Learn to move, because movement implies life!

Young Flamenco

 Flamenco is a young art form that has existed for only two centuries. Following the incorporation of the guitar, it has been in constant flux.Although there are many theories promising to explain the meaning of the word flamenco, most lack enough evidence to substantiate them. One commonly accepted version translates flamenco as Spanish for the Flemish soldiers of the Spanish-Belgian Territories. These soldiers were renowned for their self-confidence, style and ostentatious pride, all qualities that reflect the gypsy character. In fact, the term "flamenco" came to be synonymous with "gitano" (gypsy) in Spanish Romany Argot.
Between 800 and 900 A.D., a large exodus of people occurred from the Punjabi region of India. These people are believed to be members of the Untouchables, a group within the Indian caste system comprised of animal traders and trainers, acrobats, dancers, musicians, palmists and metalworkers. These nomadic groups, generally referred to as Roman and/or gypsies, divided into two major migratory routes, the most traceable moving west across Asia and the European continent, including Spain. The first recorded account of Spanish Gitanos "Beticos" dates from 1447 in Barcelona.
 Although much less research has been undertaken in the field of flamenco dance than music, it has been documented that during the Phoenician empire, in the city of Cadiz, Hindu dancers were hired as entertainers for the festivals, aspects of which were incorporated into local processions and religious festivals.
 Absent to flamenco dance are the torso undulations, pelvic oscillations, hip shimmies and rotations, all of which are fundamental components of Oriental. Finally, the soft, fluid, feminine, sweet and joyful external nature of Middle Eastern dance is the complete antithesis of the internal, spring-loaded, strong, defiant, explosive, masculine character of Flamenco.
Flamenco classes in Cork and Midleton, tel.: 087 7580224

Fascinating Tango

 Tango (the dance with the stop "Baille Con Carte") is one of the most fascinating of all dances. Originating in Spain or Morocco, the Tango was introduced to the New World by the Spanish settlers, eventually coming back to Spain with Black and Creole influences.
 In the early 19th Century, the Tango was a solo dance performed by the woman. The Adualisian Tango was later done by one or two couples walking together using castanets. The dance was soon considered immoral with its flirting music!
 The story of Tango as told is that it started with the gauchos of Argentina. They wore chaps that had hardened from the foam and sweat of the horses body. Hence to gauchos walked with knees flexed. They would go to the crowded night clubs and ask the local girls to dance. Since the gaucho hadn't showered, the lady would dance in the crook of the man's right arm, holding her head back. Her right hand was held low on his left hip, close to his pocket, looking for a payment for dancing with him. The man danced in a curving fashion because the floor was small with round tables, so he danced around and between them.
 Styles vary in Tango: Argentine, French, Gaucho and International. Still, Tango has become one of our American 'Standards' regardless of its origin. The Americanized version is a combination of the best parts of each. The principals involved are the same for any good dancing. First, the dance must fit the music. Second, it must contain the basic characteristic that sets it apart from other dances. Third, it must be comfortable and pleasing to do.
 Phrasing is an important part of Tango. Most Tango music phrased to 16 or 32 beats of music. Tango music is like a story. It contains paragraphs; sentences; and the period at the end of the sentence is the Tango close.
 For exhibition dancing, a Tango dancer must develop a strong connection with the music, the dance and the audience. The audience can only feel this connection if the performer feels and projects this feeling. So it is when dancing for your own pleasure -- and your partner's!
 The Tango is the easiest dance. If you make a mistake and get tangled up, you just Tango on.
 Tango classes in Cork, tel.: 087 2627887

Glorious Belly Dance

 Belly dancing is most likely the oldest dance still existing as an art form today. It can be traced back to times when the moon was worshipped as the life giving goddess, connected to all women.  According to many historians, women in those days used to gather especially during the time of the full moon to worship their fertility through movements of their womb and dance, which has always been the most potent form of ritual and worship.
 With the change of religion from a female to a male dominated one, the dance changed into an art mainly performed by women for kings and pharaohs, but still for a long time was seen as a sacred feminine art with magical powers of invocation. During the time of the pharaohs the meaning of the dance began to split into worship and entertainment and professional dancers enjoyed a high status in society.
 At the end of the middle ages, when agriculture increased and the population grew, a strong upper class was formed and chivalry was a part of their ideology. Dancing returned in forms of very controlled versions of courtship with movements more designed to show off an image of beauty and chastity and with men and women touching their hands only lightly through gloved hands. At this time it was only the gypsies (roma) who had brought their old ways of dancing from India, changed them and kept them alive throughout their travels. As all gypsies used to wear all their worldly belongings on their bodies, successful dancers showed off their status in the form of coins, heavy jewellery and rich fabrics.
 Some dancers were employed by kings and wealthy members of high society. They performed the moves of the gypsy dancers but were trained and educated to fit into their society.
 The term "belly dance" has probably appeared some time during the 19th century and was created by western audiences. Although it is now the term most commonly used by both audience and professional dancers, it is neither really authentic nor is it technically a good description of the dance. The moves, although emphasis is put on the hips, include all parts of the body, arms, hands, fingers, head, chest, eyes, legs and feet, mostly in a combination of isolation moves.
 Although  today, belly dance has and still is evolving into many different styles, there are currently two major trends: Tribal style and Egyptian style.
Belly dance classes in Cork, tel.: 0861967481, 0863091928, 086 1594508
Belly dance classes in Middleton, tel.: 0863663917

Origin of Salsa

If you are listening to today's Salsa, you are going to find the base of són, and you are going to hear Cumbia, and you are going to hear Guaracha. You will also hear some old Merengue, built-in the rhythm of different songs. You will hear many of the old styles somewhere within the modern beats. Salsa varies from site to site. In New York, for example, new instrumentalization and extra percussion were added to some Colombian songs so that New Yorkers - that dance mambo "on the two" - can feel comfortable dancing to the rhythm and beat of the song, because the original arrangement is not one they easily recognize. This is called "finishing," to enter the local market. This "finish" does not occur because the Colombian does not play Salsa, but it does not play to the rhythm of the Puerto Rican/Post-Cuban Salsa.

This syncretism also occurred in smaller degrees and with variations in other countries like the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico, among others. Bands of these countries took their music to Mexico City in the era of the famous films of that country (Perez Prado, most famous...). Shortly after, a similar movement to New York occurred. In these two cities, more promotion and syncretism occurred and more commercial music was generated because there was more investment. New York created the term "Salsa", but it did not create the dance. The term became popular as nickname to refer to a variety of different music, from several countries of Hispanic influence: Rhumba, Són Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Danzón, Són, Guguanco, Cubop, Guajira, Charanga, Cumbia, Plena, Bomba, Festejo, Merengue, among others. Many of these have maintained their individuality and many were mixed creating "Salsa".
Then, as a tree, Salsa has many roots and many branches, but one trunk that unites us all. The important thing is that Salsa is played throughout the Hispanic world and has received influences of many places within it. It is of all of us and it is a sample of our flexibility and evolution. If you think that a single place can take the credit for the existence of Salsa, you are wrong. And if you think that one style of dance is better, imagine that the best dancer of a style, without his partner, goes to dance with whomever he can find, in a club where a different style predominates. He wouldn't look as good as the locals. Each dancer is accustomed to dance his/her own style. None is better, only different!!!
Salsa classes in Cork, tel.: 086 25 47 319

Other classes:
Brazilian dance Capoeira classes in Cork, tel.: 085 7296260

Classes in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap and Hip Hop for children and adults
The Cork Dance Academy, tel.: 021 4630063
ELJ Academy of Dance, tel.: 086 0843440
Montfort College, tel.: 021 4501412