Flamenco as a Meditation Practice

How’s your flamenco practice going? Do you have one?

We know that flamenco is such a powerful element in our lives.

We know that it’s a passionate dance form that allows for such personal expression.

We also know that if we space out even for a millisecond in class, we lose where we are in the choreography or combination or (heaven forbid) get out of compás!

Flamenco is grounding, empowering and gives one a chance to radiate inner strength.

That sure sounds a lot more than just a dance form. It’s MEDITATION.

Meditation isn’t just sitting there cross-legged and saying OM. Meditation is about being present, aware, in the moment.

That’s SO flamenco, right!?

But how do we practice flamenco as a meditation?

It’s really all about being focused, present and being aware of what our body is doing.

So rather than just focusing on what the steps of the choreography you’re doing, you focus on the aire of the palo you’re dancing.

Perhaps it’s really slowing down an escobilla so you can concentrate on the proper soniquete with precision and ease.

And just like in meditation, where there’s no particular goal except self awareness and building the practice– flamenco is its own journey.

We must enjoy the process rather than focus on the end result. We don’t take a 6-week course and “know flamenco.” You could learn “one choreography” in 6 weeks, but there are layers upon layers of knowledge and understanding, if you choose to go down that path.

So, how do you start a flamenco meditation practice? Actually, you don’t! You continue your regular flamenco practicing at home or at the studio. But, you do it with intention, with focus and even love.

That last bit goes to all of us flamenco crazies that let all the monkeys in our mind say bad things about our dancing , especially comparing us to others. We have to give the monkey brain something to do while we dance. So, again, we dance with focus, intention and especially love.

When we first got into shelter in place, I started a 21 Day Flamenco Meditation Practice for the members of my Online Flamenco Studio. Nothing fancy. Just me, my dog and my iPhone. Oh, and music. Each week we focused on one aspect to help us through this crazy time.

• Week 1 was all about getting GROUNDED. I focused on just marcaje that was very rooted – all in various palos.
• Week 2 we moved on to getting EMPOWERED by focusing on techniques that really steadied us within the art form. (Think a lot of compás work.)
• Week 3 was about RADIATING all that energy and letting it out with strong expression.

It was a great 21 days!

It remains inside the Online Flamenco Studio for members to access whenever they want. But now I’ve packaged it for you for purchase. The price is only $21 for the 21 lessons. Each is only 10-15 minutes long. Click the button for more information.

I would sign this off by saying namaste. But we are flamencos, so instead– oleeeeeee.