SUMMER 2025 IN SPAIN @ SEMINARIO FLAMENCO WITH CARMELA GRECO

SUMMARY

• DATES: From Friday August 1st up to Friday, August 15th 2025 (You can opt to be there only for one week)

• WHERE: Cadiz, South Spain. The very tip of Europe in front of the Atlantic Ocean.

• LODGING: It is included on the price and the girls will be staying in a nice neighborhood a block away from the beach.

• COST: 1,350 EUROS that include lodging for the 2 weeks (That will become 1,100 if I get to 10 students)

• TEACHERS: Over 10 different teachers, all curated by Carmela Greco.

Our host: sisters carmela and lola greco

-Understanding the greco´s-

I think it is also important to understand who our hosts are. And for that, we will have to start with Carmela and Lola Greco´s Dad: JOSE GRECO.

For my students, I don´t want them to feel foreign to Flamenco due to the fact that they are not from Spain. That is why I want to talk about Jose Greco, because he was and American Flamenco Dancer. He was born in Italy as Constanzo Greco, and immigrated to Brooklyn at age 9. Also he is the one dancer that made Flamenco well known in the U.S.

Jose learned flamenco in the U.S. from several dancers, most importantly “La Argentinita” (The little Argentinian, a pioneer in the dance born in Buenos Aires). He was awarded in Broadway “New Personality of the Year” in 1951… He was part of several Hollywood movies (Like Around in 80 days)

And so, after Talking about Jose Greco, I will talk about his daughters, the one that will be hosting us; CARMELA GRECO and the one that will be helping teaching: LOLA GRECO.

I can talk about Lola being a choreographer and soloist at the National Ballet of Spain, and in one brief sentence: She was chosen in 2009 as THE BEST dancer of Spain (Premio Nacional de Danza) given by the Ministry of Culture and literally handed by the King and Queen of Spain.

Carmela was recognized by UNESCO as the Spanish Heritage Dancer. She has been one of the most important teachers in Flamenco Meccah: Amor de Dios.

I can go on and on talking about them…. But what I like the most, is how they are used to having American students… They are not only important in Spain, but due to the fact that their dad was American, they have been in the best dance seminars in the U.S. (Like Jacob´s Pillow, and the Albuquerque Flamenco Festival) and worked with alternative companies like Cirque du Soleil special projects!)

Carmela is like hearing a young, very caring and very human grandma, who wants her studets to also have fun, but who will also offer the best of transmitting what flamenco really is, as she is The matriarch of Flamenco now.

ABOUT THE CITY OF CADIZ

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in the world, founded 3124 years ago (3100BC) by the Phoenicians. Cadiz was also the most important trade port in the world in the 1600´s and 1700´s. It was the door to the Americas (And China and Phillipines via the Americas), the bridge in between Africa and Europe.

It is a magnificent, safe, walkable small city. It´s size comparable to, lets say: Bellingham WA.

It is geographically located on a very narrow piece of land surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. So even though it is close from the Sahara… Compared to most cities in Spain in the summer, Cadiz does NOT get super hot, because of the Atlantic constant breeze. They might even need sweatshirts in the evening!

It has a lot of different long and beautiful beaches, and a boardwalk that reminds me of Havana, Cuba.

THE FACILITIES

The school is SUPER conveniently located in the center of CADIZ.

2 blocks walking West and we will find the sea, 5 blocks East and we will find the sea again, and 8 minutes walking north we will find the Cathedral.

The dance room has acoustic wooden floors and are spacious, well lit and with windows everywhere. It is located on a former cloister/school, so the architecture has also character.

the classes

Every day including the weekend, the classes will happen from 10-2pm.

Main classes:

• Choreography (Solea, Alegrias, Marinete, Bulerias…)

• Flamenco Technique and props technique (How to use the shawl, castanets, canes…)

• Rhythm and understanding the math and musicality within Flamenco music.

• Movement creativity and dance improvisation

  Other classes:

  • Classic Spanish Dance

  • Theater Make Up (The girls are gonna LOVE this one)

  • Documentaries

  • Conferences

    They also organize some classes in the beach and a pool party for the participants!

Why am -I- suggesting this?

All teachers are over qualify and truly love what they do. Not only as dancers, but as extremely seasoned teachers.

I also want my students to experience Andalusia with the Andalusians… That is something that Queretaro, or Albuquerque, even though have the best teachers and shows, they can´t offer this, because after the classes, the students just get to go their hotels… Here, in Cadiz, my students sharing all day with the Andalusian students for a week or 2 is what I am looking forward the most.

Also, for example, the Albuquerque Flamenco Festival has a special programs for teens and preteens. And even though it is fantastic…The teachers chosen for young dancers are not nearly as good as the ones with Carmela… Plus it is more than twice the price $1,200 USD for 5 days WITHOUT lodging. So I would say 3 times the price. You get the real deal here as you get to experience Spain, share 24/7 with Spanish Students in the heart of Andalusia….

And in a sentence… We can´t NEVER compare Albuquerque with Cadiz. (The sea, the history, the warmth of the people, the traditions, the cuisine, the sunsets…

Lastly… I asked around, and all my friends told me: Do it!

Including Begoña Fernandez Pellicer, the director of what it was, the main flamenco stage in Madrid (Casa Patas) for 25 years… She knows absolutely every relevant or great flamenco artist in Spain, she told me there is nothing to think or question knowing that Carmela is in charge.

how to get there and logistics

We will need to fly to Madrid, and then we can take the train ($40-$90) a bus, or the super wide seat night bus for $40

The price of the classes include a clean, well located and comfortable enough apartment (Rooms shared with other students, same ages)

So Carmela doesn´t want us, parents to take the students lodging spots. But know that there will be at least Me and Jacquie Tobon (Olivia´s mom) lodging with them, and keeping an eye on them at ALL times.

So parents can drop them off, like a camp, and go enjoy Spain, or work etc.… Or, get an airbnb nearby if you want to stay in Cadiz.

I know of couple moms that also dance, know that the classes are mixed ages, and there are 2 groups/levels. What I am trying to say is, you can also take the classes and do the experience with them.

wrapping it up

I promised I was going to send more info about the trip…

So here it is!

As you can see, traveling there and logisitics are something that we will need to work together.

But first I want to get a good estimate on: Who is really interested?

Send me a personal message letting me know all you comments, constraints and ideas, and I will be happy to work on a plan that could potentially work for all or most.

My family and I, will probably stay traveling in Spain for 2 weeks once the Cadiz experience is done.

I am DEFINETLY doing it… I am sharing this with all… Feel free to jump in and join.

…Just a thought about Spanish…

Universities in WA, like UW, will consider 5, 10 or 15 when the High School kids pass their AP (Or other) tests

A LOT of my students speak Spanish at home… But just putting my own Owen as an example… He understands, but he wouldn´t really pass a test on speaking skills.

I think aside dance, this experiences make them grow in SO many ways… Experiencing new food, a new culture, understanding there is so much more in the world than our beautiful PNW corner.

But going back to language, aside the investment on a dance that they have been already doing for years… This will help them into having to communicate in Spanish to their peers, translating for the ones that do not speak Spanish (Yet) and a non stop reading, listenging, speaking.

Again, I want to share how GREAT they worked as a team when we were in Queretaro helping each other (Spanish Speakers to non Spanish Speakers)

But this time, I also want to encourage the non Spanish Speakers to start rocking the Duolingo! We have time.

And hopefully, when we come back, for next year, their class could be fully en Español!