I’ll never forget the first time I saw Maria Benitez dance flamenco. It was at a popular Santa Fe hotel snuggled into the languid, rolling hills of the Southwest. I was beyond mesmerized. I’d never seen anything like it before. I was so enamored with what was happening, I actually abandoned my seat in the middle of the theatre and walked to the corner of the stage to get a better look.
I was just sixteen at the time, so people were forgiving of my curious nature. Up close, I could see Maria’s face: serious, determined, passionate and beautiful. It was if she were telling a story with the whole of her body. Each twist, turn and stomp of her feet seem to transport her to another place, another time and she was taking us (the audience) along for the ride. It was nothing short of magical.
After the concert (which I had been reluctant about attending because it meant I had to hang out with my parents for the evening,) I chatted on and on about what I had experienced. I even asked my parents what it would take to become ‘that’ kind of dancer. I fantasized about a life of flamenco and even returned to watch Maria take the stage again. The second time was even more powerful. I grew a healthy dose of respect for Maria (a world-renowned dancer) and her company, "Teatro Flamenco." What’s more, watching her troupe perform ignited something inside me that would, frankly, never go away.
Unfortunately, my life and career would lead me away from the "Land of Enchantment," but deep in my heart, I’ve always been a desert girl (who is incredibly bemused with all of its trappings) and that’s why for me, "Feeling Flamenco" is way more than just a fashion blog: learning to walk, talk, dress and do flamenco has always been a dream of mine.
So imagine my delight when flamenco started becoming mainstream; both fashionably and fitness wise. Lately, it’s become such a part of pop culture, there’s even a popular flamenco emoji (admit it, you’ve probably used it a few times!) Emoji aside, mastering a dance of such caliber, along with its collectively cool and fashion-forward costumes wasn’t going to be easy. So naturally, my team and I turned to one of the best flamenco dancers in Miami, Clarita Filgueiras. She actually reminds me of a younger, more delicate Maria Benitez.
Clarita, although petite, is a masterful and powerful artist. In fact, she’s the quintessential professional flamenco dancer (who also happens to own a small dance studio where she teaches her craft.) Clarita was practically born into the medium. Both her grandmother and father were flamenco singers and she actually saw her first performance at the tender age of seven. After watching it, she became inconsolably obsessed and never looked back; studying the dance for years upon years, she’s even traveled the world in pursuit of polishing her flamenco prowess.
When I first met Clarita, she was warm, welcoming and enthusiastic that I, too, shared her love of flamenco. As we visited, we found out we had a lot in common; mainly, New Mexico, my home state and a place where she studies flamenco often. When I asked her what she thinks about when she’s performing, she says truthfully: "Flamenco is like being in love: when you perform, nothing else matters and there’s nothing better than that moment."
The afternoon I spent with Clarita learning flamenco and raiding her closet (which is overflowing with the most jaw-dropping costumes) was pure joy. Not only did she teach me a few moves, but she meticulously constructed my look fashion-wise, noting the meaning behind every part of the flamenco costume (which you can find out more about in our Q-&-A below.) Each look I’m pictured in for the blog belongs to Clarita. She’s either performed in it or collected it as part of her impressive professional wardrobe.
The fact that flamenco is going main stream doesn’t really surprise me. It’s a dance that offers amazing physical fitness benefits. Not only that, the abridged costume is feminine, flirty and leaves something to the imagination (which is practically impossible to conceive with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian ruling the fashion roost.) For me, I adore wearing a tank, a long flowing skirt and a low, tight bun. It’s a look that feels naturally chic, sexy and effortless.
Despite the fact that flamenco (which originally started as a folk music dance in Spain in the 1700’s) has been around for thousands of years, its flamboyant flair and intoxicating intrigue continues today, making it more popular than ever and that’s why "Feeling Flamenco" is one of my favorite things.
Shireen Sandoval: When did you first fall in love with flamenco?
Clarita Filgueiras: My grandmother was a professional flamenco singer who was hired to sing at family gatherings, flamenco weddings, and “saetas” (songs sung during Holy Week.) My father was an aficionado flamenco singer so I always heard flamenco at home, but it wasn’t until I was seven years old that I saw a flamenco performance and I begged my parents to take me for flamenco lessons. My first teacher was Lolita Marquez from Spain and from that moment on, I have never stopped dancing.
SS: Where did you study?
CF: I’ve studied for years in Madrid and Seville with Spain’s renowned artists.
SS: How many years have you been performing professionally & teaching?
CF: I have been teaching for about 15 years and performing professionally from the age of 15. I was hired to perform after a bullfight to celebrate the victory of the bullfighter. Thank God he made it.
SS: What is the key to becoming a successful Flamenco dancer?
CF: Like everything in life, it’s all about how much time you put into it, renewing and re-inventing yourself, and lots of practice. You have to love it enough to want to pursue it and perfect it everyday of your life. If you’re satisfied with what you’re doing then you’ve reached the end, your passion and artistic creativity is over.
SS: What does one of your classes entail?
CF: My beginner’s class entails working on simple footwork, practicing hand movements, recognizing and clapping to the flamenco rhythms and learning a choreography. These are the steps from which to grow and expand your knowledge in flamenco. The classes are fun; you work out your mind, body, and soul.
SS: Flamenco is very much a part of our pop culture, from a flamenco emoji to its fashion. Why do you think society is so enamored with the dance?
CF: Flamenco is a traditional art form. The current costume styles of long dresses, hair combs, flowers, shawls, fans, cameo coral earrings come from the fashion of the mid-1800’s to the first quarter of the 20th century. I believe it makes women feel feminine and romantic and surprisingly enough, men find it beautiful! What really surprises me is that under all these layers of clothing, people find flamenco to be “sexy”; quite the opposite of what is considered sexy today. It’s also a strong dance, but I think it’s the human emotion so evident in flamenco that touches everyone and makes it so enthralling.
SS: Tell me about your closet full of fantastic costumes.
CF: My second passion is flamenco costumes. They set the mood and prepare you for your performance. If you feel the part, then you can express it and costuming helps you do that. I love collecting antique shawls and hair combs and let’s not mention the shoes; who doesn’t love that? Some of my costumes are made by top designers from Spain and I’m fortunate enough to have my mother who sews beautifully and has mastered the craft of making flamenco costumes. All she needs to do is see a picture and she makes it exactly.
SS: What’s in fashion-wise for Flamenco dancers?
CF: Flamenco fashion is a big industry. I was invited to attend SIMOFF, which is the runway for flamenco’s top designers. Their challenge is to create new fashion every year while staying true to the tradition of flamenco. Those costumes are sold for the fair of Seville and they inspire flamenco dancers’ costumes as well. The current style is from the ‘20s: more tailored, lots of fringe to accentuate a woman’s movement and flowers worn on the top center of the head. This year, floral prints are big and always polka dots and red, the color of passion.
SS: How would you describe the way you helped dress me for the blog?
CF: Flamenco costuming is very specific, from how you wear your hair, how to use the complements, to which earrings you wear. A flamenco dancer should wear her hair up in a low bun, flowers and hair combs adorning the hair, coral earrings to protect you from negativity, shoes made specifically for flamenco dance and fringe is optional and the current trend in flamenco dresses for sure and nothing less!
SS: What do you love most about being a Flamenco dancer?
CF: I love the challenges each rhythm of flamenco presents. Marking clean and fast footwork, displaying graceful hands and artistically using the fan, shawl, hat, castanets, and long train dress to the point where it is seen as a beautiful art form. I get to try to perfect this and express myself every time I practice and perform.
SS: If you could share the stage with any dancer in the world, who would it be and why?
CF: Although this is the last question on the list I want to answer it first because the thought of it ignites my passion. There are many excellent dancers in Spain, but my favorite dancer of all time is Farruquito. He is a gypsy flamenco dancer from Seville and he embodies what flamenco means in its purest form. I would be honored to perform with such an icon of authentic flamenco.
Interested in taking a class? Check-out Clarita’s website: www.claritafilgueiras.com.
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Photographer: James Woodley
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