Cactus Language Blog

Capturing true Spanish passion through Flamenco

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Learning a language, Spanish

Germaine Broadbent searches for the spirit of Flamenco with one of the South’s leading dancers, Ana Dueñas León

1. So, Ana, how long have you been dancing Flamenco?

A: I’ve been dancing Flamenco for about 8 years and I absolutely love it; I’m lucky to be able to do the things I love the most. I so enjoy teaching Flamenco dance and seeing my students blossom and develop not just in their dancing but with their confidence too. Performing gives me so much in a different way, to be ble to communicate with an audience to a point where hopefully they can feel what I am doing and be carried with me through my dancing.

2. Can you give us any top tips on how to be a great Flamenco dancer?

A. I’m always telling my students that to be a good Flamenco dancer, you need to have strong technique but be able to marry that with feeling and emotion. You need to be quite brave in presenting yourself honestly and take risks. It’s not unlike the fear of learning anything new - we can stay in our comfort zone or we can stretch out, but in reaching further than ourselves we always gain. To really be good at Flamenco, you need to listen a lot to the music and work really hard as it’s not an easy art form at all!

3. What type of women is it suited to?

A. I’d like to point out here that Flamenco is so suited to men and women. It’s such a masculine and sexy dance for men, and equally for women it allows us to be all that is feminine and strong. In a world where men are being told they need to be modern men and women need to be more like men (in the work place particulalry), it allows both sexes to tap into their own sexuality in its most raw state. I have students from 13 -70 years in my classes and each students brings something special, energy and vigour of the very young and wisdom and experience of the more mature student. I think my teaching is quite unique in as much as I deal with the whole feeling behind Flamenco dance, and I build on developing the women’s inner confidence so they can perform the dance with the attitude that’s required.

4. Do you see any kind of synergy between learning flamenco and learning Spanish or any language for that matter?

That’s a very interesting parallel. It’s interesting because I think people shy away from languages for fear that they will make a fool of themselves and I think that’s the same reason that students are both attracted to and fearful of learning a dance as passionate as Flamenco. I also wonder if people are more fearful of learnng the romantic languages for fear that they won’t have the confidance and flair to ‘pull it off’. Students feel the same about Flamenco but the worst thing we can do is to put limits on what we are capable of. I’ve seen students walk in to my classes as shy, slouching, self-deprecating wallflowers and a year or so later been astounded by these powerful, passionate, confident dancers.

5. You take groups of people on flamenco holidays in Spain. What does a person get out of learning flamenco in Spain?

A. Well the first thing is people are normally more relaxed and open, they have come specifically to learn and they have left (or tried to leave) their stresses and anxieties at home. The Andalucían sunshine plays its own part too as it loosens the tense body muscles and releases certain inhibitions. Also by being around my students every day I’m able to really build their confidence and because the environment that I teach in is so nurturing and supportive students develop at a faster rate. What’s brilliant is that 20 hours of dance is a lot for anybody in a week but every time I ask the students if they want more free time they don’t! I think students get addicted to how empowering the dance is and because they are dancing every day, they learn at a much faster rate.

Ana Dueñas León:

Ana is a Flamenco performer and teacher who runs Sussex’s only Flamenco dance academy, Academia Flamenca, from her studio in Portslade. As well as running regular classes in Brighton and Horsham, Ana teaches intensive flamenco courses in Spain and is a frequent guest teacher in schools and colleges throughout the South.

In addition to performing with her company, Amor Flamenco, Ana has produced Flamenco dance instruction DVDs and downloads which have sold all over the world via her websites and Sadlers Wells Theatre in London.

For more information on Ana, her classes and performing information please visit: www.flamencodance.co.uk and www.amorflamenco.co.uk.

Cactus Language

Cactus Language runs Spanish & Flamenco courses in locations across Spain: Madrid, Granada and Marbella. For information on all language & dance combined holidays, including salsa, tango and samba, please visit our Language & Dance activities page.

Tags:Ana Dueñas León, flamenco, flamenco dance, flamenco holiday, learning Spanish, spain, Spanish & Flamenco