Flamenco Oriental

Flamenco Oriental is the combination of two ancient dances from the Mediterranean sea: Flamenco from Andalusia, the south of Spain, and oriental or belly dance from the Middle East and North of Africa. These two dances have opposite and complementary characteristics that will be combined in the lessons.

Flamenco

Flamenco is wild, passion and intensity. It is fire and earth. And it connects with fighting and determination inner qualities.

The most characteristic movements are done with the arms, hands and feet. Strong movements and working with barefeet provide a sense of grounding. Feet and arms coordination develop the atention and coordination.

By clapping and stamping the floor with our barefeet we can release the tension and stress that the body gathers, and sometimes even the anger that we are not supposed to express in daily life.

In general, flamenco dance and music exhibits what Laban Movement Analysis considers “fighting efforts”:  strong, direct, quick, and more controlled movements.

 

Oriental

Oriental dance is softer and flexible. Very feminine and sensual it connects more with the caring and nurturing side. Air and water are the predominant elements.

The movements are usually born in the centre of the body and main attention is paid to the chest, abdomen, hips and pelvic floor. Round movements, infinites and spirals open up the articulations and internal muscles get more flexible.

During the dance, the movements put the vertebral spine and hips through a full range of gentle, repetitive motion massaging the internal organs and stimulating the blood circulation.We develop the ability to dissociate and isolate different body parts and to have different rhythms in each of them.

In terms of Laban, oriental dance belongs to the “indulging” quality efforts, with light, free flow, indirect and sustain time.

 

Combination of our fighting and caring sides,

determination and flexibility,

strength and softness.