A Palo Seco: Flamenco Workshop at Flushing Town Hall

This all-ages workshop teaches family members of all ages some of the basic techniques and skills of Flamenco music and dance, general body and rhythmic awareness, and the cultural and historic context of this Spanish art. Beginning with a full-body warm-up set to lively Flamenco music, the workshop introduces participants to the basic techniques within Flamenco dance: zapateo (footwork), braceo (armwork), palmas (rhythmic hand-clapping), and more. They also get to see castanets in-action and learn how to play them. The workshop culminates with a short dance combination that families can go home and perform together, ending with an energetic “Ole!”...

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This all-ages workshop teaches family members of all ages some of the basic techniques and skills of Flamenco music and dance, general body and rhythmic awareness, and the cultural and historic context of this Spanish art. Beginning with a full-body warm-up set to lively Flamenco music, the workshop introduces participants to the basic techniques within Flamenco dance: zapateo (footwork), braceo (armwork), palmas (rhythmic hand-clapping), and more. They also get to see castanets in-action and learn how to play them. The workshop culminates with a short dance combination that families can go home and perform together, ending with an energetic “Ole!”

After years of performing and touring with such companies as Noche Flamenca and Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Rebecca Thomas founded A Palo Seco Flamenco Company (2010), for which she directs and choreographs her own original productions. She creates with an artistic vision deeply rooted in Flamenco tradition, yet relevant in a modern urban context. Rebeca has been described as “awesomely fiery” (The New York Times), “masterful” (Eva YaaAsentawaa), and “a postcard image of the feminine Flamenco dancer” (Kansas City Metropolis).

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