Saturday, September 24, 2011

Saturday, September 24, 2011

So, O.K., It's Saturday, Sept. 24th, AND....

I'm not working tonite because of a big snafu at Cafe Seviila in San Diego. The Cafe Sevilla's seem to be all working very well on snafu's these days. Mixed up dates, no checks to pay the artists, leaking faucets in the restrooms, No dressing rooms, all sorts of idiotic stuff for a big business concern that shouldn't be happening.

If I was managing, the faucets in the restrooms in Long Beach wouldn't be leaking water all over the floors, as they have been for the past year!!! Doesn't look good for the money spending public to see that! Give us a place to dress, and put our stuff between shows! Doesn't look good for the Public to see us in our underwaear before the shows. Somehow that breaks the whole "flamenco Magic" of the the show.

That said, I had the honor of performing at the Hotel Laguna in "wait for it" ... Laguna Beach, last Wednesday, as part of the Irvine Flamenco Dance Festival that starts at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine this Friday nite. Very well organized, so it can be done. My only complaint was the stage. It was too small for three dancers.

Heard through the flamenco grapevine that unfortunately, tickets aren't moving as they should for the Festival Performances at the Barclay. Everyone concerned is worried. But the three prior shows at three different hotels were sold out. Certainly our's was. We heard from the waiters and waitresses that cater these affairs, that our's was the best and most organized show. When waiters and waitresses take their time to tell you that, you can believe it..

Mizuho Sato, Juan Talavera and Rina Orellana were the dancers, along with Jesus Montoya, Singing, and Antonio Triana playing the guitar. Magical!!! We had such a blast performing with Jesus and Antonio, that yesss, it was magical. Guess What? No rehearsals. Just verbal ones, at best. "What are you dancing? Alegrias! How many letras? Two. Silencio? no. Castellana? no. Escobilla? yes. Buleria at the end? of course, two." Mizujo did an awesome Taranto. Rina did a Solea por Buleria that was great. I did an Alegrias that killed. Even Jesus said WE should be doing the shows at the Barclay instead! The director of the Barclay Theatre was there. Maybe next year? Hint, Hint!!

Classes are going well. Seriously planning a student recital, but with a twist. I would like to set up a stage in my back yard with sound, etc. I certainly have the space for it. My neighbors always have loud, terrible DJ parties till all hours, so I figure if I do something on a Sunday afternoon (Sunday, July 15, 2012) it won't disturb anyone. I'm planning a tent, a raised stage, Flamenco Music, Sangria, Sandwhiches, Snacks, and fun! Certainly, we'll have a Professional Flamenco Show after the student recital! I'll keep you posted.

Movies??? See DRIVER. Awesome. Gut Bloody, but Awesome. See the Planet of the Apes movie. See CONTAGION. What happens in that movie, can happen folks. Big article in the L.A. Times by reknown doctors saying the movie was very authentic and that what happens can and has happened but it's been covered up.
I'll eat at home, thanks.

So, all of you out there in TV land, and Flamenco Land, continue "Flamencoing!" Take classes. Do the Workshops that are offered. See the shows! Support Flamenco! I would, but being carless, I'd have to rent a car to get there. Can't! I only rent when I get paid for it. Otherwise it's the bus, and I don't want to be on busses at 10:00 PM, coming back to Whittier! LOL!

Take care out there!

Juan