I’m not afraid to say, my mental health demanded the trip I made to Spain in September 2022. Not a life-or-death need, but a deeply restorative need. An abundance of change, loss, and stress have crept into my life since my last trip in 2019. I have made the best of it, appreciating the good moments and letting those carry me. But I yearned for something to jumpstart my soul. I needed Spain! My time finally came and off to Andalucía I went! It took me a year to save money for this, but I’ll never regret the sacrifices to my budget. For once in my life, I was throwing logic and reason aside an ..read more

“Anything can become a spiritual practice once you are willing to approach it that way – once you let it bring you to your knees and show you what is real, including who you really are, who other people are, and how near God can be when you have lost your way.” (Barbara Brown, An Altar in the World). These words shook me to my core when I first read them. It was purely accidental but fateful that I did. I had never before considered how faith and flamenco are intertwined, outside of cultural origins. Most serious students of the art form know that religion plays a part in flamenco music and l ..read more

The pandemic is still here. No matter how greatly, it still dictates and restricts many things. But, for me, one thing has been enriched by it…my circle of flamenco friends! I’ve always had a wonderful group of warm, loving people but, in these times, the online forum has broadened that spectrum ten-fold. In trying to express how much you all mean to me; I’ve decided to write you an open letter. To My Flamenco Compañeros, It’s been a hard time for us all, hasn’t it? In addition to the normal bumps in the road of life, we’ve had to change the way we socialize, keep in touch, communicate, who w ..read more

I love the camaraderie of flamenco class… laughing, sweating and working hard with people who share my passion. I didn’t fully grasp how much it meant to me before losing it. During COVID and a move to a new state, I have remained immersed in flamenco through online classes and Facebook groups. I have made many new friends from all over the world that share my obsession and it has been terrific. But boy, do I miss the human contact! The world is trying to get back to normal amid a pandemic that has lasted for over a year but restrictions remain. A few months ago, I was invited to join a Sevil ..read more

COVID-19, coronavirus, pandemic – it has several names. But one thing is consistent, it has all but stopped life as we know it. Those in the arts industry; teachers, studios, and students, alike, have felt the loss deeply when the very thing that feeds our souls is all but yanked out from under us. I remember thinking, at first, this will last only a few months, but, here we are, still on the COVID ride almost a year later. It forced me to realign. A lot. In the midst of teleworking for several months, then relocating to a new state for a new job, and trying to adjust to new surroundings, I c ..read more

I was a butterfly, finally released from her cocoon, free to wander the world in search of adventure. That is what 2019 felt like for me. After nearly two years of on-again, off-again dancing due to injuries, surgeries, and recoveries, 2019 was my break-out year! It was filled with lots of soul-enriching and fun dancing, traveling, and writing. 2019 started off in Spain, going to the Jerez Flamenco Festival in February. It was not only my first time there but also my first trip totally on my own. I will definitely be doing more of that! It was so nourishing and empowering! You can read mo ..read more

Living the life of a flamenca, opportunities are all around to travel and immerse yourself in studying this art form. That’s exactly what I did when I boarded a plane in the wee hours of a still October morning. I was headed to Los Angeles for a weekend get-away to attend Rina Orellana’s inaugural  flamenco workshop for her online membership students! For me, gathering knowledge from different teachers is vastly important in becoming a fully developed flamenco dancer. It’s how you are able to manifest all the teachings into your own personal style and voice. It’s how you grow as  dancer. Ever ..read more

It has been a few months since I have written here. There are several reasons for this; I’ve been writing more travel-related (paid and published) articles, I have been performing more (always good news), and, as opposed to last year, just getting out from behind the four walls and enjoying life more. There is another reason. Words have escaped me lately. I between all the smiles and performances and writing about the fantastic cultures I have momentarily resided in, I am holding a compartment closed deep inside myself. Here’s the thing. I have feelings, thoughts,emotions, opinions that I cann ..read more

Every time another cobblestone is placed on my flamenco path, I become more committed to my journey. Each time I dance, each place I visit, each person I meet, each maestra I learn from, each moment I absorb, all fill my soul just a little more with the joy of flamenco. It is crucial to my flamenco experience to dive deeper not only in class, but outside the walls of the studio, as well.   My recent trip to Jerez de la Frontera, Spain is no exception. Well, there was one exception, I was flying solo. My previous trip to Sevilla was alongside 10 other dancers, teachers, musicians, and significa ..read more