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Does Being an Innie or an Outie Make You a Better Dancer?

May 11, 2022 Posted by rina@rinaorellana.com Flamenco Dance, Performing Flamenco 5 Comments
“Flamenco at El Farol” by Roland Van Loon

I go through different phases on how I like to perform. Sometimes, I feel boisterous and want to just strut some stuff. Other times I feel I need to connect with not only the musicians, but with the audience as well. Many times I’ve wanted to be in my own head space; not pay attention to the audience, just listen to the cante and toque and just dance. Release!

Which was the best? The introverted, in my head/body dance or the extroverted, connecting with the audience dance?

Does an introverted dance only apply to the heavy hitters like Siguirilla, Tarantos and Solea, while the extroverted go only with the “chicos” like Alegrias, Guajiras and Tangos?

Some people would say that the introverted is “más flamenco” because it expresses the passion and anguish of the art form. Others would say the extroverted is more appropriate because the dancer connecting with the audience is more satisfying to watch because it brings people into the experience.

I think it’s all true, so long as the dancer herself is being truly AUTHENTIC in her dance intentions and showing her TRUE self. It also depends on the environment and mood of the dancer. Tablao vs. theater. Good day vs. bad day. They all affect the dancer’s expression.

The last time I danced Tarantos, a “cante jondo,” I really felt I wanted to connect with the audience. That came from the feeling I had of bringing out my belly dancer past (yes, I used to be a belly dancer in  my previous life) and getting to dance 4/4. That rhythm brings out the peacock in me. The peacock comes out also when all my ducks are in order in my life or I’m just in a good partying kind of mood.

Ironically, with the dancing I’ve been doing lately I’ve been wanting to do a little bit of both- staying in my own head space connecting with the music, but also having moments of inviting the audience to come along with me during my dance.

I think when I’m more contemplative in my dance it comes from being overwhelmed in my life in general. Then the dance becomes meditative and healing for myself. It goes back to flamenco curing all, empowering women, releasing all the pent up stresses we may be carrying. Right?

So, what do you think? When are you an innie or an outie- since we all have a little bit of both inside? What kind of dancers do you prefer?

I leave you here with some of my favorites of both. Who would you add and where?

~Rina


The OUTIES

Sara Baras

La Lupi

La Truco

Saray de los Reyes

The INNIES

Eva la Yerbabuena

Karime Amaya

Carmen la Talagona

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Tags: Carmen la TalagonaEva la Yerbabuenaextroverted vs. introvertedflamenco dance stylesflamenco expression in danceKarime AmayaLa LupiLa Trucomind body soulSaray de los Reyes
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5 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • WingYee Lee
    · Reply

    May 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM

    thank you for your post. I been kind of processing through the same thing also. However, being a 2nd student. Lots of flamenco I am still learning. And so Far I have discover that flamencas in all level, the most attractive ones are the one that are in their ZONE while dancing. and that seems to connects with the audience the most. Its like they are revealing their SOUL for audience to connects with. . ^___^

  • Anne Wrenn
    · Reply

    May 23, 2016 at 3:43 PM

    I was an Innie when I performed. I was true to myself and did not think about connecting with anybody! By being authentic, I automatically connected to the audience. “To thine own self be true”. If you are true to yourself, you cannot be false to anyone. That was my style and it worked for me. My love of the art and passion spoke for itself. Ole!

    • rina@rinaorellana.com
      · Reply

      Author
      May 23, 2016 at 4:51 PM

      OLE Anne!

  • Izzy
    · Reply

    October 8, 2018 at 12:14 PM

    Such a good article, came just like an antidote to break anxieties right before our performance on Sat.

  • Marisa Wright
    · Reply

    October 8, 2018 at 3:59 PM

    As a dancer, I’m an “outie”, no question. I’m introverted in real life but something “switches on” when I get on stage. As a spectator, I prefer “outies” too. Watching an “innie”, I can see she’s feeling it, and I can feel it because I can imagine myself dancing in her place – but there’s a dimension missing.

    My husband is a dancer but not a flamenco – when he watches an “innie”, he gets bored very very quickly. I suspect “innies” often have that effect on a (non-flamenco) audience, so I think that’s important to remember when embarking on a performance.

    I used to be in a student troupe and we did a lot of community fairs, weddings, cabaret etc. Our teacher always danced with us, often out in front. She was a beautiful dancer, far far better than me, but she was in “innie”. I lost count of the number of shows where audience members made a beeline for ME afterwards, ignoring my teacher, to say how wonderful the dancing was. That was purely because I connected with the audience and she didn’t – if they’d been looking at my feet they’d have said otherwise!

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