![]() ![]() It is only a hundred years since women were granted the right to vote in the United States and have a voice. I have always been pleased that so many women are holding prominent positions in government all over the world. My message here is leading up to the point that I am a feminist. This is not to diminish in any way the dynamics and tremendous artistry displayed by many marvelous male artists. This acknowledges that the male dancer also must follow the rules and law of the rhythm ( compás) but the male role seems meant to be a lesser figure within this art. ![]() In an uncanny way the Andalusian dance reflects this because of its very nature. Ritual dominated society.įlamenco is a throwback to the endless chain of the rhythm on our planet. In prehistoric times the dependence on sustenance from Mother Earth was paramount. This obviously relates to the Seasonal Pattern on Earth. She who looked both backward and forward : She had the power to shut what was open and open what was shut, as the hinge which connects the door: the door on which the year swung” But before Janus thousands of years before, a two headed goddess named PostVorta and Antevorta, was a symbol of this concept. Robert Graves, writes in his book ,” The White Goddess”, In Mythology, the two headed god Janus signified a new beginning looking both backward and forward. The llamada, (call) closes the door on the passage just completed and in the same action opens the door to the next. The signals given in the dance are built in and function to move the dance patterns smoothly one into the other. As metaphor, it is not to taken literately. The responsibility lies on the dancer and to have this knowledge is imperative.įrank writes “The woman dancing in flamenco is “mother, teacher and priestess.” This is in a symbolic sense. The form is poorly understood and rather esoteric and arcane. I have put down these comments again and again. ![]() The performer is the conductor and guitarists and singers must obey the percussive lead of the dancer. Without writing about the structure or form, his summation of a woman dancing gives a portrait of the true nature of this genre.īecause flamenco is not notated, the score is written as the dance proceeds. I think he saw the essence of the work which we refer to as flamenco. His writing approach is poetic and symphonic. In his book, “Virgin Spain” (1926) his chapters on the Andalusian Dance and its practitioners, he brings out some facets of this idea. Waldo Frank, a writer of the 1920’s, an American, but highly versed in Hispanic Culture wrote about the Spanish speaking world. This seems to permeate the psyche of the population and I have noted evidence of this. To focus on the particular point in this subject, having known Spain and its culture, I found that in most cases, the woman in family life is very strong. I remain liberal in my outlook on the global scene although never progressive or extreme in any sense of the word.Īs an artist who has performed in other parts of the globe and have friends of numerous other nationalities and races I consider myself “a citizen of the world.” A disastrous pandemic and political upheaval I have never seen in my lifetime. In the world of events over the last year, I am caught up in a preponderance of conflicting ideas and forces changing the way we live. In this one instance I see a parallel to the art to which I have devoted most of my existence. I am a person of the theater and remain apart from ideological and political matters. It is not my custom or desire to comment on world events. Thoughts on the concept of the woman dancing in Flamenco ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |