So, here we are, deep into February, 2012. What's the Hurry??? Why are we in such a rush?? They're already pushing Easter at the stores in Whittier. That's in April! You guys gonna have any money for Easter Baskets after paying $4.00 to $5.00 a gallon for Gas? Better put a lock on that gas tank. Gonna be a lot of siphoning going on hereabouts!
So what's going on??? Well, my students and I are deep in rehearsal for the upcoming August 26th Student Celebration and FLAMENCO BRAVO Show here in Whittier!!!! If you're reading this, You'd better be there! The students are working very hard, and getting there. We're having to make trips to Palm Springs to rehearse with the students I have there, and They in turn are making trips to Whittier to rehearse with us here. We are starting to CLICK! Ole! and High Five!
But with that said, why is it that the students that need the most rehearsal are the one's that are absent the most???
Never changes!
Finally settled on a Venue for this endeavor. I planned to do it in my back yard. Remember Spanky and Our Gang? ? He did it in his back yard, so I thought well, why not us? Something Different! A backyard tent, tables, chairs, a raised stage, Two Paellas cooking outside, Homemade Sangria, Tapas and two shows. Simple. So, I stupidly went to the City of Whittier Offices to see what permits I would need. I was promptly told that because I was planning to charge an admission, I couldn't do it in my back yard. I could if I only took donations. Are they kidding??? How would I pay for all the expenses I'm racking up??? Donations??? Yeah, right!
So, I started looking for a venue. Banquet halls, theatres, etc. Banquet halls make tons of money on Weddings, and Quincea~neras here in Whittier! (That's a Mexican custom where they honor the girls when they turn 15 by throwing a big bash for them. They cost as much as a wedding or more. Hell, take the kid to the Olive Garden and buy her a Pizza and a Coke! Done! Happy Birthday! But no, Mexicans don't do that. Instead they dole out big bucks they don't have for these special parties, and then do it again when the kid gets married cause she's pregnant?????? Yikes!!
Would you believe there's a place here in Whittier that charges $7000.00 for the use of their hall? I flew out of that place quick!
Another charges $4000.00. I considered that one also, but couldn't get enough sittings out of them.
So, We're doing the Student Bash and Professional Flamenco Show at a place called Memories, in uptown Whittier in their upstairs ballroom. Nice place. Very high ceilings, great paintings, very early 1900's style. You expect to see Al Capone and his ladies there. They have a great intimate space downstairs, but I wouldn't be able to seat enough people to pay for it. So, we'll be upstairs.
Date of the show is Sunday August 26, 2012. For complete information, please go to Class Schedule page and scroll down! It's there. Tickets for a very limited seating of 200 people are now on sale. $35.00 Per person puts you on a VIP list and gets you a seat!
After the Student Celebration, my Flamenco Bravo Show featuring Noted Flamenco Dancers Mizuho Sato, Rina Orellana,
Emilio Dominguez and Juan Talavera (That be me), Singers Jesus Montoya, Ana Quintero, Guitarists Jose Tanaka, and
Santiago Chano, and Percussionist Gerardo Morales. I'm working on getting a very special guest artist, providing his performance schedule allows it. Stay tuned on that. Limited Standing room only space at $30.00 per person. There will be a bar service provided by Memories. More info? Call me at 562-699-7595 and leave a clear message with a complete phone number and area code... Do check the Class Schedule Page for complete instructions...
So basically that's what's happening here. I'm still doing auditions for student films at USC, UCLA, L.A. Film School, Etc. they're fun to do, and you get a copy of the completed film. I'm in the process of looking for a new agent. Any suggestions???
I wanna win an Oscar like Christopher Plummer did in his eighties! This time I'm not quitting!!
I should mention that I was invited by my dear friend, actress Lupe Ontiveros to a Pre-Oscar party and Flamenco Show at
Eva Longoria's Hollywood Club called Beso! My cousin and I got the total VIP treatment because of Lupel. Lots of TV and Film Stars were there, as well as Eva. She is gorgeous in person, and Very nice. The place is located on Hollywood Blvd and Ivar street. A thousand years ago I danced at a place called Cosmo's Alley there on Ivar. Wonder if it's still there??? There were about 300 people there when we got there, and our names were on the VIP list, Thanks to Lupe. GRACIAS LUPE! She can currently be seen on Rob, on Channel 2 on Friday nites. I've know Lupe since we both worked at the East Los Angeles Head-Start Schools. She was the Secretary there and actually the only one who knew what she was doing!! LOL! She was barely starting her acting career. She did an audition for the play Zoot Zuit with Edward Olmos, got the part of his mother, and from there her acting career took off and hasn't stopped. She's been on most every TV show there is and has done a ton of movies, stage plays and commercials. Remember the Goonies? Selena? Desperate Wives? She hasn't stopped, But she remains humble and unassuming. A true amiga!
That said, I'll close for now. Please come and see our shows on Sunday, August 26th! You won't be disappointed!
Un Abrazote,
Juan
PS: Next week we go material hunting in DT Los Angeles. Gotta start getting samples for looks I want the students to wear. Hope they don't give me any trouble on my selections.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
We Made It!!!! Welcome to 2012
So, the nay sayers said we wouldn't make it. Some extreme Christian Wag was running around telling his flock
(a bunch of pendejos) that the world was going to end on a certain date. The date came and went as did the others he predicted. Nada! Would you believe he announced another date coming soon??? Knock, knock, Hello, We're still here.
Hope you all had good holidays, whatever Holidays you observe during December and January. Yes! celebrate! You might not be around the next time. Do it now!
My holidays? Very quiet. Saw 1/2 half of my familia, because we get together, open presents, eat, drink and have a great time. Sadly, because of religious beliefs, 1/2 of my familia doesn't. I miss them tremendously during the holidays, and it really breaks my heart. We all miss out. Pobres! Pobre yo, tambien! But, we get do together after the New Year and do a show and lunch date. Always enjoy that.
This time we're seeing the new Sherlock Holmes Flick. Looking forward to it. I remember when the kids were smaller, I had to watch them like a hawk, for fear of coming home with one less, or someone else's kid! ! My sons always told me to come back with the same three or four I left with. Try five!! Not easy!
Now they're all grown adults, so I just enjoy their "grownup" company. (they're still kids, even though they think they're adults!!) So we'll be roaming around at the Irvine Spectrum, walking, eating, seeing a movie, and enjoying this awesome weather the Good Lord bestowed on us.
Other stuff:
Well, Sadly, I think I've been put to pasture at the Cafe Sevilla in Long Beach as of a couple of weeks ago! I knew that time would come sometime soon. I mean, really, a guy doing Flamenco Publicly at 72 and getting away with it? Unheard of! But I'm proud to say I did it!!! I haven't given up dancing. Believe me!!!
The booking manager called and said the managers at Sevilla Long Beach decided to rotate their performers. I countered with "but they do that all the times with the girls". In actuality, there's not that many Men that dance Flamenco strong enough to rotate. Timo Nunez, Ricardo Chavez, Emilio Dominguez, Artoro Nazzari, and I, locally. So, I wish them luck. I feel the premise of the Sevilla shows is old and stale. That has nothing to do with the performers. The premise was good years ago, but lots of groups have taken further steps and perform duets, trio and group numbers. Audiences like that very much. Sadly, They don't do that at either of the Sevillas. Long Beach or San Diego. They may have very strong performers, but it's still the same old premise. That's what has to change, if the "knowledgeable "Sevilla managers want more customers! Advertising their Flamenco Dinner shows a tad more on their internet and Newspaper ads would help too. People now have their "flamenco favorites". They know and follow the good performers. At either Sevilla you don't know who's dancing or who's singing or playing until you get there. I don't think that's good policy, when you're dishing out big bucks to see a show. They do advertise all their other attractions a lot more than the Flamenco Dinner shows. ? Audiences are very educated now when it comes to Flamenco. They know the good from the bad, the stale from the boring.
I'm really fooling around with the idea of talking to the managers and saying Hey, let me produce shows that bring back the people. I could. Been doing it since I was 19. I should know by now how to work an audience! You think?
THE LATEST DISH:
My present students and I are preparing like crazy for our first Student and Professional show on Sunday, August 26th, 2012. TELL YOUR FRIENDS!! BE THERE!! I have four numbers done, and they're working very hard to do them the way I want. It's going to be a big backyard Gypsy Style Flamenco Juerga, with a student performance, and a Knockout professional performance by my group, FLAMENCO BRAVO! .
We'll be having a tent, tables, chairs, a raised stage, shows, food and drink! Artists performing include
MIZUHO SATO, RINA ORELLANA, RYAN ZERME~NO, EMILIO DOMINGUEZ, MYSELF, with guitarists
JOSE TANAKA, SANTIAGO PRECHTEL, and singers JESUS MONTOYA, and ANA QUINTERO. These artists are awesome!!!
We're going to have two shows, sell Paella, Salads, Panes, Tapas, Sangria, Coffes and Waters. This will all take place in my own back yard. It's huge! I had an event planner come out and see what we could possibly do. Well it's going to be very cool!
I'm excited. I feel like one of the little Rascals doing their backyard shows. (No, Not Spanky! LOL!)
Again, the date is August 26, 2012. Sunday. 2:00PM to 6:30PM. Tickets will be on sale beginning in April. Tell your Friends, and relations. Keep checking my blog, or on facebook. Friend me on facebook to get happening information about this dynamite Flamenco Juerga. (A Juerga is a Gypsy Flamenco Party!)
Seating and ticket sales will be very limited. I can only seat about 170 People, with about 25 standing room!
So that said, my classes continue. Look at my class schedule page for new days and times. Learn to dance Flamenco!, You never know where it will lead you. Believe me.
Have a great New Year.
Juan
(a bunch of pendejos) that the world was going to end on a certain date. The date came and went as did the others he predicted. Nada! Would you believe he announced another date coming soon??? Knock, knock, Hello, We're still here.
Hope you all had good holidays, whatever Holidays you observe during December and January. Yes! celebrate! You might not be around the next time. Do it now!
My holidays? Very quiet. Saw 1/2 half of my familia, because we get together, open presents, eat, drink and have a great time. Sadly, because of religious beliefs, 1/2 of my familia doesn't. I miss them tremendously during the holidays, and it really breaks my heart. We all miss out. Pobres! Pobre yo, tambien! But, we get do together after the New Year and do a show and lunch date. Always enjoy that.
This time we're seeing the new Sherlock Holmes Flick. Looking forward to it. I remember when the kids were smaller, I had to watch them like a hawk, for fear of coming home with one less, or someone else's kid! ! My sons always told me to come back with the same three or four I left with. Try five!! Not easy!
Now they're all grown adults, so I just enjoy their "grownup" company. (they're still kids, even though they think they're adults!!) So we'll be roaming around at the Irvine Spectrum, walking, eating, seeing a movie, and enjoying this awesome weather the Good Lord bestowed on us.
Other stuff:
Well, Sadly, I think I've been put to pasture at the Cafe Sevilla in Long Beach as of a couple of weeks ago! I knew that time would come sometime soon. I mean, really, a guy doing Flamenco Publicly at 72 and getting away with it? Unheard of! But I'm proud to say I did it!!! I haven't given up dancing. Believe me!!!
The booking manager called and said the managers at Sevilla Long Beach decided to rotate their performers. I countered with "but they do that all the times with the girls". In actuality, there's not that many Men that dance Flamenco strong enough to rotate. Timo Nunez, Ricardo Chavez, Emilio Dominguez, Artoro Nazzari, and I, locally. So, I wish them luck. I feel the premise of the Sevilla shows is old and stale. That has nothing to do with the performers. The premise was good years ago, but lots of groups have taken further steps and perform duets, trio and group numbers. Audiences like that very much. Sadly, They don't do that at either of the Sevillas. Long Beach or San Diego. They may have very strong performers, but it's still the same old premise. That's what has to change, if the "knowledgeable "Sevilla managers want more customers! Advertising their Flamenco Dinner shows a tad more on their internet and Newspaper ads would help too. People now have their "flamenco favorites". They know and follow the good performers. At either Sevilla you don't know who's dancing or who's singing or playing until you get there. I don't think that's good policy, when you're dishing out big bucks to see a show. They do advertise all their other attractions a lot more than the Flamenco Dinner shows. ? Audiences are very educated now when it comes to Flamenco. They know the good from the bad, the stale from the boring.
I'm really fooling around with the idea of talking to the managers and saying Hey, let me produce shows that bring back the people. I could. Been doing it since I was 19. I should know by now how to work an audience! You think?
THE LATEST DISH:
My present students and I are preparing like crazy for our first Student and Professional show on Sunday, August 26th, 2012. TELL YOUR FRIENDS!! BE THERE!! I have four numbers done, and they're working very hard to do them the way I want. It's going to be a big backyard Gypsy Style Flamenco Juerga, with a student performance, and a Knockout professional performance by my group, FLAMENCO BRAVO! .
We'll be having a tent, tables, chairs, a raised stage, shows, food and drink! Artists performing include
MIZUHO SATO, RINA ORELLANA, RYAN ZERME~NO, EMILIO DOMINGUEZ, MYSELF, with guitarists
JOSE TANAKA, SANTIAGO PRECHTEL, and singers JESUS MONTOYA, and ANA QUINTERO. These artists are awesome!!!
We're going to have two shows, sell Paella, Salads, Panes, Tapas, Sangria, Coffes and Waters. This will all take place in my own back yard. It's huge! I had an event planner come out and see what we could possibly do. Well it's going to be very cool!
I'm excited. I feel like one of the little Rascals doing their backyard shows. (No, Not Spanky! LOL!)
Again, the date is August 26, 2012. Sunday. 2:00PM to 6:30PM. Tickets will be on sale beginning in April. Tell your Friends, and relations. Keep checking my blog, or on facebook. Friend me on facebook to get happening information about this dynamite Flamenco Juerga. (A Juerga is a Gypsy Flamenco Party!)
Seating and ticket sales will be very limited. I can only seat about 170 People, with about 25 standing room!
So that said, my classes continue. Look at my class schedule page for new days and times. Learn to dance Flamenco!, You never know where it will lead you. Believe me.
Have a great New Year.
Juan
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