Why Flamenco?

Let`s face it, we already know about the essential role that the arts have in the curriculum of any school. There are a wealth of studies that show how music, art, theater and dance are crucial to the development of our children`s critical thinking and communication skills.

Without a doubt, flamenco is a powerful tool for exploring self-expression, while simultaneously opening the door to Spanish culture and the fascinating historical context in which flamenco was born. For every feeling there is a flamenco song. The family tree of flamenco songs covers the spectrum of universal human emotions and gives you the license to express how they feel, un-apologetically and with passion. Through their voices, through their clapping hands, through the style of their arms and hands and the vigor of their feet, children are encouraged to interpret the poetry that is sung and the mood created by the guitar and percussion.

Children also gain insight into the importance of respect and tolerance, as the history of Spain and flamenco illustrate the overlapping of different cultures, religions, classes, languages and philosophies (Catholics, Muslims, Sephardic Jews and Gypsies, to name a few.)

Exploring the story of flamenco is a unique opportunity to discuss (at an age-appropriate level, of course) how this coexistence wasn`t always conflict-free and to value the importance of living in harmony with our fellow human beings. Thankfully, we have today a tangible art form that exists thanks, at least in part, to the multicultural history of Andalucia, Spain. And we celebrate this with our first and last OLE!

Lecture Demonstrations

Barbara leads an ensemble of professional flamenco musicians and dancers who perform in the schools for grades K-12. The typical lec-demo takes places during all-school assembly and last 45-60 minutes. This is an interactive and age-appropriate performance, interspersed with narration covering all of the main elements of flamenco and involving the children both from their seats and optionally bringing some students up to the stage.

Elements: el baile children try hands and arm movements from their seats, and even practice playing invisible castanets too el ritmo children try basic clapping patterns from their seats, and may even try certain tapping patterns with their feet; they also learn about the percussion instrument el cajon el cante children learn about the poetry that is sung in flamenco and how it is passed down from generation to generation (oral history) and how lyrics are chosen based on the moods of the songs la guitarra children learn how the guitar was born in Spain and how flamenco guitar playing was influenced by the oud and the lute An extended lec-demo includes a Dance Sequence with volunteers from the audience (can be pre-selected also), 10 minutes. Ideally, all lec-demos conclude with a Question and Answer, 5 minutes.

Video clips from a lec-demo at a Middle School: 1) Sevillanas Dance with Castanets 2) Rumba Song 3) Palmas, The Art of Clapping 4) Finale

Residencies

The typical residency takes place over 10-12 weeks and consist of 45-minute weekly classes scheduled during the school day. Residencies work best for children from 1st Grade through High School. Students learn the basics of flamenco dance (baile), including how to create a choreography and how to rehearse for a performance. Elements of dance technique cover: hand movements (manos) and arm movements (braceo), footwork (zapateo), hand-claps (palmas), marking steps (marquaje), emphasizing the importance of musicality, personal style and interpretation, but never without the tall and proud flamenco posture.

Residencies can be held in a classroom or in the auditorium. A wooden floor is ideal. Students need to bring comfortable clothing, flamenco shoes or character shoes or dress shoes with a small heel.

When budget allows, classes are accompanied with live guitar. Residencies usually culminate in a performance by the children or in a lecture demonstration using the students who attended the residency.

Flamenco After School

Barbara teaches flamenco classes for boys and girls ages 5-11yrs all year round. She launched the after school program at Bank Street School on the Upper West Side of New York City in 2002. The program has become hugely popular, expanding to include two levels, Bank Street Summer Camp, and even continuing with older students through private and semi-private studies. Barbara launched the after school program at Little Red School House in the West Village in 2008.

Barbara has also taught many classes for children as a representative of Andrea del Conte Danza Espana. The late beloved director of this dance company created numerous opportunities for children of all backgrounds in New York City (and new Jersey and even Virginia!) Through the company, Barbara has taught residencies and workshops for THE LOWER EAST SIDE GIRLS' CLUB, PLEASANTVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HERRICKS HIGH SCHOOL, and in many other schools through YOUNG AUDIENCES.

Flamenco After School
Wednesdays 3:00-4:30pm
at Bank Street School

BANK STREET SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
610 West 112th Street
Between Broadway & Riverside Drive
Closest train station is 110th St (#1 train)

Classes are OPEN TO ANY BOY OR GIRL AGES 5-11, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ENROLLED AT BANK STREET! If you are interested in enrolling your child, please contact Linda Lake at (212) 875 4430. You can also find your flamenco shoes and skirts at Menkes, see below.

Classes for Adults

Barbara is not currently teaching open classes for adults. She is teaching flamenco dance in Manhattanville College (White Plains, NY) in the Fall of 2011.

Teaching Background

Barbara is devoted to sharing her rich experience in the arts with people of all ages and abilities. She has taught both movement and music at Bank Street School for Children and currently is the Lower School Music at Ethical Cultue School, Music Specialist at Bank Street Head Start and Adjunct Professor in the Theater & Dance Department at Manhattanville College. She also is a regular performer in New York City’s with flamenco, world, jazz and latin music venues.

She does extensive work independently as a teaching artist in schools and is as a member of Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo, Andrea del Conte Danza Espana, Pasion y Arte and Gerard Edery Ensemble. Barbara is invited year after year to conduct her popular school shows and workshops on The Art of Flamenco in schools such as Bank Street School, Fieldston School, Horace Mann School and P.S. 87. She has taught generations of youngsters in schools all over New York City in her After School Flamenco Dance programs at schools such as Bank Street and Little Red School House since 1999.

Among Barbara’s most memorable experiences are her music beginnings in Children’s Chorus of The Metropolitan Opera, teaching master classes for the 2007 production of "Corteo" by Le Cirque du Soleil and singing to a full house in her solo flamenco jazz performance at Carnegie Hall (Weill) in 2010.

Barbara is an Honors graduate of Brown University (Class of 1998) and has studied Kodaly Early Music Education at New York University.

Flamenco Programs
Bank Street School for Children, NYC
Bridge for Dance, NYC
Brown University, Providence, RI
Casa Galicia Center, NYC
Childrens Arts & Sciences Workshop, NYC
Dance Manhattan, NYC
East Harlem Tutorial Lab, NYC
Fazil's Studios, NYC
Herricks High School, Mineola, NY
Joffrey Ballet School, NYC
Lotus Music & Arts, NYC
Lower East Side Girls' Club
New York University, NYC
Pleasantville Middle School, NY
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
University of Houston, Houston, TX
SummerDance, New Paltz, NY

School Show Tours
City Center, NYC
Learning On Stage, NYC
The Yard Artist Colony, MA
Young Audiences of New York
Young Audiences of New Jersey
Young Audiences of Virginia

Musical Theater & Dance Programs
Bank Street School for Children, NYC
Summerbridge, NYC & San Francisco
Summerstage, Rockland County, NY
Way Off Broadway, NYC

You can buy almost everything you need at Menkes in midtown Manhattan: flamenco shoes, skirts, flamenco dresses, castanets, mantones (shawls), fans, flowers, earings, peinetas...