Can I just give everybody a very warm welcome to my flamenco blog. This is an area for information, discussion and debate with respect to the art of flamenco in all its forms.

I am a professional flamenco dancer currently resident in London UK, but would welcome views from all over the world on how flamenco is practiced and evolving in your own country.

Navigation should be fairly intuitive, and you can use the search or the tags in the sidebar. There are resources and downloads pages, which contain interesting (and hopefully useful) information for flamenco aficianados.

Whatever your level of experience or involvement, please enjoy your time here and feel free to share your experiences and views of this fascinating and passionate art form!

Sandra La Espuelita

Technorati Tags: flamenco, flamenco London, flamenco UK, flamenco dance, flamenco dancers, flamenco dancing

I performed some flamenco at a Christmas Party last week (December 2007) held at  MAR I TERRA , a small but perfectly formed restaurant just behind Regent Street in London’s Soho district. I get to dance at a good few Spanish Restaurants in and around the UK, and have to say that this one had the best tapas I have tasted this side of Seville. Each dish was cooked to order on the premises and was fresh and tasty – the tortilla and gambas (prawns) were particularly good, and even my husband (an inveterate vegetable-phobe) loved the espinacas (spinach).

The restaurant is small and on ground level, although the servicios were down a steep flight of stairs. The Valencian manager and other people working there were great – fun and friendly and keen to get us to taste new dishes when we showed an interest in what they were preparing. The wine (a temparanillo) was excellent too.

If you get a chance, you must give this one a try. The food, ambience and company is 100 x better than some of the chains of "Spanish" restaurants that have sprung up over the past few years – Mar I Terra deserves to be packed out every night!

The original Mar I Terra is in Blackfriars. I have not tried this one yet, but intend to do so very soon and would imagine the quality would be just as good.

Enjoy!!

]]> http://www.flamencodancer.eu/blog/spanish-restaurant-in-london-recommendation/feed/ 1 http://www.flamencodancer.eu/blog/40/ http://www.flamencodancer.eu/blog/40/#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:31:26 +0000 Sandra La Espuelita http://www.flamencodancer.eu/blog/?p=40

For those of you using a flamenco fan as part of your dance choreography, heed the following (taken from a sheet of paper passed to me by a student – I do not know where it came from originally). I am not sure how you could be certain that the right person received your message – nor how many people I have mistakenly agreed to marry in the past:

Fans have been used to convey messages during times when the strict rules of behavious did not permit conversation to take place freely. The first organised fan language appeared in Spain, which consisted of 55 movements to correspond with certain meanings. This was later translated into English but reduced to 33 coded signs:

• Carrying in right hand in front of face – follow me

• Carrying in left hand in front of face – desirous of acquaintance

• Placing fan on left ear – I wish to be rid of you

• Drawing across forehead – you have changed

• Twirling in left hand – we are watched

• Carrying in right hand – you are too willing

• Drawing through the hand – I hate you

• Twirling in the right hand - I love another

• Drawing across the cheek – I love you

• Presented shut – do you love me?

• Drawing across the eyes – I am sorry

• Touching tip with finger – I wish to speak with you

• Letting fan rest on right cheek – yes

• Letting fan rest on left cheek – no

• Open and shut – you are cruel

• Dropping it – we will be friends

• Fanning slowly – I am married

• Fanning quickly – I am engaged

• With handle to lips – kiss me

• Open wide – wait for me

• Carrying fan in left hand open – come and talk to me

• Place behind head – don’t forget me

• With little finger extended – goodbye

• Shut fan held to heart – you have won my love

• Shut fan resting on right eye – when will I be allowed to see you?

• Presenting fan part open – at what hour?

• Touching unfolded fan in the act of waving – I long to be near you always

• Threaten with shut fan – do not be so unprudent

• Gazing pensively at shut fan – why do you misunderstand me?

• Pressing half opened fan to lips – you may kiss me

• Clasping your hands under open fan – please forgive me

• Cover left ear with open fan – do not betray our secret

• Shut fully opened fan very slowly – I promise to marry you