Flamenco is a language | Alice Blumenfeld | TEDxFulbrightSantaMonica

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 4. 12. 2015
  • Based in New York City, Alice Blumenfeld's powerful performances onstage, and her scholarly work offstage, make her a preeminent force in the American flamenco dance scene. Soon to hold an MFA in dance from Hollins University's low residency program (will graduate in 2017), she continues to push her artistic development forward. At TEDxFulbright she performed with musician Gabriel Osuna.

    Blumenfeld currently tours with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, along with creating her own work, featured most recently at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ Millennium Stage (June 2014)
    Alice Blumenfeld's powerful performance onstage, and her scholarly work offstage, make her a preeminent force in the American flamenco dance scene. According to Thinking Dance: "[Blumenfeld has] a fierce presence (her movements seem to arise from several feet beneath the ground) ..."
    This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

Komentáře • 117

  • @steverlfs
    @steverlfs Před 2 lety +13

    I am a retired man who decided to study flamenco guitar. The more I learn about flamenco, I see that it is a Chinese puzzle of wonders, with one thing leading to another through incredible passion and beauty. It is indeed a language!

  • @DynamicVibeCraft
    @DynamicVibeCraft Před 2 měsíci +3

    I couldn’t believe I would join a flamenco club and perform flamenco songs to audiences. But the truth is I love every minute of it

  • @martin87543
    @martin87543 Před 6 lety +67

    what a kind, candid and clear way of explaining the beauty art of flamenco to non-flamenco audience! Ole, ole y ole!

  • @WM37980
    @WM37980 Před 5 lety +25

    She communicates well the passion of flamenco and also the technical cues that dancers and musicians use to meet each other in their own frequency, and swim together!

  • @kulitputihhatiputih8404
    @kulitputihhatiputih8404 Před 9 měsíci +5

    I have learnt flamenco since 2008. When I was a student of classical guitar. I can't lie flamenco it's more absorbed in my soul than classical music.

  • @charlessmith263
    @charlessmith263 Před 4 lety +70

    I have autism, and because of the high creative improvisation scale flamenco dance provides, I was self-taught in it and I try to flamenco dance, emulating some of the great flamenco artists out there. Moreover - since I also have music training - long experience of composition, I was able to compose at least several original flamenco songs myself, even though I never had grown up in the area of Andalucia - the place where they say that flamenco started. I also know that there is also an Romany-gypsy side to the history of flamenco too - nomads who were kicked out of certain regions and forced to move someplace else several times but expressed their oppressions with guitars, singing, tapping, clapping (or "palmas") and arm movements that flamenco dance has today.

  • @kaushikroy5275
    @kaushikroy5275 Před 2 lety +18

    Few days ago I got to know about the history of roma people,there was mentioned flamenco dance is from this group of people who actually migrated from India. Now it seems quite true as she mentioned improvisation like jazz(but I think deliberately ignored Indian classical music or dance), it has emotive qualities too. If anyone has any other information,feel free to put light on it.

    • @jimmylee1776
      @jimmylee1776 Před rokem +4

      There are videos in CZcams about flamenco & Indian music. Do a search in CZcams.
      Gypsy people originated from Rajasthan, in north western India. They are nomadic people

  • @lawcch
    @lawcch Před 6 lety +28

    flamenco is a form of art combination of singers, dancers, percussionists, and guitarist. Just like a mini/ small orchestra.

    • @witoldnowak9327
      @witoldnowak9327 Před 2 lety +2

      Rather a small opera than just a small orchestra.

    • @redstar7292
      @redstar7292 Před 2 lety +4

      I've heard it's from the gypsy tradition. It's aurally learnt. Its a number of set rhythms & then they just improvise it like jazz. That's how it's authentically performed. It is emotional though the way opera is..

  • @vivianbouet1627
    @vivianbouet1627 Před 4 lety +19

    I feel like I knew nothing about this beautiful and expressive dance and now...want to learn so much more!

  • @mathieulanglois6080
    @mathieulanglois6080 Před 2 lety +4

    That Gabriel Osuna doing the cante and awesome guitar accompaniment of the baile at the same time is really impressive! She's quite the dancer as well! OLE!

  • @1NEFFIBLE
    @1NEFFIBLE Před 10 měsíci +3

    When one's body language can ACTUALLY "spell" out the word, a perfect dance will be achieved within graceful calligraphy portrayed by The Artist. ☝️😇🤚

  • @luciamoir2641
    @luciamoir2641 Před 6 lety +11

    great way to show what flamenco is...thank you!!!!!

  • @marakmaracucha
    @marakmaracucha Před 8 lety +24

    Olé!
    This is hands down the best description to Flamenco! 👏🏼

  • @astridrodriguez2809
    @astridrodriguez2809 Před 4 lety +15

    Wow! I Just Started Flamenco Classes And I’m Seeing This, I Hope This Is Me In The Future!

    • @mimicc2
      @mimicc2 Před 4 lety +1

      I have been doing Flamenco for 8 years and trust me it is sooooo worth it

  • @kristinahahn9741
    @kristinahahn9741 Před 8 lety +4

    Thank you, Alice, for sharing your #fightsworthfighting on the TEDxFulbright stage!

  • @piehound
    @piehound Před 4 lety +3

    Having an appreciation for all kinds of music, all kinds of visual arts, and all kinds of dance . . . i already knew that flamenco is a type of communication . . . as all art forms are. But this day i learned the specific term " *subida* " which (i'm told) means "going up" or "increase the tempo." Jolly good show. I LUV to learn new stuff.

  • @jonathaneffemey944
    @jonathaneffemey944 Před 2 měsíci

    thanks so much for posting

  • @kbkesq
    @kbkesq Před rokem +3

    Not many can sing and play flamenco guitar. Great performance by both. Olé!

  • @marioamayaflamenco
    @marioamayaflamenco Před 8 lety +14

    Great job! Both of you!

  • @alexandriatrenier7366
    @alexandriatrenier7366 Před měsícem

    Every time I see flamenco dancers, I wanna join them.

  • @bernardocutamora6685
    @bernardocutamora6685 Před 4 lety +4

    I love flamengco music, and I salute to flamenco artist

  • @miledysdatena9865
    @miledysdatena9865 Před 4 lety +3

    Nice! Thanks for the presentation!

  • @rebelholiday
    @rebelholiday Před 6 lety +7

    Beautiful!

  • @evabradley3494
    @evabradley3494 Před rokem +2

    A wonderful presentation,very valuable as I pursue my Flamenco journey.

  • @IIVVBlues
    @IIVVBlues Před 6 lety +3

    Excellent presentation!

  • @m0nicabang
    @m0nicabang Před 8 lety +6

    wonderful!!!! Ole!!

  • @robinmarks5638
    @robinmarks5638 Před 2 lety +2

    Loved this!!!

  • @claudiasunshinetristancho5595

    Dance medicine!❤

  • @FlamencosViajeros
    @FlamencosViajeros Před 8 lety +6

    Great, Alice. Good job! :)

  • @tanjagittasattler9006
    @tanjagittasattler9006 Před 2 lety +1

    Fantastische Tänzerin, wunderschöne Bewegungen, charmant, kreativ und exakt auf den Punkt, ebenso tolle Fußarbeit, perfekt! Oléééé!

  • @SharonOlveraFlamenco
    @SharonOlveraFlamenco Před 8 lety +8

    Congrats Alice! Ole!

  • @carlosoliver1887
    @carlosoliver1887 Před rokem +1

    Que bonitas alegrías! pedazo de guitarrista

  • @VonSolo5
    @VonSolo5 Před 5 lety +4

    Sensational 🌹✨

  • @gloriasch1590
    @gloriasch1590 Před 6 lety +4

    Beautiful

  • @rocketgroot4311
    @rocketgroot4311 Před rokem

    *it's just so hypnotizing*

  • @junhongskungfuclub2804

    Ted talk and dance! She is killin it

  • @prepperchannel
    @prepperchannel Před rokem

    wonderfully educational!

  • @kirstinetermansen2213
    @kirstinetermansen2213 Před 2 lety +1

    All folk dance,. Is. Community,. Love,. All communication

  • @melonsoda123
    @melonsoda123 Před 7 lety +14

    My flamenco teacher from college always told me that the singer and guitarist are the main performers in any flamenco performance, not the dancer. Alice is a beautiful and dynamic dancer :-)

    • @luciamoir2641
      @luciamoir2641 Před 6 lety +3

      In a cuadro flamenco with Dance, Cante and Guitar, as far as I know, yes is the dancer who leads...

    • @1AvW1
      @1AvW1 Před 6 lety +3

      Your teacher is almost right: the foremost important person in flamenco percormances are (in Spain) the cantaores.
      Accompaniments can be done with any instruments from clapping, using knuckles, stamping, beating boxes, a piano, a violin or a flute, to a well sounding vase (tinaga). Or no accompaniment at all…
      A guitar is just an easy instrument because you can use is as a beatbox, a rithmes, play a solo. And it is easy to carry with you. I know… I'm one of these guitarerros - guitarplayers.
      Oh yes, and of course- since Sabicas and Paco we have the concert flamenco guitarerros ;)

    • @angela47u
      @angela47u Před 5 lety +4

      That is your teacher's experience and opinion and interpretation. The dancer, to me, adds the essential element, with all being important in the "message" -- the language of the flamenco spirit.

    • @davidrees7978
      @davidrees7978 Před měsícem

      @@angela47uall three have the spirit!

  • @xavscriptus3511
    @xavscriptus3511 Před 5 lety +1

    ¡Qué duende!

  • @lunabenegas6561
    @lunabenegas6561 Před 3 lety +1

    Y la gente no aplaudió cuando dijo they are languages that are worth fighting for

  • @XianixFlamenco
    @XianixFlamenco Před 8 lety +2

    Arsaaaaa!!!

  • @Darrenowsley
    @Darrenowsley Před rokem

    Bravo Alice!

  • @musiclove9748
    @musiclove9748 Před 2 lety +1

    Ooooleee to you with this Alegria! :)

  • @KushanDwarsingh
    @KushanDwarsingh Před rokem +1

    I definitely hear the influence of Kathak here

  • @yl4974
    @yl4974 Před 6 lety +1

    Very nice

  • @tomlidot4871
    @tomlidot4871 Před 5 měsíci

    Brava!

  • @ddskimmer
    @ddskimmer Před 5 lety +1

    BEAUTIFUL! AWESOME! OLE MORENA! ASI BELLA!

  • @KushanDwarsingh
    @KushanDwarsingh Před rokem

    wow

  • @hortus8704
    @hortus8704 Před 5 lety +1

    Очень техничная девушка

  • @colleenbonniwell4226
    @colleenbonniwell4226 Před rokem

    freeform 🌹

  • @maribelpelayo7472
    @maribelpelayo7472 Před 4 lety +7

    He should of play without her dancing so she would’ve take a break and catch her breath, just an opinion. But overall it was beautiful!!!🙏🏻✨🎶

    • @maribelpelayo7472
      @maribelpelayo7472 Před 4 lety +1

      “Llamadas” and “subidas” that’s new to me, this’s so interesting! 💃✨

    • @dborg56
      @dborg56 Před 4 lety +1

      She is catching her breath during the slow periods!

    • @spacewolfcub
      @spacewolfcub Před 3 lety

      At the start of vid you can see they have a countdown timer. It’s a live presentation and they have (it seems) 15min for the entire thing.

  • @mcb3167
    @mcb3167 Před 3 lety +2

    Viva el Flamenco. Viva España 🇪🇦

  • @rosalindajimenez5544
    @rosalindajimenez5544 Před 3 lety

    😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

  • @davidhegge29
    @davidhegge29 Před rokem

    100 percent Norwegian US background. But have full Flamenco dancer outfit. Do you have suggestions for good castanets?

  • @9832623469
    @9832623469 Před 3 lety +2

    👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️

  • @kingajackson9118
    @kingajackson9118 Před 3 lety

    👍

  • @suuzq02
    @suuzq02 Před rokem

    You are CLASSY beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
    Thank you 🙏

  • @marinodiaz474
    @marinodiaz474 Před 2 lety +1

    there was a hint of a luau at the 3 minute mark.
    After this I would consider it an interpretation of various cultures she has studied over the years. I'd say it's more of the dance of what she takes as all humanity in it's ever so adaptive ways. The guitarist is very well versed in the jazz and flamenco style. His voice is wonderful. Her knowledge is quite outstanding though, I'm happy for them as artists.
    Although I was lost at the jabberwocky.
    Never read it but I'll take a look into it and update my thoughts on her take. Other than that it was a wonderful interpretation of what flamenco is it what used to be.

  • @balmytiger
    @balmytiger Před 2 lety +2

    North American flamenco right here

    • @balmytiger
      @balmytiger Před 2 lety +3

      And I don't mean it's bad, it just looks and sounds nothing like Andalucian Flamenco. Main thesis of the talk was very good 👍!

  • @Dev_Gurjar_Singh
    @Dev_Gurjar_Singh Před 3 lety +4

    Indian dance is also language... So you are pure indian history

  • @fantaxsea6791
    @fantaxsea6791 Před rokem +2

    the flamenco also represent the people of andalucia and their pain and the torture they went through after the fallen of their city the dances it contain a hidden messages and when muslims was banned from practicing their religion on actually the word olé some of the History scholars link the word to arabic word allah meaning god in arabic language and the origin name of flamenco came from the word فلاح منكوب ,"distressed peasant"

  • @LeroyBrown
    @LeroyBrown Před 2 lety

    Castanet?

  • @carmelcorreale3211
    @carmelcorreale3211 Před 6 lety +4

    In flamenco the dancers scowl a lot but here she’s just demonstrating too much smiling happiness..to be showing ‘passion’ which usually demonstrates anger for a reason or another usually love

    • @vymrdanejkralicek
      @vymrdanejkralicek Před 6 lety +7

      The palo is alegrías, therefore the happiness. Look for farruca or soleá dance and you might find the passion and scowl, you're mentioning.

    • @martin87543
      @martin87543 Před 6 lety +1

      passion is not related to anger or love only, that's the stereotype she described a lot of people who's not into the flamenco art thinks of at the beginning of her speech. Flamenco is a very complex art.

  • @kendagammell4654
    @kendagammell4654 Před 5 lety +2

    Castanets

    • @musashidanmcgrath
      @musashidanmcgrath Před 2 lety +1

      Not a Flamenco instrument. You're confusing Spanish folk music with Gitano folk music(Flamenco)

    • @alt_4186
      @alt_4186 Před 2 lety

      @@musashidanmcgrath Flamenco is spanish what are u talking about lmao

  • @masdificiltodavia
    @masdificiltodavia Před 3 lety +1

    the singer must be spanish....the song is diferent with this acent

  • @lifeasvanessa8885
    @lifeasvanessa8885 Před 4 lety +13

    Flamenco is a Gypsy heart NOT Spanish heart!! 💙❤💚

    • @vanessasevilla9094
      @vanessasevilla9094 Před 4 lety

      Both.

    • @tonyv9317
      @tonyv9317 Před 4 lety +2

      No

    • @josemanuellustresgomez2759
      @josemanuellustresgomez2759 Před 4 lety +6

      Falso. Solo el flamenco se da en España y gitanos hay en muchas partes del.mundo. Es la combinación, un lugar de incubación, España, y una simbiosis entre lo gitano y el resto de genialidades netamente españolas.

    • @IsabelRodriguez-gb7tu
      @IsabelRodriguez-gb7tu Před 3 lety +1

      Nope.

    • @sudestica
      @sudestica Před 2 lety +4

      Si❤️Opre Roma. There is no flamenco without the Roma passion

  • @conchipardo9777
    @conchipardo9777 Před 5 lety +4

    Esto no es flamenco...En una actuación flamenca nadie se duerme. Nadie. Principalmente, por que nadie habla.

    • @GabrielRDLGabi
      @GabrielRDLGabi Před 4 lety +1

      No señora! Ella baile super bien y se acaso no te enterastes esto es una charla acerca de lo que es el flamenco, para guiris! Y esta estupendo! O sea, no se donde no se ve flamenco!

  • @zer-d-ishtar6547
    @zer-d-ishtar6547 Před 4 lety +8

    A genuine flamenco is born on the verge of denying life - every dance that takes place serves as the result of someone’s spiritual victory over the power of Thanatos, attraction to non-existence ... without this spear there is no flamenco! Do you have such a struggle on the verge of falling and flying? Are your bids so high, your own challenge? Well-off people cannot feel the taste of flamenco, it doesn’t tell them anything - except when to enter the musician)) but this is completely irrelevant.

    • @josemanuellustresgomez2759
      @josemanuellustresgomez2759 Před 4 lety +2

      Bla, bla, bla El flamenco es la vida y el desplante ante la vida, pueblo y pueblo. Los intelectuales sobran en el flamenco, son meros frikis que no conectan con el, pero se lo creen. La filosofía no conocerá nunca el flamenco. Bla, bla y bla.

    • @gc1282
      @gc1282 Před 3 lety

      🤨

    • @redstar7292
      @redstar7292 Před 2 lety +1

      But this is the best flamenco! Its the passion and anguish of the bull fight. The struggle..The Spanish see their lives in it somehow. .The singers sound like their being impaled & you can see it all in the movements of the dancers , the bull, the matador..the horses ...it's also their brand of anguishef Catholism. But i think she explained quite well though.

  • @G212Made
    @G212Made Před 2 lety +3

    Is she Spanish though? It felt forced 🤷🏽‍♀️

    • @stopato5772
      @stopato5772 Před rokem +1

      Nah, she is well versed and natural.... if you know flamenco, on stage you do perform to express.

  • @dkoz8321
    @dkoz8321 Před 3 lety

    Morticia Addams is so much better.

  • @leepinnguin9682
    @leepinnguin9682 Před 3 lety +1

    too bad the college she worked for messing with her ~ see: (Fired Oberlin Prof lawsuit: Told “we can’t just hire another white woman from the Midwest with a husband” ~ Posted by William A. Jacobson ~ Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 8:00pm) they didn't know a good teacher!

  • @josemanuellustresgomez2759

    ¿Flamenco? No, no, no, that is gimns with a guitar tryng to sound as flamenco. No hay duende, no hay hondura, no hay gracia ni pellizco. En resumen NO HAY AGE!!

    • @ivanmartinez-jd8gi
      @ivanmartinez-jd8gi Před 3 lety

      Madre mía qué esquisitos son algunos... Flamenco es otra cosa es que sea perfecto

  • @elianatarifa1544
    @elianatarifa1544 Před 3 lety +6

    She dances so soft not with passion !!! It is not ballet !!

  • @KarlsBerg87
    @KarlsBerg87 Před 2 lety +1

    Really bad out of 'compas' singing. South Spanish and flamenco here.

  • @KarlsBerg87
    @KarlsBerg87 Před 2 lety +1

    She was brave to bring somebody to sing flamenco that poorly can pronounce Spanish lol

  • @gryprrs1000
    @gryprrs1000 Před 6 lety +5

    Doesn't have the passion of a true Spaniard!!

    • @alexbulerias
      @alexbulerias Před 6 lety +4

      a true spaniard from where?...catalunya? Galicia? alicante?...

    • @dbee8477
      @dbee8477 Před 4 lety +5

      Spaniards didn’t invent flamenco the Romani did

    • @alt_4186
      @alt_4186 Před 2 lety +1

      @@dbee8477 Current flamenco has more influences, it's not just romani

    • @dbee8477
      @dbee8477 Před 2 lety +1

      @@alt_4186 it’s a Romani dance clearly related to south Asian styles. And before you start arab music scales etc came from India brought by ROMANI.

    • @alt_4186
      @alt_4186 Před 2 lety +2

      @@dbee8477 If you think current flamenco looks like an actual indian dance you're pretty much blind, in its origins flamenco might have been a romani dance, now it's a mixture between different cultures (also you can tell the singing has arabic influence)

  • @bernardocutamora6685
    @bernardocutamora6685 Před 4 lety +2

    I love flamengco music, and I salute to flamenco artist

  • @GOLDESCAFLOWNE
    @GOLDESCAFLOWNE Před 3 měsíci

    Beautiful