Danza Africana!

Hace mucho tiempo desde mi ultimo mensaje....

Lots has happened out here in Guadalajara. But first... how is it already October?! Wow, I'm coming up on 3 months out here, but I swear I just got here.

Anyway, one of the highlights of the past few weeks was the taller de Danza Africana con Mariama! Now, as I've mentioned before, there is a huge Danza Africana scene here in Mexico. En serio.... HUGE. And, they are really into special workshops. Since I have been in Guadalajara, there have been 3 different Danza Africana workshops from 3 different native (of Africa) dancers.

Mariama taught at the Festival I went to in el bosque de Xalapa. This time around, however, was much more intimate, with less people. Mariama is from Conakry, Guinea. She currently lives in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and spent the past few months traveling around Mexico, teaching week long workshops from city to city. what a freakin' life, right?! This woman is amazing- her dancing, her thrill for life, and energy. I just adore her.






Each class was filled with crazy energy, jumps, live drumming (from the afro-drumming enthusiasts of Guadalajara, ofcourse), and the head tossing, hair flinging moves that I LOVE. We did different dances and rhythms each class.... one of my favorites being "Sorsonet." It is a dance that is performed after the harvest by the Baga people of Guinea. This video is a clip I found on the internet... not an actual video of us.



After the last class, we all headed out to Zapopan to dance in the center... yes, live drumming and all... dancing for the Mexican folk out enjoying their saturday night. Awesome good times... then the rain hit like wooooah! In spite of the maguage barrier, Mariama and I got along great, talking about the dances of Brazil and how much we LOVE that culture and flava of that country. We communicated pretty well, between spanish and french. But when it came time for her to ask me to translate... not even close. ha! Soon enough, my brain just wasn't ready. Great times, great week, awesome dancing!





On a side note- Mi familia de Guadalajara is amazing. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I live in a pretty international house- 1 Mexican (diego), 1 Swede (Sanna), 1 frenchie (Juanito), and 1 American (me). Our convos go from english, to french, to spanish... and then back again. Time with them has made home feel a bit closer.



Juanito not pictured... that taller Mexican is our friend, Omar.

And tonight... Salsa class a La Mutualista!! But more on that later...!

XO- V

Zapateado y mas!

The past few days have been... awesome. So many foot rhythms and good times I don't even know what to do with myself.

First off, yesterday was the Bicentenario of this beautiful country, meaning Wednesday night was craaaazy good times- the streets were filled with thousands of Tapatios in Red, White, and Green, fireworks, music, and lots of street food. My first Mexican holiday in Mexico. Woot!

That day began with a friend of mine telling me he had a 2 day surprise for me that I would LOVE... Hmmmm, didn't think anyone here knew me well enough to make that kind of statement. BUT, he was right. My favorite Son Jarocho group from Veracruz (and good friends of his) were in town. Soooo... after seeing them in the center of the city, and stopping by the rooftop BBQ celebration at my apartment (yeah... kinda missed our own party. whoooops), it was off to a Fandango with locals and Veracruzanos alike.






The next day included free tickets to their show at Teatro Degallado in the city center, amazing Argentinian Sandwiches, and yet another Fandango!



The show itself was rad- it included the guys from Veracruz (Son De Madera), a group/dancers from Michoacan, and another from San Luis Potosi. All different parts of Mexico, but came together in what is called Sones Compartidos. Although los Veracruznos were the best (duuuh), it was still really interesting to see/hear all three styles side by side. Now, I am still in the baby step stages of learning about Mexican music in general. So, being able to compare all three at once was pretty rad. The Fandangos had a similar thing going for them... While there was a lot of Son Jarocho played, sones from different regions, including Jalisco, were also played. So, I got to not only hear the difference, but also see and dance the different zapateado rhythms from region to region.

From this, I met some great tapatios who get together every Friday to dance, sing, play sones tradicionales from all around Mexico. Naturally, I was invited to join. it was a great time with these folks. We focused on sones and rhythms of Jalisco, which was great and new for me.

I have spent a pretty good amount of time tracking down traditional dances of this region. While i have come across some folklorico classes, etc... I really wanted to begin with raw, authentic zapateado of Jalisco, without the glam of folklorico. And, heck yes, I found it. In the middle of the park, with one board, six musicos, and about 7 dancers... it felt more real than anything else I've done here. Amazing, I must say.

Immediately followed by a free concert in a casa cultural with the artistic-alt crowd of Guadalajara... just goes to show the funky diversity of this city.

wow... it just might be growing on me.

SF Summer Lovin'....

So, I have officially been in Mexico for one month now. Wow, that was fast. I've been meaning to write something for a bit... my see ya later message to SF and those that I love, like a review of my the last summer, but i just haven't been able to bring myself to actually do it. I dunno... it was like by doing that, I was actually doing this- moving to another country, away from all that I know and love. Just too hard with everything I walked away from. I feel secure enough now, or maybe I just need some closure. Either way...

I must say, this move was A LOT harder than I thought it would be. Not in the "things" realm (ie- apartment, dance, work, etc...), all of that has been almost too smooth. But, in the heartache/homesick part of things. Seriously, I had no idea I was so attached to my life in SF... I guess its one of those "the grass is always greener" kinda things.

This past summer was probably one of the best SF summers I've ever had. I think I was finally living the life I always wanted to live in SF- lots of dancing, performances, biking, living in the mission, world cup, lots of awesome neighborhood friends.... I was right in the middle of everything, as I always wanted to be. It was really hard to say good bye. Its amazing how different life was once I finally got out of the richmond. Not to say that part of town doesn't have it's perks. It does, otherwise I wouldn't have been out there for so long. But... it was never really my comfort zone. Maybe its the San Jo in me... I mean, San Jo and the Mission are like really close cousins. Or fraternal twins. Yeah. Anyway, it was an amazing summer with amazing people. it makes me wander how different my life would have been had I moved there sooner. Would I have made this move...? Probably, but I think I would have hesitated a bit more. What ifs aside, I'm so glad that this summer happened, even with all its stupid moments and heartbreaks. It gives me much more to look forward to coming home to.

some of my favorite moments....


















And many, many more...

Among the Summer Soundtrack...









And much, much more ofcourse....

I will love you forever, San Francisco.

3 days....

"But what if you just lived how you wanted to, instead of waiting? What if we wanted 'the beginning' instead of the end?"

-Erick Lyle
On The Lower Frequencies

**Read this book. Then leave it for someone else.

Dear day of bad decisions-

You suck. You came, screwed with my head, then left. Please do not return.

-Vanessa

Flashback....

Music Style.

This song brings me back to 2007. Post college graduation and heartbreak. roaming freely through the streets of Europe. Hearing this song immediately takes me back to train rides through Belgium and walking along La Siene in Paris. The sounds, the smells, the feelings of those moments of exploration and adventure. Le siiiiiigh.



Sometimes its nice to stop and reflect on what we've done and where we've been. Then realize that time moves to damn fast.

XOXO

Sunshine and a weekend of awesome.

I am currently sitting in (one of) my favorite neighborhood coffee. No... I take that back. My favorite neighborhood coffee shop. With a spicy soy chai. and I am happy! Now this was a cafe that I used to come to because of its location (right beneath Dance Mission), in between classes or during intermission of a show. But, now... I can come here just because its so awesome. Also, they show the World Cup.

Anyway... Side notes aside, this weekend was the Ethnic Dance Festival! Now, it always seems a little strange. Months, Weeks, hours or rehearsal for a one weekend performance. But, let me tell you, the amazing experience connection and exposure to cultures from all over the world make it all worth it. Plus, we dance because we love it and can't live without it, so what better way to celebrate that than amongst artists with open arms from all over the world! Seriously, the instant feeling of community is amazing, both within your group and those around you. Dance parties with Indian dancers, shared desserts from the Tahitians, and picture taking with the Peruvians, all within a 10 minute period... where else can you get that?





Each time we took the stage was different, but all powerful and connected. It felt so great to finally be on the stage with the drummers, dancers, and singers. And Simbi Dlo. She heard us, I am sure of it. Standing in the wings before going on, flashes of the Haitian people who are trying to rebuild their home and truly are in need of water came to mind, and I had to reach for Simbi Dlo even more than before. It was a reminder of why I do what I do, why I love the stage. To be so alive, so in the moment, sharing those moments with so many others. Getting caught up in the movement, the music, and the constant connection between the two- it is something I cannot put into words. Just powerful and vulnerable all at once. I was chatting with one of the girls after a show, and she said that each time she goes on stage, she realizes that you never know what is going to happen. Which is true, we don't. But, you have to go into it with all that you have, in spite of not knowing. And I love that.



Overall, the weekend was amazing. As one of the tahitian dancers and I decided, the only thing that could have made it better was to NOT have to go work the next day. One day...

Until then, I'll continue exploring the world through dance, whether in SF or the great beyond. I have about a month here in SF, and I plan on taking as many dance classes as I can. By the way... Bhangra is FUUUUN!!