Big Dance (2) – Flamenco Show of Isabel Baquero and Students: 11th July 2008

Another event I went to for Big Dance was a flamenco show held at Bishopsgate Institute, a cultural centre in Liverpool Street. The good-old-British building was impressing, its inside especially, with classical paintings, well-polished floor, chic wooden ornaments. What a huge difference from the shabby places I normally go to for my flamenco class and practice...

As it was a students’ end-of-the-term show, I shouldn’t complain about the quality and level of students. A good thing was that I could see how much they liked their teacher, Isabel, who was heavily pregnant and going to take a maternity leave. She didn’t dance very much herself, but her mother entertained us with her rhythmical castanets play. When Isabel joined in, we were all struck by the crisp and accurate sound of her castanets.

The show included a jota singing as well, for which Isabel’s husband gave an energetic performance by singing while playing the guitar. It was a pity that he didn’t accompany any of the dances. The music from CDs didn’t quite create a flamenco-like atmosphere. We saw Sevillanas 3 or 4 times in total, but they could have done different palos.
At the end of the show, the audience was asked to do clapping to Rumba rhythm like a short workshop. In the end, it was a heart-warming event, if not a real flamenco show.