Five ways to ease off when you need a break from flamenco
During the COVID-19 lockdown our social media feeds have been filled with calls to action…
Practise at home! Stay inspired! Don’t lose touch!
But what if you need to take a step back?
I’m here to tell you that it’s ok to take a break.
We’ve been through a lot of changes recently. Face-to-face performances and classes have been put on hold. And everyone has different challenges in their personal circumstances, from living arrangements to family commitments. You may not feel as enthusiastic about flamenco as you used to. And that’s ok.
Flamenco can seem like a big commitment sometimes. It’s an art form that takes a lot of time and dedication. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Here are five ways you can ease off on flamenco when it gets a bit too much.
Can’t commit to a full online class? Try shorter practice sessions.
Online classes are springing up everywhere. And it’s great, isn’t it!
For some people, yes. Being able to connect with your teacher and practise dance, guitar or singing at home is an ideal way to stay motivated and keep working on flamenco during the lockdown.But, it’s not for everyone.
It’s ok if you don’t want to take virtual dance classes. Just because classes are available, it doesn’t mean you have to take them.
If you want to continue your practice at home without the commitment of a class, pick short exercises or sequences that you can repeat by yourself. It doesn’t have to be a full class-length practice session. Just 15 minutes can be beneficial.
You could even try recording yourself and watching it back to pick up on where you can improve.
Remember, something is better than nothing.
No space to move? Work on your palmas.
If you’re a flamenco dance student, chances are your living arrangements don’t work for flamenco. Maybe you don’t have a surface suitable for your flamenco shoes. Then there’s the danger of slipping on the floor, the risk of banging into the furniture…..
For some of us, dancing at home simply isn’t going to work.
If you need to take a break from dancing, there are still plenty of other ways to practise flamenco. One of the most important skills for any flamenco artist is compás. You can practise your rhythm by clapping along to solo compás recordings or any flamenco piece with a regular beat. Try José Galván’s tracks on Spotify.
Don’t want to practise? Just listen.
It seems like everyone on social media is living their best life, perfecting and polishing flamenco technique during lockdown. If you don’t have the energy or headspace to practise, don’t worry! There are other ways to dip your toe in.
One of the best ways to keep flamenco in your life is by listening to flamenco. Queue up your mp3s, CDs, or a music streaming service because listening to flamenco is a great way to develop your understanding of the art form.
Don’t know where to start? Tune into 24 hour flamenco radio online form CanalSur. An excellent way to become more familiar with different flamenco palos.
Not inspired? Let it go for a while.
Having flamenco in your life is a bit like being in a relationship….. you love it, yet it frustrates you, and you don’t always understand it.
Sometimes you just need a break.
If your heart’s not in it and you need to step away for a while and deal with other stuff, do it.
Flamenco will be there for you when you want to come back. It doesn’t mean you’re giving it up completely.
Feeling left out? Send a message to your teacher or buddy.
If you’re not doing online classes or you’re missing regular face-to-face contact and you’re feeling a little left out…. reach out!
The great thing about flamenco is the community. When you want to give up, the friendships and the support you get from fellow artists can keep you going. So don’t hesitate to make contact. Send a message to someone, drop your flamenco teacher an email and just say ‘hi’. Everyone’s situation is different and people will understand if you need to take a break but they’ll still be glad to hear from you.
If you’re looking for other ways to stay in touch with the community, don’t forget to follow the Flamenco Australia Magazine Facebook page and say hi there :)
Have you ever taken a break from flamenco and come back to it later? How was it? Did the break give you a new perspective? Let us know your story in the comments below.