What impact will Concha Jareno leave on Toronto?

She is quick, compact, witty, sensuous and a ball of energy.

Madrid born

Concha Jareño is one of the most outstanding Flamenco dancers. She has participated in the most important Flamenco Festivals around the world and in the most well known tablaos in Spain. Trained in Spanish Dance, she gained the National Awards “Matilde Coral” and “Mario Maya” for Flamenco Art in Cordoba 2007. She has worked with renowned artists such as Rafael de Córdoba, Yolanda Heredia, Belén Maya, Rafaela Carrasco, and Isabel Bayón, among others. She choreographed the jazz-flamenco work “Herencia”. In March 2008 she created her first show “Algo”, which premiered in the Flamenco Festival “Flamingo”, Helsinki, Finland. She has participated in the “Bienal de Malaga”, “Flamenco viene del Sur” and “Festival de Jerez” as a guest artist for the “Flamenco XXI: Café, Copa y Puro” of the Compañía Dospormedio. She presented at Sala Triángulo, Madrid, “Algo” and “Simplemente Flamenco” that show the artist’s Flamenco skills from traditional to a more contemporary style. Since 2004 she is one of the resident teachers at the Amor de Dios academy of Flamenco in Madrid, training many professional and non-professional dancers from all over the world. She also often travels to other countries to deliver workshops. Concha Jareño won the Flamenco Choreography Prize “Certamen de Coreografía de Danza Española y Flamenco de Madrid”, and second prize “Cante Flamenco de las Minas 2008”. In 2009 presented “Algo” in one of the most prestigious Flamenco Festivals in Spain “Festival de Jerez” where she was awarded with the “Premio revelación” and received rave reviews and a fantastic response from the festival audience.

Toronto has had the opportunity to take workshop with Joaquin Grilo, Maribel Ramos, Manuel Betanzos, Oscar Nieto, I hope I didn't leave any others out. Now Concha Jareno is on her way. Each of these flamenco artists are so different. They each have their unique qualities and we have been so fortunate to have been exposed to it in the flesh. These are all high profile artists, so good at what they do that they teach with pride and a willingness to leave a positive flamenco print on the upcoming flamenco's that live outside the Mediterranean border.

If I were to describe my experience with these artists I would say that Maribel was about whip like head and body shots that played with the musical interpretation. She was Positive and encourage individuality. Joaquin Grilo is all about savouring the moment and using movement as a way to "taste" the sensibility of the moment. Nothing was left untouched. His technique was disguised in an earthy, from the gut experience of time and place. Manuel Betanzos reminded the pros "to suck it in" and work, work and never give up until the last note is dropped. It was about presenting and always being ON !

I was in a discussion with someone with regards to training. In my opinion diversity in training is necessary. You need a good and a bad experience to know the difference. Your own teacher was taught by many other teachers and if they are self taught, well then life was their teacher.

You need different explanations for the same thing. The body, mind and soul crave diversity. Any athlete knows that you must cross train to keep the body strong, the mind nimble and the senses stimulated. It is true, that sometimes, you need to shut out the multitude of stimuli and focus or refocus your work, development and reason for being involved in a form that demands your dedication and self-truth.

Concha Jareno has put in the time and she has been rewarded for her work and continues to develop it. In discussions with regards to the workshop, I asked her what she likes to teach and if she was willing to teach absolute beginners, hence the Flamenco Movement class. Her response.....I like to teach what people want to learn. I am happy to teach beginners' if this is something that inspires them to start their flamenco path. She is eager to share what she has learned in her training and but given her diverse training, study, personal interests, we are in for a real treat!

If you have never seen Concha dance check this out the following link:Video

Concha Jareno's workshop is April 8-10th, 2011.

If you would like more information or a registration form contact Carmen Romero at carmen@carmenromero.ca or call (416) 292-5733.

So glad you read this and looking forward to sharing the experience with you!

Hasta pronto,

Carmen Romero

PS: pass this on!