Check out Flores y Lunares and friends performing Sevillanas on Canada Day at Granville Island, Vancouver.
Sevillanas is a regional folk dance from Seville in the south of Spain. EVERYONE in Seville knows how to dance Sevillanas and they do -- often! Especially at the annual spring Feria which features a good solid week of dancing, music, horses, parades and processions.
Video by Natalie of Edie Hats
Sunday, August 24, 2008
What's in a name?
Way back in May, when the idea of putting together a group of busking flamenco dancers was in its germinal stages, Lia, Andrea and Michelle met with the amazing Edie of Edie Hats to brainstorm.
How could we do it? What would be our philosophy?
It was really important to us to have a lot of input into the way the performances would be carried out. The technical aspects of performing - setting up and checking the sound system for example - had, in our experience, usually been handled by men. We wanted to learn how to do this (and all the other essential aspects of putting on show like setting up the stage, choosing the music, making the set list) for ourselves.
So, when we were throwing out ideas for a name, we came up with all kinds of things, from the absurd to the ridiculous and even some really nice ones. We settled on Flores y Lunares because, to us, it signified so much that is feminine about flamenco.
“Flores” means “flowers” and wearing flowers in our hair is very traditional. There is also a tradition of using beautifully embroidered shawls in the dance and these most often have a floral pattern. “Lunares” means “moons” and refers to polka dots - that most quintessential of all flamenco patterns. But the moon, of course, is also a powerful symbol for women and we felt that the double meaning helped to express what we want to achieve.
Once we settled on our name, Edie texted it to a friend. His immediate response: “Flowers and Lunatics - I don’t think I like it”. Well, you do have to be a little bit crazy to be a busker …
How could we do it? What would be our philosophy?
It was really important to us to have a lot of input into the way the performances would be carried out. The technical aspects of performing - setting up and checking the sound system for example - had, in our experience, usually been handled by men. We wanted to learn how to do this (and all the other essential aspects of putting on show like setting up the stage, choosing the music, making the set list) for ourselves.
So, when we were throwing out ideas for a name, we came up with all kinds of things, from the absurd to the ridiculous and even some really nice ones. We settled on Flores y Lunares because, to us, it signified so much that is feminine about flamenco.
“Flores” means “flowers” and wearing flowers in our hair is very traditional. There is also a tradition of using beautifully embroidered shawls in the dance and these most often have a floral pattern. “Lunares” means “moons” and refers to polka dots - that most quintessential of all flamenco patterns. But the moon, of course, is also a powerful symbol for women and we felt that the double meaning helped to express what we want to achieve.
Once we settled on our name, Edie texted it to a friend. His immediate response: “Flowers and Lunatics - I don’t think I like it”. Well, you do have to be a little bit crazy to be a busker …
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Busking at Granville Island
Flores y Lunares gathered up some special guests and spent this Canada Day busking at Vancouver's Granville Island! Check us out in action:
Video by: Natalie of Edie Hats.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Flores y Lunares is a performing group of flamenco dancers, singers and musicians.
At the core of the group are three professional dancers, Lia, Andrea and Michelle, members of the highly acclaimed Vancouver-based company Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre. They are passionate about bringing flamenco out of the theatre and into public venues and private events. Traditional flamenco is an art of improvisation and personal expression. Flores y Lunares is dedicated to sharing this wonderful art form.
All three dancers perform regularly in Vancouver at the Kino café on
- In the House Festival
- PNE
- Walk With the Dragon
- White Rock Star of the Sea Festival
- Flamenco del Mar Festival
- North Shore Folk Festival
- Latin Fest
- Strathcona Community Festival
- Heart of the City Festival
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