You know that spring is fast approaching in the south of Spain when you see an explosion of colors and ruffles. The first fashion show(s) for feria presented us with designs evoking mother earth and cosmic vibes. There were many romantic and classic styles too. New this year, were dresses with geometric patterns, lines, triangles, houndstooth, and of course dots, huge dots!
Dresses by designer Mónica Méndez showed us big bold dots over jewel tones. These were some of my favorites. They were classic with a modern twist, most had v necklines, but a few caught my attention with high necks covered with lots of chockers. Just beautiful.
Other shows presented us with very simple dresses and skirts with just a single ruffle swirling up the dress. Very elegant and refreshing. Ladies, this year there are lots of skirts, which is great news if you are worried about your outfit on your instagram feed, change the blouse and you have a new look. Problem solved. Spotted many floral dresses, very romantic, like a Botticelli painting. I even think some had empress waistlines. For the graphic dresses, designers used flowers and polka dots, to balance the lines on them.
There were monochromatic dresses, white on white dots, and black on black dots. Everything but boring. Skirt lengths were pretty much the same as other years, above the shoe and ruffles came in many shapes and sizes. However, the skirts seemed looser (still tight, but less) allowing for easier movement and more comfort.
Shawls were present in some shows, but they weren't the main accessory. The show stoppers were the extra large ones, saved for special occasions and weddings. Accessories are big, layered, evoking summer, corals, like a Sicilian vacation or an Italian summer. Others fantasized with yesterday's Cuba and its people, some dresses brought memories of "Celia Cruz", the uber salsa queen. One in particular design, a model all in white from head to toe, transported me to the city of Miami, where many times I have seen these Cuban ladies, head wraps and long dresses in white, by the beach, with offerings to the water Gods.
Some designers like: Ángeles Verano, Flamenca, Pol Núñez, Manuela Macías, Sánchez Murube, El Ajolí, Cañavate will be there.
Viva by WLF:
Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville.
January 24 - 27, 2017
It is a new venue for new young and emerging talent in the flamenco industry will also have its day at the cat walk. Some of the designers that will be there: Adelina Infante, Antonio Moro, Javier Mojarro, Ángeles Fernández, Santana Diseños, and other designers
SIMOF 2017:
in Seville, at the Gran Auditorio Fibes. It has a new location inside the same Fibes expo center.
February 2 - 5, 2017.
For this event big wigs like Lina, Pilar Vera, Ángeles Copete, Cristina García, Andrew Pocrid, Molina Moda and Loli Vera will delight us with their fabulous creations.
Pasarela Flamenca de Jerez:
Bodegas González Byass, Jerez de la Frontera
February 9 - 12, 2017
This event should be one not to miss since it is its 10th anniversary. And as always great designers like, Rocío Martín, Faly de la Feria al Rocío, Ernesto Sillero, Mario Gallardo, Sevillanía, and Carmen Acedo will be there to celebrate 10 years of flamenca fashion in the capital of Sherry, Jerez.
FIMAF. International festival of flamenca fashion of Málaga.
Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda, Málaga.
February 25 - 26 2017
Many famous names and brands will attend the event filling the museum with polka dots and flowers.
Andújar Flamenca.
Andújar, Jaen, Andalusia
March 3 - 5, 2017 Organized by "La Cámara de Comercio e Industria" of Andújar, the newest of all fashion shows but very well accepted and needed in eastern Andalusia.
This is my fourth year teaching sevillanas here in Rota, I had some repeat students which was great, and a whole bunch of new ones eager to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture. Mostly women, and some men, dragged by their wives :-). Others come voluntarily hoping to dance with a Spanish “señorita” at feria. I must say I am very proud of them, they've worked very hard. It is a very fast paced class (3 months, 4 sevillanas). Very ambitious program, impossible to perfect in such short time, but good enough to have an idea of what to do in feria, and be able to participate. Towards the end of the course, their numbers begin to shrink, but there is always a dedicated few that hang in there. Once the students realize it is the last day of class, they begin to choke and become very nervous about dancing in feria. I reassure them: "don't worry, no one is looking". But it does not work...
Pre-Feria fashion show
I now a thing of two about choking... I know I made a complete fool out of myself a couple of years ago at Feria, in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the same caseta where Sara Baras had danced the day before. There was a cuadro flamenco playing bulerias, and a friend of mine insisted that I should step out there and do a "pataita" short buleria. BIG mistake...I don’t know what it is with me and the bulerias, I can dance it in class, at home and among a very intimate group of people, but as soon as all eyes are on me, I choke and cannot remember any of the steps, nor hear the "compas", beat of the music. Why is that? Stage fright? I guess. Maybe it's that I respect the dance so much that I don’t consider myself worthy of dancing bulerias. What ever the case may be, I know how my students feel the first day of Feria, and the first time dancing sevillanas on their own. The only solution I can offer, is practice, practice, practice. And yes, get out there, I know, I dread it too. However, I hope that this does not stop them. And for me? Well... I’ll keep trying, really late at night, with the lights off, or just the cleaning crew watching...maybe a few bottles of sherry would be helpful too...
My favorite pic, all my students ready for their first feria and dance.
Have you ever heard of woman/man meet (1), woman/man seduce each other (2), then they fight (3), and finally, they make up (4). Well that is what Sevillanas is all about. LIFE!
Sevillana Students happy and ready to dance
Sevillana dance is not flamenco, it is folklore, but it is also the gateway to flamenco, since it is almost always included in flamenco dance schools. Practically everyone who likes to participate in the spring festivities, dances Sevillanas. Whether self taught or learned, it is a necessary survival skill for enjoying yourself at Feria. Many women learn sevillanas at dance academies and men, well... aren't really interested, until they find a girlfriend, so men are late bloomers.
Good arm posture is important, for it is the first thing everyone sees
Every year, right after the New Year holidays, dance academies initiate sevillana lessons. You must start early, because it does take time to learn the steps, somewhat difficult, but not impossible, you have to learn how to sync arms, feet, and music. All this must come together, for Feria in late April, early May. Women have to work extra hard to move the hands gracefully, while men have to work on their "Don Juan" attitude/face. Sevillana dancing is not hard, you just have to practice a billion times, create muscle memory, and then, come up with the courage to dance in Feria. Piece of cake! Ha, ha.
Sevillanas have to be expressive
Sevillanas are composed of four dances, la primera, la segunda, la tercera and la cuarta, meaning first, second, third and fourth. Each dance has a choreography, with some variations from town to town, and even from dance school to another, but not so different, that you are unable to dance with a stranger. However, you should always dance all four in order.
It is better if dancers establish a connection when dancing
Each sevillana is divided itself into three parts, each third ends when you switch sides with your partner (pasada). When you study sevillanas in a dance school, the sevillanas are more refined and elegant. The more popular sevillanas (self taught and Feria style) are less complicated, they have been stripped of extra steps and turns, making it easier and simpler to dance even for the not so gifted dancer. However expression/passion is the one thing that one must not lack. I have danced with men that barely move on the dance floor, but the attitude/face, their presence on the dance floor, owning it, is enough for onlookers to believe that he's a master.
During sevillana lessons, you will learn the basic "paseillo" or sevillana step. It is important that you learn it well, because every sevillana builds on the previous one, so learn it well before, you move on to the next one. The last move you learn, is to incorporate your arms. Easier said that done, all of the sudden, you realize, you cannot chew and walk at the same time. It is very frustrating for most people, and it certainly it is the make it or brake it point. Once you reach this milestone, do not quit, you must hang on, after all, you worked so hard to learn the steps! Seriously, don't give-up, be patient it will all come together, trust me, thousands of people dancing in feria will prove me right.
Dancing Sevillanas step by step
If you like to count when learning a dance, then go ahead, count the steps.
All four Sevillanas fit in a 3/4 time or counts of six (1-2-3-4-5-6, repeat)
Follow music with claps of, 1-2-3, 1-2-3…
Every Sevillana step fits in six counts. Paseillo, pasadas, turns, "mata la araña", even the full arm circle fits in a six count.
Well, enough with the numbers, trust me it is very square.
Once you learn all four choreographies, it is time for Feria. Now your hardest task… Facing Spanish dancers! For some reason, when Andalusians find out you are a foreigner, immediately they want to teach you how to dance on the spot. It is very nice even cute, smile and thank them, and focus on your choreography. Later on, when you feel you have enough confidence in your dance, look around and take in all the styles, by then, you should be able to recognize who is a good dancer, and who's not. Learn and "steal" steps from the pro's. Happy dancing.
Students enjoying Feria and dancing for the first time
The more you practice the better.
Update 3/15/2016: I have included my sevillana videos, that I share with my students, my YouTube channel, they are a bit old, but I hope they are helpful.
