately feel better when I'm done with class. My students now smirk when I tell them that I'm going to hold back in class due to lack of energy... because they know it's just a matter of time before I'm flying all over the studio floor!

Another advantage I’ve noticed not only in myself but with my students as well are the mental benefits. Life has been difficult at this time with the economy and all the hardships that come with. Because of this, in my community there has been an upsurge of home and job losses. However, the feedback that I've been getting from my students and fellow dancers is that dance is always that one positive in their lives. Financially, my students will set other expenses aside before they would ever stop their dance classes. They often tell me that they truly need that one moment in their day, where they can be free and expressive with no worries about the hardships that life can bring. In class they are being challenged, both physically and mentally, and their souls are fulfilled.
How does dance fullfill you?
5 Comments
Jake
3/5/2012 10:36:44 am

I like to dance, as well.

Reply
Elvis Camacho
3/23/2012 10:31:37 am

El flamenco es un estilo de música y danza que tiene el origen en Andalucía en el siglo XVIII. Es un patrimonio auténtico y genuino de los andaluces sin distinción de etnias y religión. No es el folclore de Andalucía sino un género artístico fundamentalmente escénico., por lo cual no hay certeza de su etimología.
Se cree que surgió en ciudades y villas agrarias de la Baja Andalucía. A partir de los años 50 del siglo XX empezaron a publicarse abundantes estudios antropológicos y musicológicos sobre el flamenco.
En los años 1980 surgió una nueva generación de artista flamencos que ya han recibido la influencia de Camarón, Paco de Lucia, Morente, etc. Estos artistas tenían un mayor interés por la música popular urbana.
Según la Real Academia Española, se denomina “cante” a la “acción o efecto de cantar cualquier canto andaluz”, definiendo “cante flamenco” como el “canto andaluz agitanado” y el cante jondo como el “canto mas genuino andaluz de profundo sentimiento”. Al intérprete de cantante flamenco se le llama cantaor en vez de cantante, con la perdida de la intervocálica característica del dialecto andaluz. El baile flamenco puede acompañar distintos palos. Su realización es similar a un ejercicio físico moderado.

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hentai static link
8/7/2012 03:29:05 pm

I'm new to this site, just browsing around

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Laura link
4/24/2014 05:16:55 pm

I know what you mean, Jackie! Thanks for sharing your passion with the world. :)

un abrazo,
Laura

Reply
Jade link
5/7/2019 02:46:25 pm

Welcome to your first post!

Reply



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    Author

    Jacquelina Villegas-MacLin
    Dancer/Instructor/Director of Jacquelina's "Dances of Spain"

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