After a year off, Ellen returns to dancing

Last night, I had quite an experience. I have heard numerous times while being here that Jerez is "the cradle of flamenco". Lola Flores, a revolutionary flamenco dancer was born here. [Note: if you click on that link, it will take you to a Youtube video where she is nearly 70 years old. It's crazy impressive.]

As I am living in her city, I decided it would be necessary to improve my flamenco skillz, which are minimal. I learned Sevillanas while in Seville, which is kind of like a Flamenco line dance... but cooler than any line dance when it's done right. (That's right Steph.) One day I saw that my gym has "Bulerias" listed as a class. As it is not called "Box", "Cycling", "Aquasalsa" or something else obvious, I was interested to see what it might be. I asked around, but all I could get was that it was kind of like Sevillanas, but instead of being from Seville, it was straight up Jerez.

"Perfect," I thought. "I will take this class and sleep in that flamenco cradle."

So, yesterday, at 21:30 (9:30 pm), I walked into Bulerias class never having bothered to even Youtube them.

"You're new." said the instructor, a joyful looking man wearing heels (Duh, how else do you make the stomping noise?). "Have you ever done this before?"

When I said no, he said, "Oy. Te va a costar un trabajito, sabes? Los demas tienen que seguir con los pasos."

(Oo. It's going to be a bit of work for you, but we have to continue with the steps.)

Holy moly. Some observations:

#1: Bulerias is WAY more complex and WAY cooler than sevillanas. Or maybe it's that I was in a class full of people who have been sleeping in a flamenco cradle their whole lives. Even the Jerezanos who don't know how to dance look cool when they fake it. I just look awkward.

#2: In a class of about 25 women, there were also three men. Awesome.

#3: I LOVE dancing. It brings me so much joy! Even if I'm just stomping around and tripping over my tennis shoes, while trying to make my arms look less like I'm drowning.

#4: I hope I learn how to dance it well - there's a beginners' class on Friday - so I can come home and show you it!

#5: On my way out, I noticed that there was a salsa class next door. It made me feel better about myself, since that is one type of dancing where I am not culturally challenged.

#6: My eastern/ orient dancing class has messed up my flamenco hands. It's okay. I will recover them.

#7: Samantha N - I wish you were here. You are so much more competent at Spanish dance.